Philippine Politics and Governance

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Name:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

S.Y. 2020-2021 First Trimester Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 1 – UCSP Subject Teacher: KIMBERSON P. ALACYANG

MODULE 3: INTRODUCTION TO
THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learning Objectives:
A. define constitution and its underlying concepts;
B. distinguish the different types of constitution;
C. identify the purpose and value of constitution; and
D. manifest understanding about preamble.

II. DISCUSSION
In the previous module, we learned about the development of Philippine politics by examining
its rich history. It’s clear that the significant events in the past contributed to the current structure
and feature of our country’s political sphere. As we deepen our knowledge about Philippine
politics, we must delve into the basic concepts of constitution to better understand the nature
and principles of our own constitution – the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Constitution

O Refers to a body of fundamental law, rules, customs norms, standards, and principles according to
which the government operates and its relations with citizens are defined.
O It may be defined as that written instrument by which the fundamental powers of the government
are established, limited, and defined and by which these powers are distributed among the several
departments or branches for their safe and useful exercise for the benefit of the people.
O The whole body of fundamental rules, written or unwritten, legal or extra -legal, according to which
a particular government operates.

Constitution: Its Nature and Functions

O Serves as the supreme or fundamental law
O Establishment of the basic framework of government
O Protection of the people from government abuses

Kinds of Constitution:
a. Based on origin or history
1. Enacted or conventional - A constitution is drafted and passed by a constituent assembly or
granted by a sovereign to the people.
2. Evolved or cumulative - A constitution which is the product of a long history of usage by
customs, traditions and judicial decisions rather than by formal or deliberate enactment.
b. As to form
1. Written - A constitution either granted by a ruler, or enacted by the legislature, or framed by
a constituent body and ratified by the people.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Name:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

S.Y. 2020-2021 First Trimester Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 1 – UCSP Subject Teacher: KIMBERSON P. ALACYANG

2. Unwritten - A constitution that consists of customs, usages, legal, tra ditions, statutory
legislations and is entirely the product of political growth and development.
c. As to the mode of amending the constitution
1. Rigid or inelastic - A constitution that is difficulty to change or alter except by some special
machinery more cumbrous than the ordinary legislative process
2. Flexible or elastic - A constitution that is easy to amend as it can be altered in the same way
as other

Essential parts of constitution:

1. Constitution of Government - Provides the framework for the establishment of government by
defining the powers of government and assigning to E, L, J branches of the government.
2. Constitution of Liberty - Specifies the basic rights and freedom of the people. These liberties serves as
people’s protection against the abuses of the government.
3. Constitution of Sovereignty - Stipulates the manner by the people can exercise their sovereign power
to approve, alter, and modify the fundamental law of the land.

▪ Constitution distinguished from statute

a) A constitution is a law give \n directly by the people while a statute is enacted by the
people’s representative (E.g. Phil. Congress)
b) A constitution is the fundamental law of the state on which all other laws or statute are
based
c) A constitution cannot be modified or taken away by the law-making body while a statute
may abolish by the same body

BASIC PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING OUR CONSTITUTION

a. Recognition of the Almighty God f. Government through suffrage
b. Sovereignty of the people g. Separation of powers
c. Supremacy of civilian authority over the military h. Independence of the judiciary
d. Separation of Church and State i. Rule of the majority
e. Guarantee of human rights j. Government of laws and not of men

▪ Amendment or Revision of the Philippine Constitution

- The process to change the constitution begins with a proposal from a legislative body like our
Philippine Congress or directly by the people to amend or revise it. Thus, there are three (3)
methods with which a proposal can be made for change, contained in the 1987 Philippine
Constitution:
(1) By a Constitutional Convention (ConCon) called for the purpose;
(2) By Congress, as a Constituent Assembly (ConAss), upon a vote of three-fourths of all its
members, voting separately;
(3) By the people directly, through initiative upon petition of the required number of voters.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Name:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

S.Y. 2020-2021 First Trimester Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 1 – UCSP Subject Teacher: KIMBERSON P. ALACYANG

History of the Philippine Constitution:

O Malolos Constitution (1899)
O Commonwealth and the Third Republic (1935)
O Japanese Sponsored Republic (1943)
O Martial Law Constitution (1973)
O Freedom Constitution (1986): The 1987 constitution of the Philippines
Constitutional Convention
President Corazon Aquino
Proclamation No. 3 of Article V
O Issued on March 25, 1986
O Promulgated Freedom Constitution for the Philippines

The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution

O Framers of the Philippine Constitution
O Purposes for the establishment of the Philippine Government
O From the latin word preambulare or “to walk before”
O Not essential part of the constitution.

We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane
society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common
good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of
independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality,
and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.

III. ASSESSMENT
*Note: To be placed in the Assignment portion of your module and it will be published based on your
you class schedule.

IV. REFERENCES:
• Carlos.et al., Politics and Governance, Manila: REX Book Store. 2010
• De Leon, H. Philippine Constitution. REX Book Store. 2014
• Melegrito et. al., Philippine Politics and Governance, Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
2016