CONSTITUTION That body of rules and (1) The Philippine archipelago;

maxims in accordance with which the powers (2) All other territories over which the
of sovereignty are habitually exercised. Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction;
A CONSTITUTION IS A MUNICIPAL (3) The territorial sea, seabed, subsoil,
LAW. As such, it is binding only within the insular shelves and other
territorial limits of the sovereignty submarine areas corresponding to
promulgating the constitution (1) and (2). Moreover, (1) and (2)
consist of terrestrial, fluvial and
aerial domains.58
DOCTRINE OF CONSTITUTIONAL
SUPREMACY ARCHIPELAGO is a body of water studded
with islands.
Under the doctrine of constitutional
supremacy, if a law or contract violates any ARCHIPELAGO DOCTRINE IN
norm of the constitution that law or contract ARTICLE I, SECTION 1
whether promulgated by the legislative or by
the executive branch or entered into by private “The waters around, between and connecting
persons for private purposes is null and void the islands of the archipelago, regardless of
and without any force and effect. Thus, since their breadth and dimensions, form part of
the Constitution is the fundamental, paramount internal waters of the Philippines”
and supreme law of the nation, it is deemed
written in every statute and contract.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PREAMBLE
The preamble is not a source of rights or of
obligations. Because, however, it sets down
the origin, scope, and purpose of the
constitution, it is useful as an aid in
ascertaining the meaning of ambiguous
provisions in the body of the constitution. It is
thus a source of light.
FUNCTIONS
1. It sets down the origin, scope and
purpose of the Constitution.
2. It enumerates the primary aims and
expresses the aspirations of the
framers in drafting the Constitution.
3. Useful as an aid in the construction
and interpretation of the text of the
Constitution.
Thus, Preamble is a source of light. It is not a
source of rights or obligations.
TERRITORY is the fixed portion of the
surface of the earth inhabited by the people of
the state.

SCOPE OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL

TERRITORY DEFINED IN

Article I, Section 1.

It includes: