Name: Alhaina Z.

Julkanain Yr/Course/Sec: 1-Ab Polsci-A

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

Direction: Write the feature/s of every constitution which you think is peculiar only to
such

Distinct
Name of Constitution Feature

 A provisionary Constitution
Pact of Biak-na-Bato Constitution during the Philippine Revolution
 Promulgated on November 1,
1897
 Written in Spanish by Isabelo
Artacho and Felix Ferrer
 Three Organs of the
government: (1) Supremem
Council headed by president
and 4 department secretaries
(interior, foreign, treasury, and
war); (2) Supreme Council of
Grace and Justice – make
decisions and affirm/disprove
sentences by other courts and
dictate rules for administration
of justice; (3) Assembly of
Representatives – convinced
after the revolution to create
new constitution and to elect
 Never implemented since the
Pact of Biak-na-Bato was
signed between Spanish and
Philippine Revolutionary Army.
 Philippine Declaration of
Malolos Constitution Independence was issued
along with several decrees that
formed the First Philippine
Republic
 17 September 1898 Malolos
Congress elected members
composed of wealthy and
educated men
 29 November 1898 approved
by Congress
 21 January 1899 promulgated
by Aguinaldo with title “The
Political Constitution of 1899”
 Felipe Calderon patterned it
after Spanish Constitution of
1812 with influences from
Belgium, Brazil, Mexico,
Guatemala Costa Rica, French
Constitution of 1793, Kartilya,
Biak-na-Bato Constitution,
Mabini’s Constitutional
Program of the Phil Republic of
1898
 It is the first important Filipino
document ever produced by the
people’s representatives. It is
anchored in democratic
traditions that ultimately had
their roots in American soil.
 Executive powers were to be
exercise by the president of the
republic with the help of his
cabinet
 According to Title III, Article 5
of the Malolos Constitiution:
“The State recognized the
freedom and equality of all
beliefs, as well as the
separation of Church and
State”
 Salient Features
A. Declared the sovereignty
resides exclusively in the
people
B. Stated basic civil rights
C. Separated the Church and
State
D. Called for creation of an
 Assembly of
Representatives to act as
legislative body
E. Called for a parliamentary
republic as form of
government. President was
elected for a term of four
years by majority of the
Assembly
F. Establish democratic,
republication government
with three branches – the
Executive, Legislative and
the Judicial branches

 Created the Commonwealth of

1935 Constitution the Philippines, an
administrative body from 935 to
1946
 Transitional to prepare for
eventual independence
 Provided for a unicameral
National Assembly with
president and vice-president
elected for six-year term with
no re-election
 Amended in 1940 to have
bicameral Congress composed
of a Senate and a House of
Representatives
 Article VII, Sec. 11 (2)
empowers President to declare
martial law
 Created independent electoral
commission
 Limited term of office of the
president and vice president to
four years, with one re-election
 Granted women suffrage two
year after adoption
 February 8, 1935 approval by
Con-Con
 March 25, 1935 ratified by
Pres. Franklin B. Roosevelt
  September 16, 1935 Manuel L
Quezon elected president
 On December 30, President
Quezon issued Executive
Order No. 134, s. 1937,
approving the adoption of
Tagalog as the language of the
Philippines, and declared and
proclaimed the national
language based on the
Tagalog dialect as the national
language of the Philippines.
 Drafted by the Preparatory
1943 Constitution Committee for Philippine
Independence appointed by
Philippine Executive
Commission
 Premier Hideki Tojo promised
independence in 1942
 Ratified in 1943 by an
assembly of appointed,
provincial representatives of
Kalibapi
 Jose P. Laurel was appointed
president by the National
Assembly declared a state of
war against US and British
Empire.
 Macapagal administration
officially recognized Laurel as a
former president
 Dec. 30, 1965 Marcos was
1973 Constitution inaugurated president
 1967 Philippine Congress
passed a resolution calling for a
Con-Con to change the 1935
constitution
 1969 Marcos was re-elected
with allegations of overspending
and use of government funds
during campaign period
 Nov. 20, 1970 elections of Con-
Con delegates
 June 1, 1971 Con-Con began
 with Carlos P. Romulo as
convention president
 Controversial for removing
presidential term limit
Presidential Decree 1081 was
proclaimed declaring on
September 21, 1972 martial law
(Article VII, Sec11 (2))...when
public safety requires...),
caused by rampant corruption of
the constitutional process,
growing communist insurgency,
thus suspended 1935
constitution
 1973 Constitution introduced
parliamentary-style government
 Legislative power was vested in
unicameral National Assembly –
elected for six year term
 A President was chosen from
National Assembly, ceremonial,
could be re-elected for unlimited
terms, not to hold any other
office
 Executive power be exercised
by the Prime Minister also
elected by the National
Assembly
 Prime Minster was head of
government and Commander-
in-Chief of the Armed Forces
 Amended four times
 16-17 October 1976 “Citizen
Assemblies” martial law be
continued and ratified the
amendments
- Interim Batasang
Pambansa subtitutes for the
Interim National Assembly
- President would also
become Prime Minister and
continue exercise legislative
powers until such time martial
law was lifted
 Sixth Amendment authorized to
legislate on his own on
“emergency” basis
- 1973 Constitution further
amended in 1980 and 1981
- 1980 amendment
extended retirement age of
members of judiciary to 70
years
- 1981 Amendment
modified parliamentary system
into French-style semi
presidential system
 Executive power was restored
to the President
 Direct election of the president
restored
 Executive Committee composed
of the Prime Minister and not
more than
 14 members was created to
“assist the President in the
exercise of powers and
functions and in the
performance of duties as he
may prescribe”
 Instituted electoral reforms
 1984 amendment abolished the
Executive Committee, restored
the position of Vice-President
 1973 Constitution provided a
true parliamentary system
 Marcos used manipulation to
keep powers for himself
 The final form was the abolition
of the Senate
 House of Representatives
became known as Batasang
Pambansa, Departments
became “Ministries”, cabinet
secretaries to “cabinet
ministers”, Executive Secretary
to “Prime Minister”
  1986 People Power Revolution
Freedom Constitution ousted Marcos
 Pres. Corazon C. Aquino
issued Proclamation No. 3 as a
provisional constitution
 Granted broad powers to
reorganize government and
remove officials, mandating the
president to appoint a
commission to draft a new
Constitution
 Intended as a temporary
constitution to ensure freedom
of the people and the return to
democratic rule
 Constitutional Commission
1987 stitution was established composed of
50 members
 Cecilia Muñoz Palma the
Commission president
 Draft finished on October 12,
1986
 Ratified by a nationwide
plebiscite on February 8, 987
 Begins with preamble with 18
articles
 A “democratic republican
State”, sovereignty resides in
the people and all government
authority emanates from them”
 Civilian authority is, at all
times, supreme over the
military. The Armed forces of
the Philippines is the protector
of the people and the State. Its
goal is to secure the
sovereignty of the State and
the integrity of the national
territory.
 Presidential system with three
branches as check and
balance
 Allows martial law in times of
emergency only for 60 days
  Congress can revoke by
majority vote or extend
 Supreme Court may review if
justifying acts are sufficient
 President, VP elected by direct
vote, serving a single six-year
term
 Legislative powers in the
Congress: Senate and House
of Representatives (234
districts)
 Congress may declare a state
of war thru 2/3 votes in upper
and lower houses.

Activity 2

Direction: Answer the questions below.

1. Why do you believe the Constitution hold such political relevance in the formation
of the Philippines as an independent nation?
 The Philippines' sovereignty refers to the country's status as an
independent country. Constitutions, I feel, possess and have played a
significant part in our nation's political position, encompassing and
covering all significant events in our history. As our country is
independent, the Constitution is the manner of governing towards the
power, rights, and people in this nation.
2. Why did the Filipino leaders place a high value on the Constitution?
 The Filipino leaders place a high value on the Constitution because it
protects our rights. It enables us to have justice and live a beautiful life. It
helps us to know our limitations and the right things we should do in order
for us to become a good citizen. We will know how to protect ourselves
from enemies.
3. Do you think Filipino citizens believe that a Constitution is important? How?
 Yes, I believe Filipino citizens believe the constitution is vital because it
guarantees individual liberty and governs a country through its
fundamental ideals. Citizens have influence over the government,
according to the Constitution. It develops a system of checks and
balances that limits the government's power. A constitution's principal
purpose is to establish the basic structure of government by which the
people will be governed. And without our own sovereignty, we will never
be an independent nation-state with shared history, language, ethnicity,
and culture.
 4. How does our 1987 Constitution impact its citizens and the world today?
 The 1987 Constitution established a representative democracy with three
distinct and independent branches of government: the Executive, a
bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. It's had a significant impact.
In many respects, such as history and our identities as Filipino citizens in
this country, the impact on the Filipino citizen and the world now is
significant. It also refers to the rules that a state's citizens accept in order
to keep and maintain peace and order in the community. The state will be
in disarray if this does not happen. The sovereign power of the state will
deteriorate and the government will not be able to function well.
Philippines had several constitutions but the most “well-knowns” started
from the Biak-na-Bato Republic. The transition of the constitutions are the
result of socio- historical background of the Philippines dated back from
the Pre-Hispanic period.

ASSESSMENT

Direction: Write the answer before the number.

6 (six) 1. How many constitutions are there in the history of the Philippines?

The Malolos Constitution 2. How was the 1899 Constitution called?

The Malolos Constitution (1899) 3.Which constitution first called for a parliamentary
form of government?

Independence Day 4. What salient feature of 1899 Constitution was carried over until
1987 Constitution?

The Commonwealth Constitution 5. The 1935 Constitution is also known as ________.

Executive 6. It is the constitutional organ exercising authority in and holding

responsibility for the governance of a state.
The 1943 Constitution 7. The government after the Commonwealth of the Philippines
and after the proclamation of Philippine Independence, shall be
known as _______________.

“Communist Treat” 8. It was one of the reasons cited by Marcos for his declaration of
Martial Law.
“Citizen Assemblies” 9. The process used in Oct. 1976 in the amendment of the 1973
Constitution was through the _________.

4 ( Four) 10. How many times had the 1973 Constitution been amended?

ENRICHMENT

Activity 1

Direction: There are many ways in the past in which Filipinos have shown and
expressed the special influences of the 1987 Constitution on the political
culture of the Philippines. Identify events, activities, celebrations, etc. that
show the influence of our Constitution.

Event Description

1. February 2nd Constitution Day Setting the date recognizes the

significance of the Constitution in
modern times
2. Promulgated on November 1, A provisionary Constitution
1897 during the Philippine Revolution.

Philippine Declaration of
3. Independence Day Independence was issued along
with several decrees that formed
the First Philippine Republic.

4. Dec. 10, 1898 to March 24, Philippine was a US colony. It

1934 was declared during Acts of the US
Congress (1902-1934)

5. 1935-1946 Created the Commonwealth of

the Philippines, an administrative
body. Then elected Manuel L.
Quezon as a president.
 6. National Assembly, declared a Jose P. Laurel was appointed as
state of war against US and a president.
British Empire

7. Dec. 30, 1965 Marcos was inaugurated as a

new president.

8. Constitutional Commission Began to form a new political-

was established composed of government system.
50 members

9. Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Also called “Freedom

issued Proclamation No. 3 as
a provisional constitution.
Constitution” Intended as a
temporary constitution to ensure
freedom of the people and the
return to democratic rule and
reorganize all the political and
government system.

10. February 8, 1987 Ratified by a nationwide

plebiscite including the Legislative
powers in the Congress: Senate
and House of Representatives (234
districts)

Activity 2

Direction: There are other countries who have dedicated days for the founding of their
Constitution. Identify such nations and indicate the mark (√) or (x) if the
following elements are being practiced like celebrate Independence Day,
produce printed copies of their constitution and locations where citizens and
visitors can view their constitution. An example is given below.

Celebrate Location/place
Countries Independence Day Printed copies where to view

Philippines √ √ √
   
Mexico

  
Myanmar

Cambodia   

x  
Australia

New Zealand x X x

X  
Thailand