1987 Philippine Constitution

• The national territory of the Philippines comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, uvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas.
• The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
• The Philippines is a democratic and republican State.
• Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
• The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.
• 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.
• The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people.
• The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or civil service.
• The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.
• The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.
• The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy.
• In its relations with other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.
• The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.
• The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.
• The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.
• The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.
• The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.
• The State equally protects the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.
• The salaries of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives shall be determined by law.
• A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.
• No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, during his term without forfeiting his seat.
• No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies.
• The President may call a special session at any time.
• Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.
• No member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms.
• Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular election of the Senators and the Members of the House of Representatives shall be held on the second Monday of May.
• The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election.
• No increase in said compensation shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of all the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives approving such increase.
• No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.
• All Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall, upon assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests.
• In case of vacancy in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, a special election may be called to fill such vacancy in the manner prescribed by law, but the Senator or Member of the House of Representatives thus elected shall serve only for the unexpired term.
• The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the opening of its next regular session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
• No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office.
• The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.
• The State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation.
• The term of office and other qualifications and disabilities of the Members of the Commission shall be provided by law.
• There is hereby created an independent office called the Commission on Human Rights.
• The State shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society.
• The right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged.