CHAPTER

4:

Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural

Issues in Philippine History
Evolution of the Philippine
Constitution
*Biak na Bato Constitution of 1897, the first informal Constitution in
Asia*
1897: Constitution of Biak
na Batto

• Designation referring to the second revolutionary republican

government led by Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine
Revolution.
• The Katipunan’s revolution led to the Tejeros Convention
where, at San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite, on March 22,
1897, the first presidential and vice presidential elections in
the Philippine history were held, although only Katipuneros
(members of the Katipunan) were able to take part, and not
the general populace.
 THE ORGANS OF THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION OG BIAK NA BATO

1. Supreme council which was vested with the power of the Republic, headed
by the president and Four Departments secretaries : Interior, Foreign Affairs,
Treasury, and War.
2. Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y Justicia ( Supreme Council of Grace and
Justice) which has given authority to make decisions and affirm or disprove the
sentences rendered by other courts and dictate rules for the administration of
Justice.
3. Asamblea de Representates (Assembly of the Representatives) which has to
be covened after the revolution to create a new constituiton and elect a new
council of Government and Representative of the people.
*Malolos Constitution of 1899, First Formal Constitution
in Asia*
 1899: Malolos Constitution

• Known as the Constitucion Politica de Malolos and it was written in Spanish

• Following the declaration of independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 and
transformation of the dictatorial government on 23 June
• Pedro Paterno as president and Gregorio Araneta as vice president
• Opposed by Apolinario Mabini, the Prime Minister of the revolutionary
government
• States that the people have exclusive sovereignty
• It states basic civil rights, separated the church from the state, and called for the
creation of an Assembly of Representatives which would act as the legislative
body
*The Commonwealth Constitution of 1935*
1935: The Commonwealth
Constitution

• Legal basis of Commonwealth Republic under the

American Government
• Featured “Bicameral Legislator” in the Philippine
Legislative (Senate and Congress)
• Gave President and Vice President four-years term without
re-elction
• Started the “Suffrage” in the Philippines (21+ male and
extended to women)
1973: Constitutional Authoritarianism
• On 24 August 1970, Congress enacted RA No. 6132,
otherwise known as the Constitutional Convention Act, for the
purpose of convening a Constitutional Convention.
• While in the process of drafting a new Constitution, President
Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on 21 September
1972
• Promulgated after Marcos’ declaration of martial law, was
supposed to introduce a parliamentary-style government.
• Legislative power was vested in a unicameral National
Assembly whose members were elected for six-year terms.
1987: Freedom Constitution
(Constitution After Martial Law)

• Also known as “Anti-Marcos Constitution”

• Upholds national sovereignty
• Gave Philippines a Democratic Governance and the
prevention of another dictatorship
• Secures respect for human rights and civil liberties
• Formulated the three branches of government; Executive,
Legislative, Judiciary.
Executive Branch
The Executive branch is headed by the President and his
appointment Cabinet. The president is head o the state and the
chief executive, but he is subject to significant checks from the
other branches, especially in times of emergency, which, given
the history of the country.

For example, in cases of national emergency, the President

can still declare martial law, but not for a period longer than 60
days. Congress can revoke this decision by a majority vote, or it
can also extend it for a period to be determined by the
congress.
Legislative Branch
The legislative power is vested in a Congress which is
divided into two Houses, the Senate and the House of
Representative. The 24 members of the Senate are elected
at large by a popular vote and can serve no more than two
than two consecutive 6-years terms.

One of the most important powers of Congress is the

ability to declare war, which it can through a two-thirds vote
in both houses.
Judicial Branch

• The third branch of government is the Judicial

branch. The Judiciary is made up of courts -
Supreme, Circuit, the magistrate (local) and
municipal (city) courts.
• The Judicial branch interprets the laws.
• The state judges are elected by the citizens rather
than being appointed. They also run for their office
as members of a political party.
The duties of the judicial branch include:
• Interpreting state laws;
• Settling legal disputes;
• Punishing violators of the law;
• Hearing civil cases;
• Protecting individual rights granted by the state
constitution;
• Determing the guilt or innocence of those accused of
violating the criminal laws of the state;
• Acting as a check upon the legislative and executive
branches of state government.
Changing of the Constitution
• Constitutional reform in the Philippines, also known as
Charter Change (colloquially Cha-Cha) refers to the
political and legal processes needed to amend the current
1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Under the common
iterpretation of the Constitution, amendments can be
proposed by one of three methods: a People’s Initiative, a
Constituent Assesmbly or a Constitutional Convection.
• People’s Initiative (or “PI”) is a common appellative in the
Philippines that refers to either a mood for constitutional
amendment provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution or
to the act of pushing an initiative (national or local) allowed by
the Philippine Initiative and Referendum Act of 1987.
• A Constitutional Convention, is one of the three methods
to amend the Constitution of the Philippines. The others are a
People’s Initiative or a Constituent Assembly.
• Constituent Assembly, is a term describing one of the three
methods by which amendments to the 1987 Constitution of
the Philippines may be proposed. The other two modes are
Via People’s Initiative and Constitutional Convention.
Group 1 - Reporter 5
Members:
Sy, Alexis D.
Garcia, Blezel P.
Corzon, Paul Kerby S.
Calvez, Mark Jester
De Leon, Johann Franz
Reano, Drixcel
Acedillo, Richard
Vermug, Andrey Daven