ARTICLE II SECTION 4

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES Prime duty of the Government – serve and protect the people
ROTC and NSTP
SECTION 1

State – a community of persons, more or less numerous, SECTION 5

permanently occupying a definite portion of the territory, free The following are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of
from external control and having an organized government to the blessings of democracy:
which a great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience 1. Maintenance of peace and order
2. Protection of life, liberty and property (through effective
Elements of the State: police function)
3. Promotion of the general welfare (through appropriate
1. People
economic and social programs)
2. Government
3. Territory
4. Sovereignty
SECTION 6
Democratic – a form of government in which the sovereign Separation of Church and State
power is exercised by the people in a body (Initiative and Church is not to interfere in purely political matters, and the
Referendum) State is not to interfere in matters of religion and morals

Republican – one wherein all government authority emanates

Reason: To delineate boundaries between the two institutions
from the people and is exercised by representatives chosen by
and thus avoid encroachments by one against the other because
the people (Election)
of a misunderstanding of the limits of their respective exclusive
jurisdiction

SECTION 2
SECTION 7
Three parts:
Independent Foreign Policy
1. Renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy.  We shall not allow ourselves to be dictated upon by any
We only renounce aggressive war, not defensive war. foreign power in the pursuit of our basic foreign policy
2. INCORPORATION CLAUSE – the Philippines adopts the  In having relations with other states, we shall take into
generally accepted principles of International Law as part consideration, our 1) national security 2) national integrity 3)
of the law of the land national interest 4) right to self-determination
3. Relations with all other nations in the spirit of peace,
equality, justice, freedom and amity with all nations.
SECTION 8
NUCLEAR-FREE PHILIPPINES
SECTION 3

 Plain democratic principle design to avoid dictatorship SECTION 9

 Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people Just and Dynamic Social Order
and the State (protector of sovereignty and national territory) Government should make policies that:
 President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Military 1. Provide adequate social services
2. Promote full employment
3. A rising standard of living
4. Improved quality of life for all
  In order to have a prosperous and independent nation and SECTION 21
free the people from poverty. LAND REFORM
 People in rural areas should be given, at most, equal
SECTION 10 opportunities
PROMOTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE  This is to prevent pocket rebellions arising from agrarian
conflict
SECTION 11
RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS SECTION 22
 Right of every person to liberty INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUTIES
 The Aeta, Mangyans and other ethnic communities are
SECTION 12 provided with programs to help in their development
 Sanctity of the family being the basic social institution
 Law against abortion SECTION 23
INDEPENDENT PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION
SECTION 13  NGOs, community based organizations and sectoral – their
 The State must assist in the total development and well- establishment are encourages to promote the welfare of the
being of the youth nation

SECTION 14 SECTION 24
FUNDAMENTAL EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION IN NATION-BUILDING
 Improved form of communication – taking into account that
SECTIONS 15 and 16 we are an archipelago
PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND ECOLOGY  Example: ZTE Broadband Deal
 Class suit against illegal logging
 Laguna Lake Development Authority SECTION 25
AUTONOMY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SECTION 17  Rationale: Decentralization
PRIORITY TO EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND OTHERS
 This is the reason why we have Board Examinations – to SECTION 26
protect the public from the potentially deadly effects of EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
incompetency and ignorance  Election – equal conditions on who may run for public
service
SECTION 18  To prevent political dynasties
PROTECTION TO LABOR
 Department of Labor and Employment SECTIONS 27 and 28
 Philippine Overseas Employment Administration HONEST PUBLIC SERVICE AND FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
 Sandiganbayan and Ombudsman
SECTIONS 19 and 20  Statemant of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)
SELF-RELIANT AND INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC ORDER  Government transactions and records may be made available
 Economy for Filipinos and then distributed to all to the public
 Land Reform
 ARTICLE III SECTION 4
BILL OF RIGHTS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Right to freely utter and publish whatever one pleases without
previous restraint and subsequent punishment and to be
Three Main Classes of Rights protected against any responsibility for so doing as long as it
1. Natural does not violate the law, or injure someone’s reputation,
2. Constitutional character or business.
3. Statutory
SECTION 5
Classes of Constitutional Rights RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
1. Political rights  No law shall be made respecting an establishment of
2. Civil rights
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (separation
3. Social and Economic Rights
4. Rights of the Accused of church and state)
 Freedom or religious profession and worship (second
sentence)
SECTION 1
 Freedom to believe, to act and to disseminate religious belief
DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE

SECTION 6
Due Process (Daniel Webster) is that which hears before it
LIBERTY OF ABODE AND TRAVEL
condemns, which proceeds upon inquiry and renders judgment
To have his home in whatever place chosen by himand thereafter
only after trial.
to change it at will, and to go where he pleases without
Designed against discriminatory acts of the State
reference from any source
Except:
Equal Protection – all persons subject to legislation should be
1. Upon lawful order of the court
treated alike, under like circumstances and conditions both in the 2. In the interest of national security, public safety, or public
privileges conferred and liabilities imposed health

SECTION 2 SECTION 7
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,RIGHT TO INFORMATION ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN
papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures Official records, documents and papers pertaining to official acts,
of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, transactions or decisions, government reaserch data used as
basis for policy development
And no search warrant, or warrant of arrest shall issue except
upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge Limitations:
after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant 1. Income Tax Returns
and the witnesses he may produce and particularly describing 2. Condition or business of banks
the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. 3. Army records
4. Disbarment case files
SECTION 3
 The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be SECTION 8
inviolable except upon lawful order of the court or when RIGHT TO FORM ASSOCIATIONS, UNIONS OR SOCIETY provided
public safety or order requires otherwise, as described by they are not contrary to law
law.
 Equated with the RIGHT TO LIVE – free from interference SECTION 9
Private property shall not be taken for public use without just
compensation
Essential or Inherent Power of the Government
1. Power of Eminent Domain – to take private property for
public use upon payment of just compensation
2. Police Power – enact such laws and regulations which
may promote public health, safety, morals, general
welfare and convenience.
3. Power of Taxation – impose charge or burden upon
persons, property or property rights for the use and
support of the government and to enable it to discharge
its appropriate functions
Basis of Police Power:
1. Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex or the welfare of the WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES?
people is the supreme law
2. Sic Utere Tuo Ut Alienum Non Liedas or So use your own
as not to injure others
SECTION 10
NON-IMPAIRMENT CLAUSE
No law shall be implemented which will change the terms or
conditions of an existing contract
SECTION 11
 Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and
adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person
by reason of poverty
 Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)
SECTIONS 12 to 22
RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED
ARTICLE IV
CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship – the status of the citizen against rights and duties
Types of Citizens
1. Natural-Born Citizens – those who are citizens of the
Philippines from birth without having to perform any act
to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship
2. Naturalized Citizens – those who underwent
naturalization
1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines from the time
of the adoption of this Constitution
2. Those whose father or mother are citizens of the
Philippines
3. Those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino mothers
who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law
 Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired
 Citizens who marry aliens retain their citizenship unless the
person have renounced it through his/her act
ARTICLE V
SUFFRAGE
Suffrage is the right to vote.
A person may vote provided he possesses the following:
1. He is a citizen of the Philippines
2. Must be at least 18 years of age
3. Resident of the Philippines (6 months, 12 months rule)
4. Not otherwise disqualified by law