Commission on Appointments

The Commission on Appointments (Filipino: Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a body of the Congress of the Philippines as provided by the Constitution. It confirms certain appointments made by the President of the Philippines. Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution reads:

"The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this Constitution. He shall also appoint all other officers of the Government whose appointments are not otherwise provided for by law, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint. The Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of other officers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the heads of departments, agencies, commissions, or boards.

The only government official that is exempted is the Vice-President's appointment to a cabinet post. The nomination of a person to the Vice Presidency due to vacancy is handled by both houses of Congress, voting separately.

During the operation of the 1935 constitution, replaced in 1971, the commission was composed of 12 senators and 12 representatives. During the operation of the 1973 constitution, the president appointed at will, without "checks and balances" from the then parliament. The 1987 constitution brought back the 25-member commission.

However, the appointments of all judges and the Ombudsman shall not be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Instead, they are recommended by the Judicial and Bar Council, and the President shall select from the recommendations.

The Commission is composed of the Senate President, the ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve members of the House of Representatives. Members from each House of Congress are elected based on proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented. The Chairman of the Commission shall vote only in case of a tie. It shall act on all appointments submitted within thirty session days of Congress. It shall be governed by a majority vote of all members.

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