Politics and Governance 2

• Constitution of the Philippines

  The fundamental law that governs the Philippines since it became independent on July 4, 1946
• The Constitution of 1987 is the fourth fundamental law to govern the Philippines
• Previous constitutions of the Philippines

  • Commonwealth Constitution (1935)
  • Constitution of 1973
  • Freedom Constitution (1986)
• Creation of the 1987 Constitution

  1. President Aquino created a Constitutional Commission

  2. Commission framed a new charter

  3. Plebiscite held on February 2, 1987

  4. 76.29% voted to ratify the proposed Constitution
• Supremacy of the Constitution


  The Constitution is the basic and paramount law to which all other laws must conform and to which all persons, including the highest officials of the land, must defer
• Constitution


  • No act shall be valid, however noble its intentions, if it conflicts with the constitution
  • The constitution must ever remain supreme
  • Expediency must not be allowed to sap its strength nor greed for power debase its rectitude
• Legislature


  A body of persons, usually elective, empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state
• Functions of the Legislature

  • Determining and prescribing general rules for the government of society
  • Defining the rights and duties of citizens
  • Imposing taxes
  • Appropriating funds
  • Defining crimes and prescribing their punishment
  • Creating and abolishing offices and determining their jurisdiction and functions
  • Regulating human conduct and the use of property for the promotion of the common good and general welfare of the people in society