Topic 8: Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines

• The 1935 Philippine constitution was the first constitution of the Philippines as an independent nation.
• The 1935 Philippine constitution was the first constitution of the Philippines as an independent nation. It was drafted by a constitutional convention that was elected in 1934 and ratified by the Filipino people in 1935. It established the Commonwealth of the Philippines, a transitional government that would prepare the country for full independence from the United States after a ten-year period.
• The 1935 constitution - It declared the Philippines as a republican state, where sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
• The 1935 constitution - It provided for a presidential system of government, with a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives, an executive branch headed by a President and a Vice President, and a judicial branch headed by a Supreme Court.
• The 1935 constitution - It guaranteed the bill of rights, which included the protection of life, liberty, and property; the freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly; the right to due process of law and equal protection of the law; and the prohibition of ex post facto laws and bills of attainder.
• The 1935 constitution - It renounced war as an instrument of national policy and adopted the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the nation.
• The 1935 constitution - It promoted social justice to ensure the well-being and economic security of all the people.
• The 1935 constitution was amended only once, in 1940, to establish a unicameral National Assembly and to allow for a second term for the President and Vice President.
• The 1973 Philippine constitution was the second constitution of the Philippines as an independent nation. It was proclaimed by then-President Ferdinand Marcos during martial law, and was ratified by the Filipino people through citizens' assemblies in 1973. It established a new form of government, which was later called the "New Society".
• The 1973 constitution - It abolished the presidential system of government and replaced it with a parliamentary system, where the executive power was vested in a Prime Minister, who was elected by a unicameral National Assembly. The President became a ceremonial head of state, who was elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term.
• The 1973 constitution - (the Parliamentary System) It granted Marcos sweeping powers to amend the constitution, enact laws, issue decrees, and appoint officials without the consent of the National Assembly. It also allowed him to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, declare martial law, and exercise emergency powers in times of crisis
• The 1973 constitution - It created a constitutional authoritarianism, where the rule of law was subordinate to the will of Marcos. It suppressed civil liberties, human rights, and democratic institutions. It also imposed censorship, curfews, and arrests on dissenters and critics.
• The 1973 constitution - It promoted a nationalist and populist ideology, which aimed to create a "New Society" that was free from corruption, poverty, and social injustice. It also advocated for a "Filipino First" policy, which favored local industries and businesses over foreign interests.
• The 1973 constitution - It recognized the role of the military in maintaining peace and order, and in supporting the development programs of the government. It also established a National Defense Council, which advised the President on matters of national security.
• The 1987 Philippine constitution is the supreme law of the Philippines. It was ratified on February 2, 1987, and provides for a presidential, representative, and unitary form of government, as well as a bill of rights. The constitution is based on the principles of democracy, social justice, and human rights.
• The 1987 constitution - It restored the bicameral Congress, composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives, which was abolished by the 1973 constitution. It also created an independent Commission on Elections to ensure free and fair elections
• The 1987 constitution - It expanded the bill of rights, which includes the protection of life, liberty, and property; the freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly; the right to due process of law and equal protection of the law; and the prohibition of ex post facto laws and bills of attainder. It also added new rights, such as the right to information, the right to privacy, the right to health, and the right to education.
• The 1987 constitution - It established a constitutional commission on human rights, which investigates violations of human rights and recommends measures to prevent or correct them. It also created a constitutional commission on audit, which examines the accounts and expenditures of all government agencies.
• The 1987 constitution - It provided for a comprehensive agrarian reform program, which aims to distribute land to landless farmers and promote rural development. It also recognized the rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral domains and cultural identity.
• The 1987 constitution - It declared that the Philippines is a democratic and republican state, where sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. It also renounced war as an instrument of national policy and adopted the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the nation.