The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system. This system revolves around three separate and sovereign yet interdependent branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Executive power is exercised by the government under the leadership of the president. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two-chamber Congress: the Senate (the upper chamber) and the House of Representatives (the lower chamber). Judicial power is vested in the courts with the Supreme Court of the Philippines as the highest judicial body.
Local government is exercised by local government units from the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. While the most regions do not have political power, and exist merely for administration purposes, autonomous regions have expanded powers more than the other local government units. While local government units enjoy autonomy, much of their budget is derived from allocations from the national government, putting their true autonomy in doubt.
Elections are administered by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The elected officials are the president, vice president, members of Congress, regional governors and assemblymen, provincial governors, vice governors and board members, city and municipal mayors, vice mayors and councilors, and barangay (village) chairmen and councilors. Elections are for fixed terms. All elected officials have three-year terms, except for the president, vice president and senators, which are six years. All terms begins and ends on June 30 of the election year.
Elections above the barangay level are held every three years since 1992 on the second Monday of May, all positions are disputed except for president and vice president; presidential and vice
References: Anechiarico, Frank and Jacobs, James B. (1998) The Pursuit of Absolute Integrity: How Corruption Control Makes Government Ineffective, Chicago: University of Chicago Press Bellow, Adam (2003) In Praise of Nepotism, New York: Doubleday Baker, Raymond, (2005) Capitalism 's Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free-Market System, Indianapolis: Wiley Coronel, Chua, Rimban, & Cruz (2007) The Rule makers Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism p.47 Coronel, Chua, Rimban, & Cruz (2007) The Rule makers Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism p.49 Heidenheimer, Johnston, Preston and Sampford (2002) Investigating Local Governments p.89 PERIODICALS AND JOURNALS Alcuin (November 26, 2009) Bickers, Kenneth N.; Stein, Robert M. (2008). "The Congressional Pork Barrel in a Republican Era". The Journal of Politics 62 (4) Conde, Carlos (July 5, 2010) Leftist Activist Is Slain in Philippines Drudge, Michael V. (2010) Special Correspondent. "Pork Barrel" Spending Emerging as Presidential Campaign Issue". Manila Bulletin Dumlao, Doris (June 25, 2008) Francisco, Rosemarie (26 August 2013). "Tens of thousands of Filipinos protest "pork barrel" funds", Manila Bulletin Jimenez-David, Rina (November 24, 2009) Shepsle, Kenneth A. and Weingast, Barry R. (1981). "Political Preferences for the Pork Barrel: A Generalization". American Journal of Political Science 25 (1): 96–111 Zonio, Aquilies (November 24, 2009) OTHER SOURCES Dizon, David (November 18, 2009) Ederic Eder; Allan Vallarta (20 April 2007). "GMA News Research: Political families reign in almost all of RP". GMA News and Public Affairs Perez, Analyn (November 25, 2009) Ubalde, Mark J. (June 29, 2007) 9:21pm 75% sa bagong Kongreso mula sa political dynasty GMA News WEB SOURCES