Definition [Highlight]

• Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
• Manifestations of a democratic and republican state:

  • The existence of bill of rights;
  • The observance of the rule of the majority;
  • The observance of the principle that ours is a government of laws, and not of men;
  • The presence of elections through popular will;
  • The observance of the principle of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances;
  • The observance of the principle that the legislature cannot pass irrepealable laws; and
  • The observance of the principle that the state cannot be sued without its consent.
• Sovereignty of the people

  • Exercised indirectly through public officials; and
  • Exercised directly through suffrage.
• Section 3. 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. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of national territory.
• A safeguard against military dictatorship. A civilian, the President is the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Philippines - the army, the navy, the air force, the constabulary, and the marines.
• Appointment of high-ranking officers is vested in the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of Congress.
• The President determines the budget of the military and craft national policy on defence and security.
• Section 4. 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 prime duty of the government

  • To serve and protect the people.
  • Government exists for the people and not the people for the government.
  • The state fulfills the prime duty by implementing state policies.
• Section 5. 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 blessing of democracy.
• Peace and order

  • Maintenance of peace and order and the protection of life, liberty, and property including the promotion of general welfare or common good.
  • Political stability and economic prosperity can only be obtained with peace and order, security, and a life of dignity are established and maintained.
• Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.
• Inviolable - never be broken.
• Principles of separation of church and state

  • The Church is not to interfere in purely political matters, vis a vis.
  • It also implied that “no law shall be made respecting the establishment of religion (Art 3, Sec 5)”.
  • And “no public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, paid, or supported by any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution or system of religion (Art 6, Sec 29 [2])”.
• Meaning of “establishment of religion”

  • The state shall have no official religion; and
  • The state cannot set up a church, whether or not supported with public funds; nor aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another.
• Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well- being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
• Role of the youth in nation-building

  • Today’s youth, more knowledgeable and intelligent. They are better educated and far more well-informed and articulate and politically conscious, mainly due to easier access to information.
  • Duty of the state is to promote and protect the well-being of the youth to enable them to develop physically, morally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially.
• Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.
• Honesty and integrity in public service

  • Corruption undermines the quality of life for people especially in poor countries.
  • The provision was incorporated in the constitution as a revelation of “unprecedented magnitude” of graft and corruption.