2/1

• Baranggay is a term named after Balangay, a Malayan term meaning “boat”, and consists of more or less 100 families.
• Every baranggay was a state as it possessed four elements of statehood: Datu, Rajah, Sulta, or Rajih in some places.
• Datu is the chief of each baranggay, which can be attained by wealth, wisdom, inheritance, or power.
• Early Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws.
• The Maragtas Code, said to have been written about 1250 A.D. by Datu Sumakwel of Panay, is an early law in the Philippines.
• The Kalantiaw Code, written in 1443 A.D. by Datu Kalantiaw Laso of Panay, is another early law in the Philippines.
• Unwritten Law consists of customs and traditions which have been passed down from generations to generations.
• In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines.
• In June 23, 1898, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States by the Treaty of Paris.
• The Judiciary during the Spanish Period was the Royal Audencia, established in 1853, which performed functions of Executive and Legislative Nature.
• Spain uplifted the Filipino from a primitive culture and introduced Christianity and European civilization.
• Katipunan Government was the secret society that preceded the glorious revolution on August 26, 1896, organized by Andres Bonifacio and signed with their blood on July 7, 1892.
• Civil Government was inaugurated in Manila on July 4, 1901, headed by a civil governor whose position was created on October 29, 1901.
• Dictatorial Government was established on May 23, 1898, proclaiming Philippines Independence at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, replacing the Dictatorial Government.
• Japanese Sponsored Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated on October 14, 1943 with Jose P. Laurel as the President, and on August 17, 1945, President Laurel proclaimed the dissolution of the Republic.
• Biak-na-Bato Republic was established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on November 1, 1897, declaring that the aim of the revolution was to separate Philippines from Spain, and lasted until December 15, 1897.
• Military Government began on August 14, 1898, with Gen. Wesley Meritt as the first American Military Governor, followed by Gen. Ewell E. Otis and Major Gen. Arthur McArthur.
• Philippine Executive Commission was composed of Filipinos with Jose Vargas as chairman, exercising both the executive and legislative powers.
• Japanese Military Administration was established in Manila on January 3, 1942 under a proclamation issued by the Japanese High Command, terminating the sovereignty of the U.S. over the Philippines.
• The First Philippine Republic, the free and independent Philippine Republic, was inaugurated on January 23, 1893.
• The Revolutionary Government was established on June 29, 1898 by Gen. Aguinaldo, replacing the Dictatorial Government.
• The Commonwealth Government was established on March 24, 1934, also known as Tydings-McDuffie, and is a form of government in transition towards independence.
• The Republic of the Philippines was formally inaugurated on July 4, 1946 with Manuel A. Roxas as the first President and Elpidio Quirino as the Vice President.
• Both Manuel A. Roxas and Elpidio Quirino served from May 28, 1946- July 4, 1946 as the last Commonwealth President and Vice-President, respectively.
• The first Republic was established under the Malolos Constitution on Jan 23, 1899.
• The second Republic was established under the Japanese-sponsored constitution on Oct 14, 1943.
• The third Republic was established under the 1935 Constitution on July 4, 1946.
• The fourth Republic was proclaimed on June 30, 1981 under the 1973 Constitution.
• A revolutionary government, being a direct creation of the people, derives its powers from the people to whom alone it is accountable.
• The Provisional Constitution self-destructs upon the ratification and effectivity of the new constitution on Feb 2, 1987.
• Constitution is the body of rules and principles in accordance with which the power of the sovereignty is regularly exercised.
• Constitutional Law may be defined as that branch of public law which treats as constitutions, their nature, formation, amendment and interpretation.
• Preamble is derived from the Latin word “preambulare”, which means “to walk before” and is a prologue or introduction of the Constitution.
• The Provisional Government of 1986 was revolutionary because it was instituted not in accordance with the procedure provided in an existing Constitution.
• De Jure - founded in accordance with the existing constitution of the State.
• De Facto - not constituted or founded but had the general support of the people.
• The Provisional Government of 1986 was both Constitutional and Transitory as it was not a purely revolutionary government but a hybrid constitutional revolutionary government.
• The Provisional Government of 1986 was Democratic as it was installed by direct action of the people as a direct expression and manifestation of their sovereign will, therefore it was based on the consent of the people.