BLENDING OF POWERS

With the intricateness of the operations of government, it is unwise and impracticable to effect a strict and complete
separation of powers. There are instances when certain powers are to be reposed in more than one department so they
may better collaborate with, and in the process check each other for the sake of a good and efficient government. Thus,
the necessity of blending of powers.

Blending of powers is actually sharing of powers of the different departments of government whereby one department
helps and coordinates with the other in the exercise of a particular power, function or responsibility.

The following are examples under the 1987 Philippine Constitution where powers are not confined exclusively within one
department but are in fact shared:
1. The President and Congress help one another in the making of laws. Congres enacts the bill and the
President approves it.
2. The President prepares a budget and Congress enacts an appropriation bill pursuant to that budget.
3. The President enters into a treaty with foreign countries and the Senate ratifies the same.
4. The Supreme Court may declare a treaty, international or executive agreement, or law, as
unconstitutional, and it has also the power to declare invalid any act done by the othe departments of
government.
5. The grant of amnesty by the President is subject to the concurrence of a majority of all the members of
the Congress.
6.

CHECKS AND BALANCES

The ends of government are better achieved if the system of checks and balances will be observed.

Under the system of checks and balances, one department is given certain powers by which it may definitely restrain the
others from exceeding constitutional authority. It may object or resist any encroachment upon its authority, or it may
question, if necessary any act or acts which unlawfully interferes with its sphere of jurisdiction and authority. (Suarez,
2005).

The following are illustrations where there are checks and balances:
1. the lawmaking power of the Congress is checked by the President through its veto power, which in turn
maybe overturn by the legislature
2. the Congress may refuse to give its concurrence to an amnesty proclaimed by the President and the
Senate to a treaty he has concluded
3. the President may nullify a conviction in a criminal case by pardoning the offender
4. the Congress may limit the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and that of inferior courts and even abolish
the latter tribunals
5. the Judiciary in general has the power to declare invalid an act done by the Congress, the President and
his subordinates, or the Constitutional Commissions.