De Leon, Cyrus Q.

Readings In Philippine History

BSIE 1A ` Module 14-15: The 4 Constitutions

Malolos Constitution 1935 1973 1987

Constitution Constitution Constitution
It is the first important This constitution was The Constitutional The proposed new
state document through adopted by the Convention started its Constitution was
which the Filipino people Commonwealth work of rewriting the approved by the
have spoken, and it was Government of the Constitution on June Commission on
adopted on January 21, Philippines from 1935 1, 1971. The 1935 October 12, 1986. The
1899. It was the to 1946. This Constitution was made final session was held
fundamental law of the Constitution did not the basis for the on October 15, 1986,
First Philippine contain original ideas of drafting of and it was ratified by
Republic. government. The amendments to the the people in a
constitution approved new constitution. plebiscite called for on
by the 1935 February 2, 1987. With
The proposed
Constitutional its ratification, the
Constitution was
Convention was FIFTH Republic was
signed on November
intended for both the born. It superseded the
30, 1972. But, earlier
Commonwealth and the provisional Constitution
on September 21,
Republic. The which had abrogated
1972, The President of
government established the 1973 Charter.
the Philippines then
by this constitution shall Ferdinand E. Marcos
be known as the issued Proclamation
Commonwealth of the Order no. 1081 placing
Philippines. the entire country
under martial law.
It has five features This Constitution was This Constitution had This Constitution has
which are: amended three times. been amended on four the following
These are among the occasions. Among the features/principles:
Amendments: important
1. It declared that amendments and
sovereignty resides features are: 1. Recognition of the
exclusively in the 1. Establishing a aid of Almighty God
people (Title I; bicameral (Preamble);
Article 3); legislature 1. Making the then 2. Sovereignty of the
2. It separated the 2. Allowing the re- incumbent people (Article II;
powers of the eligibility of the President, the Sec. 1).
Executive, President and the regular President, 3. Renunciation of
Legislative and Vice President for a and regular Prime war as an
Judicial branches of second four-year Minister. instrument of
the government term of office. 2. Granting national policy
(Title II); 3. Creating a separate concurrent law- (Article II; Sec. 2);
3. It separated the Commission on making powers to 4. Supremacy of the
Church and the Elections. the President civilian authority
State (Title III); 4. The inclusion of the which the latter over the military
4. It enumerated basic Parity Amendment exercised even (Article II; Sec.3).
civil rights (Title IV which gave way to after the lifting of 5. Separation of the
with all of its American citizens martial law in Church and the
articles); equal rights with 1981. state (Article II;
5. It called for the the Filipinos in the 3. Establishing a Sec. 6).
creation of an exploitation of our parliamentary form 6. Recognition of the
Assembly of natural resources of government importance of the
Representatives to and the operation then, it was family as a basic
act as the legislative of the public modified into a social institution
De Leon, Cyrus Q. Readings In Philippine History
BSIE 1A ` Module 14-15: The 4 Constitutions

body (Title V), and
6. It called for a 5. Allowing the
Presidential form of
government (Title VI
& Title VIII).
PREAMBLE
utilities; and Semi- and of the vital role
Parliamentary form of youth in the
women the right to of government. nation-building
suffrage as per 4. Permitting natural- (Article II; Sec. 12
Plebiscite held on born citizens who & Article XV);
April 30, 1937. have lost their 7. Guarantee Human
(2011, Hector S. De citizenship to be Rights (Article III);
Leon) transferees of 8. Government
private land, for through suffrage
use by them as a (Article V);
residence. 9. Separation of
5. Allowing the grant powers (Article VI,
of lands of the VII & VIII);
public domain to 10. Independence of
qualified citizens; the Judiciary
and (Article VIII);
6. Providing for urban 11. Guarantee of local
land reform and autonomy (Article
social housing X);
program. (2011, 12. High sense of
Hector S. De public service
Leon) morality and
accountability of
public officers
(Article XI)
13. Nationalization of
natural resources
and certain private
enterprises affected
with the public
interest (Article XII)
14. non-suability of the
state (Article XVI);
15. Rule of the majority
(Article II); and
16. Government of
laws and not of
men (Article III)
(2011, Hector S.
De Leon)
PREAMBLE PREAMBLE PREAMBLE

We, the Representatives The Filipino people, We, the sovereign We, the sovereign
of the Filipino people, imploring the aid of Filipino people, Filipino people, implore
lawfully convened, to Divine Providence, to imploring the aid of the aid of Almighty
establish justice, provide establish a government Divine Providence, to God, in order to build a
for the common that shall embody their establish a just and humane
defense, promote the ideals, conserve, and government that shall society, and establish a
general welfare, and develop the patrimony embody our ideals, Government that shall
ensure the benefits of of the nation, promotes promote the general embody our ideals and
liberty, imploring the aid the general welfare, welfare, conserve, and aspirations, promote
of the Sovereign and secure to develop the patrimony the common good,
Legislator of the themselves and their of our Nation, and conserve and develop
Universe for the posterity the blessings secure to ourselves our patrimony, and
attainment of these
De Leon, Cyrus Q. Readings In Philippine History
BSIE 1A ` Module 14-15: The 4 Constitutions

ends, have voted, of independence under and our posterity the secure to ourselves
decreed, and sanctioned a regime of justice, blessings of and our posterity, the
the following provisions liberty, and democracy, democracy under a blessings of
of the Constitution. do ordain and regime of justice, independence and
promulgate this peace, liberty, and democracy under the
Constitution. equality, do ordain and rule of law and a
promulgate this regime of truth, justice,
Constitution. freedom, love, equality,
and peace, do ordain
and promulgate this
Constitution.
Provisions of the Provisions of the 1935 Provisions of the Provisions of the
Malolos Constitution Constitution 1973 Constitution 1987 Constitution

TITLE I -THE Article I –National Article I –National Article I –National

REPUBLIC Territory Territory Territory
TITLE II -THE Article II –Declaration Article II –Declaration Article II –Declaration
GOVERNMENT of Principles of Principles and State of Principles and State
Policies Policies
TITLE III –RELIGION Article III –Bill of Rights
Article III –Citizens Article III –Bill of
TITLE IV -THE Article IV –Citizenship
Rights
FILIPINOS AND THEIR Article IV -Bill of
Article V –Suffrage
NATIONAL AND Rights Article IV –Citizenship
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS Article VI –Legislative
Article V –Duties and Article V –Suffrage
Department
TITLE V -THE Obligations of Citizens Article VI –Legislative
LEGISLATIVE POWER Article VII –Executive
Article VI –Suffrage Department
Department
TITLE VI -THE Article VII –The Article VII –Executive
PERMANENT Article VIII –Judicial
President and the Vice Department
COMMISSION Department
President Article VIII –Judicial
TITLE VII -THE Article IX –
Article VIII –National Department
EXECUTIVE POWER Impeachment
Assembly Article IX –
TITLE VIII -THE Article X –Commission
Article IX –The Prime Constitutional
PRESIDENT OF THE on Election
Minister and the Commissions
REPUBLIC Article XI –General Cabinet Article X –Local
TITLE IX -THE Auditing Office
Article X –Judiciary Government
SECRETARIES OF Article XII –Civil
GOVERNMENT Article XI –Local Article XI –
Service 6
Government Accountability of Public
TITLE X -THE Article XIII – Officers
JUDICIAL POWER Article XII –The
Conservation and
Constitutional Article XII –National
TITLE XI -PROVINCIAL Utilization of Natural
Commissions Economy and
AND POPULAR Resources
Patrimony
ASSEMBLIES Article XIII –
Article XIV –General
Accountability of Article XIII –Social
TITLE XII Provisions
Public Officers Justice and Human
-ADMINISTRATION OF Article XV – Rights
THE STATE Article XIV –The
Amendments
National Economy and Article XIV –
TITLE XIII Article XVI –Transitory Patrimony of the Education, Science &
-AMENDMENT OF THE Provisions Nation Technology, Culture,
CONSTITUTION
Article XVII –Special Arts and Sports
Article XV –General
TITLE XIV Provisions Effective Provisions Article XV –The Family
-CONSTITUTIONAL
De Leon, Cyrus Q. Readings In Philippine History
BSIE 1A ` Module 14-15: The 4 Constitutions

OBSERVANCE, OATH, Upon the Proclamation Article XVI – Article XVI –General
AND of the Independence of Amendments Provision
LANGUAGETRANSITO the Philippines Article –Transitory Article XVII –
RY PROVISIONS Article XVIII –The Provisions. Amendments/Revisions
Commonwealth and the Article XVIII –
Republic Transitory Provisions