Republic Acts (R.A.) are statutes passed by the Philippine Congress and signed into law by the President. They are the primary form of legislation in the post-Commonwealth era and form the foundation of the country's modern legal framework.
As the backbone of the Philippine legal system, they are distinct from earlier laws like Commonwealth Acts or laws enacted by executive power, such as Presidential Decrees. Each R.A. addresses a specific national concern and contributes to the ever-evolving body of Philippine law.