THE PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION
 RONALD M. CORPUZ

Master of Science in Political Science from  Manuel L. Quezon

University
He is also a member of the Council of Political Science Professors
of the Philippines.

LORNA MELLEJOR
THE CONSTITUTION
-SALIGANG BATAS NG PILIPINAS
-The supreme law of the Philippines
- The Constitution, serves as the basis for the
legitimacy of any governmental acts necessary for
its existence.  It is a codified law that determines
the powers and duties of a government and it
embodies certain rights of the people.
 SPANISH ERA
-Spanish constitutional history begins in the year 1808.
-The first representative was Ventura de los Reyes.
-Philippine representation in that body should be
discontinued.
-There were repeated efforts to revive their rights and
have a representative but all declined to the privilege.
 1897- CONSTITUTION OF
BIAK NA BATO
-It was the provisionary Constitution of the Republic of
the Philippines that lasted for a month.
- It was the first republic ever declared in the Philippines
by revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo and his fellow
revolutionaries
-It was ended with the pact of Biak na Bato and never
fully implemented.
 1899 MALOLOS
CONSTITUTION
- Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12,
1898.
-A congress was held in Malolos, Bulacan in 1899 to draw
up a constitution. In 1899, the Malolos Constitution, the
first Philippine Constitution—the first republican
constitution in Asia
-was drafted and adopted by the First Philippine Republic
which lasted from 1899 to 1901. The Constitution
declares that the people have exclusive sovereignty and
legislative and executive body
AMERICAN OCCUPATION
THE PHILIPPINES WAS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. ORGANIC ACTS WERE PASSED BY THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. IN 1934, THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS PASSED THE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE ACT,
WHICH SET THE PARAMETERS FOR THE CREATION OF A
CONSTITUTION FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
 THE 1935
COMMONWEALTH
CONSTITUTION
-AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY THAT GOVERNED THE PHILIPPINES
FROM 1935-1946.
-TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE THE COUNTRY
TO ITS FULL INDEPENDENCE
-THE CONSTI INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT IS TO BE ELECTED TO A
FOUR-YEAR TERM TOGETHER WITH THE VICE-PRESIDENT
WITHOUT RE-ELECTION; RIGHTS OF SUFFRAGE BY MALE
CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES WHO ARE TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF
AGE OR OVER AND ARE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE; EXTENSION
OF THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN WITHIN TWO YEARS
AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. ELECTIONS WERE
HELD IN SEPTEMBER 1935, MANUEL L. QUEZON WAS ELECTED
AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH
 THE 1973
CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITARIANISM
THE 1973 CONSTITUTION , COMPOSED OF A PREAMBLE AND 17 ARTICLES,
PROVIDES FOR THE SHIFT FROM PRESIDENTIAL TO PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
OF GOVERNMENT. HE CONSTITUTION VESTS THE LEGISLATIVE POWER IN THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. A PRIME MINISTER IS ELECTED FROM AMONG THE
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND SERVES AS THE HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMED
FORCES. A PRESIDENT IS ELECTED FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND SERVES AS THE SYMBOLIC HEAD OF STATE WITH
A SIX-YEAR TERM. THE JUDICIAL POWER IS VESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT,
COMPOSED OF A CHIEF JUSTICE AND 14 JUSTICES. THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY EXERCISES THE POWER TO DEFINE, PRESCRIBE AND APPORTION
THE JURISDICTION OF THE LOWER COURTS.
 THE 1987
CONSTITUTION
AQUINO BEGAN HER TERM BY REPEALING MANY OF THE MARCOS-ERA
REGULATIONS THAT HAD REPRESSED THE PEOPLE FOR SO LONG. IN MARCH,
SHE ISSUED A UNILATERAL PROCLAMATION ESTABLISHING A PROVISIONAL
CONSTITUTION. THIS CONSTITUTION GAVE THE PRESIDENT BROAD POWERS
AND GREAT AUTHORITY, BUT AQUINO PROMISED TO USE THEM ONLY TO
RESTORE DEMOCRACY UNDER A NEW CONSTITUTION. THIS NEW CONSTITUTION
WAS DRAFTED IN 133 DAYS BY AN APPOINTED CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION
OF 48 MEMBERS AND RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE IN A PLEBISCITE HELD ON
FEBRUARY 2, 1987.
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION
 Parts of the 1987 Constitution
The Constitution is divided into 18 parts, excluding the
Preamble, which are called Articles.
The Articles are as follows:Article I - National Territory
Article II - Declaration of Principles and State Policies
Article III - Bill of Rights
Article IV - Citizenship
Article V - Suffrage
Article VI - Legislative Department
Article VII - Executive Department
Article VIII - Judicial Department
 Article IX - Constitutional Commission
Article X - Local GovernmentArticle
XI - Accountability of Public OfficersArticle
XII - National Economy and Patrimony
Article XIII - Social Justice and Human Rights
Article XIV - Education, Science and Technology, Arts,
Cultureand Sports
Article XV - The Family
Article XVI - General Provisions
Article XVII - Amendments or Revisions
Article XVIII - Transitory Provisions
© 2012 Charie Camilo.
 Basic Principles Underlying the New Constitution
1. Recognition of the Aid of Almighty God
2. Sovereignty of the People
3. Renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy
4. Supremacy of civilian authority over the military
5. Separation of Church and State
6. Recognition of the importance of the family as basic social institution and ofthe
vital role of youth in nation building
7. Guarantee of human rights8. Government through suffrage
9. Separation of Power
10. Independence of Judiciary
11. Guarantee of local autonomy
12. High sense of public service morality and accountability
13. Nationalization of natural resources and certain privateenterprises affected by
public Interest
14. Non – suability of the state
15. Rule of the majority;
and16. Government of laws and not men.
© 2012 Charie Camilo. All rights reserved.
REFERENCES:
United States. CIA World Factbook: Philippines. , 2011. Web. 27 Jun 2011.
"Philippines Country Profile." 22/04/2011. BBC News. Web. 27 Jun 2011.
United States Department of State. Background Note: Philippines. , 2011. Web. 27 Jun 2011.
United States Library of Congress. A Country Study: Philippines. , 2011. Web. 27 Jun 2011.
1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. 1987. Web. 27 Jun 2011.
Maddex, Robert L. Constitutions of the World. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2008. Print.
Bacani, Benedicto. Presidential System in the Philippines: Some Issues and Concerns. Web. 8 Jul. 2011
.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Philippines
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25700699?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
https://www.philippine-history.org/la-solidaridad.htm
https://www.scribd.com/doc/19011969/History-of-Philippine-Constitutions
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/constitution-day/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pact_of_Biak-na-Bato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1F_VvXXZ10
nhcp.gov.ph/the-constitution-of-the-philippine-commonwealth/