MSU-GSC College of Law Extension Class

Syllabus in Constitutional Law I

AY 2021-2022/ Sections Al-Farabi and Socrates
Professor: Judge RV Tampac

I. Class Methodology: (Socratic Method; Lectures on Cases/Jurisprudence, and

pertinent provisions of Law and the Constitution)
a) Lecture Notes to be submitted
during the Final Exams 10%
b) Oral Recitation 30%
c) Midterm Examinations 30%
d) Final Examinations _30%
Total: 100%

e) No Final Grade of 4.0 or INC for Failures

f) Oral Recitation is Socratic Method
g) Definitions, elements, etc of important
things and concepts are to be memorized by heart.

II. Coverage:
a) Preliminaries/Historical and Legal Antecedents
b) Article I (Preamble/The National Territory)
b) Article II (Principles and State Policies)
c) Article IV (Citizenship)
d) Article V (Suffrage)
d) Article VI (The Legislative Department)
e) Article VII (The Executive Department)
f) Article VIII (The Judicial Department)
g) Article IX (The Constitutional Commission)
h) Article X (Local Government)
i) Article XI (Accountability of Public Officials)
j) Article XII (National Economy and Patrimony)
k) Article XVI (General Provisions)
l) Article XVII (Amendments or Revisions)
m) Article XVIII (Transitory Provisions)

III. General Principles:

a) Definition of Constitutional Law
b) Scope/Divisions of Constitutional Law
1) Constitutional Law II
2) Administrative Law;
3) Law on Public Officers
4) Public/Municipal Corporations
5) Elections Law;
6) Public International Law

IV. Bases of the Study:

a) The U.S. Constitution
b) The Philippines Bill of 1902
c) The Jones Law of 1916
d) The Tydings-McDuffie Law of 1934
e) The 1935 and 1973 Constitutions
f) The 1987 Constitution
g) The Statutes, EO’s, Decrees, Judicial Decisions

V. The 1987 Philippine Constitution

a) Definition
b) Purposes
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c) Classification (Written-unwritten; Conventional-historical; rigid-flexible)

d) Qualities of a good written Constitution: (Broad; Brief; and Definite)
e) Essential Parts of a Good Written Constitution:
1) Constitution of Sovereignty
2) Constitution of Government
3) Constitution of Liberty
f) Interpretation/Construction of the Constitution
1) Verba Legis (Case: Francisco Vs. House of Representatives, G.R. No.
160261, November 10, 2003
2) Ratio Legis et Anima (CLUP Vs. Exec Secretary, GR No 83896, Feb.
22, 1991)
3) Ut Magis Valeat Quam Pereat
4) In case of doubt, the provisions should be considered self-executing;
mandatory rather than directory; and prospective rather than retrospective.
5) Self-executing provisions
g) The doctrine of Constitutional Supremacy

VII. Brief Constitutional History up to the 19876 Constitution

IX. The Philippines as a State

a) Definition of State as distinguished from Nation/ 1) Elements:
b) Territory
2) The National Territory/Article I
a) Components: Terrestrial; Fluvial; Maritime; and Areal Domains
3) Archipelago doctrine; Normal and Baseline Methods
4) Jurisdiction over: a) Internal waters; b) Territorial Sea; c) Contiguous Zone;
Exclusive Economic Zone/Patrimonial Sea
c) Government
1) Definition
2) Functions
a) Constituent-Ministrant
b) Governmental-Proprietary
Cases: 1) Edu Vs. Ericta, GR No. L-32096, October 24, 1970
2) PDC Vs. PCA, GR No 110526, February 10, 1998
c) Doctrine of Parens Patriae
3) Cabanas Vs. Pilapiul, GR No L-2584358, July 25, 1974
d) Classifications
1) De Jure vs. De Facto
2) Presidential vs Parliamentary
3) Unitary Vs. Federal
d) Sovereignty
1) Definition
2) Kinds
a) Legal b) Internal c) external
3) Jurisdiction
a) territorial; b) extra-territorial; c) personal

X. The Doctrine of State Immunity

1) Basis: Case: Republic vs Villasor, GR No L-30671, November 28, 1973
2) Immunity enjoyed by other states
a) Heads of states, foreign ambassadors, diplomats, etc.
b) Extraterritoriality; Exterritoriality; reciprocity; extradition
c) foreign public vessels
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d) International Organizations
3) Test to determine if suit is against the state:
Case: Sanders vs Veridiano, GR No L-46930, June 10, 1988
4) If suit is against public officers:
Case: Shauf Vs Court of Appeals, GR No 90314, November 27, 1990
5) If against the personal capacity of defendant, state immunity could not be
invoked. State’s consent is needed if suit will lie against it.
6) Consent is implied if:
a) State enters into a contract; and
b) State files a counter-claim

XI. Fundamental Powers of the State

a) Police Power; Power of Eminent Domain; and Power of Taxation
b) Characteristics of these powers
1) Inherent in the state; Exercised even without an expressed
Constitutional Grant
2) Necessary and Indispensable
3) Method by which the State interferes with private property
4) Presupposes equivalent compensation
5) Exercised primarily by the legislature
6) Delegable to municipal corporations
Cases: a) Quezon City vs. Ericta, GR No L-34915, June 24, 1983
b) Osmena vs. Orbos, GR No 99886, March 31, 1993
c) ASL vs. Sec of DAR, GR No 78742, July 14, 1989
7) Limitations: a) Lawful subjects; b) Lawful means
Cases: a) Sangalang vs IAC, GR No 71169, December 22, 1988
b) Balacuit vs CFI of Agusan del Norte, GR No L-38429, June 29,
1988
8) Power of Eminent Domain
a) Definition (See Sec. 9, Art. III; Sec. 18, Art. XII; Secs. 4, 9, Art. XIII
Case: Manila Memorial Park vs Sec of DSWD, GR No 175356, Dec
3, 2013
9) Power of Taxation.
Case: Gerochi Vs. Department of Energy, GR No 159796, July 17,
2007

XII. Declaration of Principles and State Policies:

10) Republicanism
11) Separation of Powers
12) Blending of Powers
13) Delegation of Powers
14) Government of laws
15) Majority Rule
16) Public Accountability
17) Bill of Rights
18) prohibition against non-repealable laws
19) etc.

Cases: a) Pangasinan Tansportation Co. Vs Public Service Commission, GR No

47065 , June 26, 1940
b) Maceda Vs Vasquez, GR No 102781, April 22, 1983
c) Angara Vs Electoral Commission, 63 Phil 139
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d) Casibang Vs Aquino, GR No L-38025, August 20, 1979

e) Jesus Garcia Vs. Drilon, GR No 179267, June 25, 2013
f) Pelaez Vs. Auditor-General, GR No L-23825, December 24, 1965

20) Incorporation Clause: g) Kuroda Vs. Jalandoni, 42 O.G. 4282

h) Co Kim Chan Vs Valdez Tan Keh, 75 Phil 113

21) Social Justice: i) Calalang Vs. Williams, 70 Phil 726

22) Ecology: j) Oposa Vs Factoran, GR No 105087, July 30, 1993

XIII. Citizenship

k) Section 4, Philippine Bill or 1902

l) Mercado Vs Manzano, 307 SCRA 630