WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF LAW

General Course Outline

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I

1st SEMESTER
SY 2022-2023

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Scope of Political Law
B. Constitutional Law
C. Basic Principles

II. THE CONSTITUTION

A. Definition, nature and concepts
B. Classifications
C. Essential Parts
D. Amendments and Revisions
E. Interpretation/Construction

III. THE 1987 CONSTITUTION: Historical Background

A. General Considerations
B. The Philippines as a State
C. Elements of a State
D. Jurisdiction of the State
E. Fundamental Powers of the State
a. Police Power
b. Power of Eminent Domain
c. Power of taxation

IV. THE 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

A. Preamble
B. National Territory
a. Archiphelagic Doctrine
C. Declaration of Principles and State Policies
D. Separation of Powers
E. Checks and balances
F. Blending of Powers
G. Doctrine of Incorporation
H. Doctrine of Auto-Limitation
I. Executing and Non-Executing Provisions
J. Other Principles and Doctrines
a. Dominium vs. Imperium
b. Doctrine of State Immunity
c. Doctrine of Constitutional Supremacy
d. Doctrine of Parens Patriae
e. Principle of Right of Revolution
f. Doctrine of Stare Decisis

V. CITIZENSHIP
A. What is citizenship?
 B. Citizenship vs Nationality
C. Theories for the Purpose of Determining Citizenship
D. Who are Filipino citizens?
E. Naturalization
a. Attributes of Naturalization
b. Administrative Naturalization
c. Judicial Naturalization
d. Legislative Naturalization
e. Denaturalization
F. Lose and reacquisition of Citizenship
G. Dual Citizenship and Dual Allegiance

VI. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

A. Legislative Power
B. Classification of Legislative Power
C. Limitations of Legislative
a. Substantial Limitation
b. Procedural Limitation
D. Who may exercise legislative power
1. Congress
2. Regional/Local Legislative Power
3. People’s Initiative on Statutes
a. Initiative and referendum
4. The president under a martial law rule or in a revolutionary government
E. Delegation of Legislative Power
a. Test of valid delegation
1. Completeness Test
2. Sufficient Standard Test
F. House of Congress
1. Senate
2. House of Representatives
a. District Representatives and questions of appointment
b. Party-List System
3. Composition and Qualifications
4. Term and Tenure
G. Legislative Privileges, inhibitions and disqualifications
H. Discipline of Members
I. Process of Law-making
J. Session, Quorum and Voting Majorities
a. Journal
b. Enrolled Bill Doctrine
K. Appropriations and re-alignment
L. Electoral tribunals and the Commission on Appointments
a. Nature
b. Powers
M. Powers of Congress
a. Legislative
i. Legislative inquiries and the oversight functions
ii. Bicameral Conference Committee
iii. Limitations on legislative power
1. Limitations on revenue, appropriations and tariff measures
2. Presidential veto and Congressional Override
b. Non-Legislative
i. Informing function
ii. Power of Impeachment
iii. Other Non-Legislative Powers