case no. 45 Congress Power to discipline its members Alejandrino v. Quezon, 46 Phil.

83 (1924) F: The petitioner in this original petition for mandamus and injunction is Jose Alejandrino, a Senator appointed by the Governor General. to represent the 12th Senatorial District. The casus belli is a resolution adopted by the Philippine Senate composed of the respondent Senators, On February 5,1924, depriving Alejandrino of all the prerogatives, privileges, and emoluments of his office for the period of 1 yr from 1/24 having been declared guilty of disorderly conduct and flagrant violation of the privileges of the Senate for having treacherously assaulted Sen. de Vera on the occasion of certain phrases being uttered by the latter in the course of the debate regarding the credentials of Mr. Alejandrino. The burden of petitioner's complaint is that the resolution is unconstitutional and entirely of no effect. Issue: WON the Supreme Court by mandamus and injunction may annul the suspension of Senator Alejandrino and compel the Philippine Senate to reinstate him in his official position? Held. The general rule is that the writ will not lie from one branch of the gov't to a coordinate branch, for the very obvious reason that neither is inferior to the other. Mandamus will not lie against the legislative body, its members, or its officers, to compel the performance of duties purely legislative in their character w/c therefore pertains to their legislative functions and over w/c they have exclusive control.The courts cannot dictate action in this respect without a gross usurpation of power. Precedents have held that where a member has been expelled by the legislative body, the courts have no power, irrespective of whether the expulsion was right or wrong, to issue a mandate to compel his reinstatement