The president is selected by a direct vote of the people and is limited to one six-year term. The vice president can be elected to two consecutive six-year terms. Under the Constitution, presidential powers include control of all executive departments, the ability to make appointments, and the role as Commander-In Chief. Judicial power includes the duty of the court of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government. In the Philippines, it is a basic principle that courts have the primary duty of applying the law.
Courts apply the law to settle disputes between parties they have proper jurisdiction over.
Judicial power includes the duty to settle actual controversies where rights are legally demandable and enforceable and the duty to determine whether there has been an abuse by any branch of government. Courts are not permitted to determine moot questions of law or issue advisory opinions. Under the Philippine system of law, interpretation of the law is only used when the meaning of the law cannot be understood. Judicial legislation is strictly prohibited, as the power to create law is the exclusive power of the legislative department. The judiciary can also be appealed to and can invalidate executive and legislative acts in certain cases.