THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS

I. Independent Commisions

 The said commissions are independent constitutional bodies.

 The Members of the Constitutional Commissions cannot be removed from office except
by impeachment.
 The powers conferred to each of the said commissions cannot be withdrawn or reduced
by statute.
 The term of the office of the Chairman and the Commissioners is 7 years without re-
appointment.
 Their term of office are staggered in order that the majority of them may not be
appointed by the same President.
 They may not be re-appointed or appointed in an acting capacity.
 Their salaries are fixed by law and shall not be decreased during their tenure.
 All the said commissions enjoy fiscal autonomy.
 All the said commissions may promulgate its own procedural rules.
 All the said commissions can appoint their own officials and employees in accordance
with law.
 The chairman and members of all the said commissions are subject to certain
disqualification so they will not be distracted from performing their duties and
functions.
 All the said commissions are created by the Constitution and they may not be abolished
by the statute.
II. Appointment

 Appointed by the President with the consent of the CA for a term of seven years without
re-appointment. However, they will not vacate their positions at the same time because
of the constitutional provision on staggering terms.
 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
I. Objective of Civil Service System

 The objective of a civil service system is to encourage, promote and strengthen

professionalism and efficiency in the public service; to give opportunities to qualified
and competent men and women who have passed corresponding civil service
examinations; to give preference to civil service eligible over those who are not and who
are mere political protégés; and in the process, to serve the people with high level of
competence, dedication and patriotism.
II. Composition

 The Civil Service shall be administered by the Civil Service Commission composed of a
Chairman and two Commissioners.
 They are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments.
III. Qualification

 Natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

 35 years of age at the time of their appointment.
 With proven capacity for public administration.
 Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately
preceding their appointment.
IV. Functions of the Civil Service Commission

 To promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy

in the civil service.
 It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resources
development programs for all levels and ranks.
 To institutionalize a management climate conducive to public accountability.
 It shall submit to the President and the Congress an annual report on its personnel
program.
 COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
I. Composition

 The Commission on Election is composed of a Chairman and six Commissioners.

 They are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments.
II. Qualification

 Natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

 35 years of age at the time of their appointment.
 Holders of a college degree.
 Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately
preceding their appointment. However, a majority thereof, including the Chairman, shall
be members of the Philippine Bar who have been engage in the practice of law for 10
years.
III. Executive Powers of Commission on Elections

 To require compliance with the rules for the filing of certificates of candidacy.
 To take preventive measures to avoid fraud and other election offenses.
 To supervise registration of voters.
 To supervise holding of polls.
 To see to it that votes are canvassed properly.
 To proclaim the winners.
Ancillary to and in support of the said powers, the Commission can do the following:

 To annul illegal registry voters.

 To proclaim winning candidates.
 To annul and suspend canvas.
 To relieve election inspectors and canvassers.
 To supervise and control election inspectors and canvassers.
 To register political parties, or to decide whether a party is a political party.
 To supervise and regulate use of franchise.
IV. Legislative Power of Commission on Elections

 The Commission can issue rules and regulations to implement election laws.
 To exercise other legislative functions as may be delegated to it by Congress.
V. Judicial Power of Commission on Elections

 It has the power to resolve cases or controversies arising from the enforcement of
election laws.
 COMMISSION ON AUDIT
I. Composition

 The Commission on Audit is composed of a Chairman and two Commissioners.

 They are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on
Appointment.
II. Qualification

 Natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

 35 years of age at the time of their appointment.
 Certified Public Accountant with not less than 10 years of auditing experience or
members of the Philippine Bar who have been engage in the practice of law for at least
10 years.
 Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately
preceding their appointment.
III. Powers, Authority and Duty of the Commission on Audit

 To settle all accounts of government.

 To examine and audit all expenditures of government.
 To examine and audit all revenues of government.
 To promulgate accounting and auditing rules including those for the prevention and
disallowance of irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable
expenditures, or uses of government funds and properties.
 To define the scope and techniques for its own auditing procedures.
A PARTIAL REQUIREMENT ON CONSITUTIONAL LAW I

Submitted by:
Justice N. Pajarillo
Section 1C