Batasang Pambansa (legislature)

For the building known as the "Batasang Pambansa", see Batasang Pambansa Complex.
See also: Interim Batasang Pambansa (1978–1984) and Regular Batasang Pambansa (1984–1986).

The seal of the Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1986, during which the Philippines had a unicameral legislature.

The Batasang Pambansa (English: National Assembly; lit. 'National Legislature'), often referred to simply as the Batasan,[1] was the legislature of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and later as an official body in 1984. It was the fourth unicameral legislature in Philippine history. Members of the Batasang Pambansa were referred to as "Mambabatas Pambansa" (English: Member of Parliament, literally "National Lawmaker"), shortened to "MP".[2]

The Batasan was instituted under the 1973 Constitution promulgated by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, replacing the earlier Congress of the Philippines established by the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution. It was abolished immediately after the People Power Revolution in 1986, and Congress was restored with the passage of the 1987 Constitution.

  1. ^ Journal Service (1983–1984). Record of the Batasan. Vol. II. Quezon City, Philippines: Batasang Pambansa. Retrieved March 21, 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Supreme Court Reports, Annotated, Volume 140, Central Book Supply, Incorporated, 1986, page 140