ARTICLE IV-

CITIZENSHIP
SECTION 1
The following are citizens of the Philippines:
• Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the
time of the adoption of this Constitution;
• Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of
the Philippines;
• Those born before January 17, 1973, of
Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority;
and
• Those who are naturalized in accordance with
law
Important Terms
• Citizen - a person having the title of
citizenship. He is a member of a democratic
community who enjoys full civil and political
rights
• Citizenship - a term denoting membership of a
citizen in a political society.
• Subject - citizen of a member of a democratic
community who enjoys full civil and political
rights. In a monarchal state, he is called a
“subject”.
• Alien - is a citizen of a country who is residing
on or passing through another country. He is
popularly called as a “foreigner”.
Citizenship by Birth
• Jus Sanguinis - Blood relationship is the
basis for the acquisition of this rule. The
children follow the citizenship of the
parent. The Philippines uses this rule.
• Jus soli/ jus loci - place of birth serves
as the basis for acquiring citizenship
under this rule. The U.S. uses this rule.
The person become the citizen where he
is born irrespective of the citizenship of
the parents.
Citizenship by Naturalization
• Naturalization - act of formally adapting a
foreigner into the political body of the
state and clothing him with the rights and
privileges of citizenship.
Ways of Acquiring Citizenship by
Naturalization
• By judgment of the court
• By direct act of Congress
• By administrative proceedings
SECTION 2
Kinds of Citizen under the Constitution
• Natural born citizen
• Citizen at the time of adoption of the new
Constitution **
• Citizen through election **
• Naturalized citizens
SECTION 3
Loss of citizenship (Voluntary):
• By naturalization in a foreign country
• By express renunciation of citizenship
• By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to
a foreign country
• By rendering service to or accepting
commission in the armed forces of a
foreign country
SECTION 3
Loss of citizenship (Involuntary):
• By cancellation of his certificate of
naturalization by court
• Having been declared by competent
authority , a deserter of the Philippine
Armed forces in the time of war
SECTION 4
Effects of marriage of citizen to an alien
• A Filipino citizen who marries an alien
does not lose his citizenship even if by
the laws of his/her wife’s/ husband’s
country, he/she acquires her/his
nationality.
• The exception is if they renounce their
citizenship.
SECTION 5
• Dual allegiance of citizens shall be dealt
with by law.
• Dual allegiance - refers to the continued
allegiance of naturalized nationals to their
mother country even after they have
acquired Filipino Citizenship.
• Dual Citizenship - refers to the possession
of two citizenships by an individual, that of
his original citizenship and that of the
country where he became a naturalized
citizen.
ARTICLE V
SUFFRAGE
SECTION 1
• Suffrage - Is the right and obligation to
vote of qualified citizens in the election of
certain national and local officers of the
government and in the decision of public
questions submitted to the people.
• Nature of Suffrage:
1. A mere privilege
2. A political right
Scope of Suffrage
• Election - means by which the people chose
their officials.
• Plebiscite - name given to vote of the people
expressing their choice for or against a proposed
law
• Referendum - submission of a law or part
thereof passed by the national or local legislative
body
• Initiative - process whereby the people directly
propose and enact law.
• Recall - method by which a public officer may be
removed from office during his tenure or before
the expiration of his term.
Qualification of voters
• Must be a citizen (male or female) of the
Philippines
• Not otherwise disqualified by law
• At least 18 years of age
• Have resided in the Philippines for at
least 1 year and in the place wherein he
proposes to vote at least six months
preceding the election.
Persons disqualified to vote
• Any person who has been sentenced by
final judgment to suffer imprisonment by
not less than 1 yr.
• Any person who has been adjudged by
final judgment by competent court of
having committed any crime involving
disloyalty, rebellion, sedition, etc.
• Insane or incompetent person declared
by a competent authority.