Philippine Constitution

• Constitution


  A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed
• Constitution


  A codified list of provisions that identifies the limitations of the power of the government and enumerates its responsibilities to the people
• The Philippine Constitution is the highest law of the land
• The Philippine Constitution has evolved since 1897
• 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato


  A provisionary Constitution of the Philippine Republic during the Philippine Revolution, promulgated by the Philippine Revolutionary government on November 1,1897
• The 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was borrowed from Cuba, and was written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer in Spain, and later translated into Tagalog
• 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato


  1. Provided for the establishment of a Supreme council that would serve as the highest governing body of the Republic

  2. Outlined certain basic human rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to education

  3. Organs of government were: Supreme Council; Supreme Council of Grace and Justice and; Assembly of Representatives
• Congress of the Aguinaldo Revolutionary Government convened at the Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan


  September 15,1898
• Drafting of the Malolos Constitution


  1. 85 deputies comprised the Committee on Constitution

  2. 3 initial drafts: The True Decalogue and Constitutional Program of Apolinario Mabini; The Pedro Paterno version and; The Felipe Calderon version

  3. Felipe Calderon's draft prevailed and was promulgated on January 21,1898
• Malolos Constitution


  • Independent powers (executive, unicameral legislative, and the judicial)
  • Bill of Rights
  • Separation of Church and State
• The Malolos Constitution was borrowed from Costa Rica, Chile, and Spain
• Philippine Organic Act of 1902


  The first organic law enacted by the U.S congress for the Philippines, provided for the creation of the Philippine Assembly, and a bicameral legislature composed of a Philippine Commission (upper house) and the Philippine Assembly (lower house) where the lawmaking power was vested
• Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 (Jones Law)


  Amended the structure of the Philippines government that was provided for the Philippine Bill of 1902, removed the Philippine Commission and replaced it with the Senate whose members were elected by the Filipino voters, and expressed the United States' intention to grant the Philippines its independence as soon as a stable Philippine government would be established
• Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934


  An Act of Congress that established the process for the Philippines, then an American territory, to become an independent country after a ten-year transition period
• 1935 Philippine Constitution


  Promulgated by the 1934 Constitutional Convention and was in operation during the Commonwealth era (1935-1946), until the Third Republic (July 4,1946-January 16,1973)
• 1943 Constitution


  Promulgated by the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence (PCPI) during the Japanese Occupation, established the Second Philippine Republic as a single-party authoritarian republic
• 1973 Constitution


  Promulgated by the 1973 Constitutional Convention after Marcos declared Martial Law, established a unicameral legislature and a semi-presidential system
• 1986 Freedom Constitution


  Issued by President Corazon Aquino as a provisional constitution, containing some provisions adopted from the 1973 constitution
• 1987 Philippine Constitution


  Drafted by a Constitutional assembly mandated in Proclamation No.3, established a democratic republican state with a presidential system of government
• The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides protection and guarantees to the basic rights of Filipino citizens, such as freedom of the press, religion, and fair trial
• The 1987 Philippine Constitution allows the country to keep pace with changes in society and the needs of the people
• The 1987 Philippine Constitution describes a society that has democratic principles, upholds rights and justice, and seeks to improve the condition of every Filipino
• The 1987 Philippine Constitution teaches the existence of a balance of power between the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, which contributes to the prevention of abuse of power
• also known as the “ Philippine Bill of 1902”

  Philippine Organic Act of 1902
• enumerated the bill of rights for the Filipinos and provided for the appointment of two non-voting Filipino Resident Commissioners of the Philippines.

  Philippine Organic Act f 1902
• Also known as Jones Law


  Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916
• written in 1934 with the goal of meeting the US expectation of political maturity


  The 1935 Philippine Constitution
• The third Republic started with the granting of Philippine independencefrom US domination to Roxas(1946-1948),Quirino(1948-1953),Magsaysay(1953-


  The 1935 Philippine Constitution
• During the Commonwealth period, the form of government was Presidential System


  The 1935 Philippine Constitution
• the U.S. statute that provided for Philippine independence, to takeeffect on July 4, 1946, after a 10-year transitional period ofCommonwealth government.


  Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934
• The bill was signed by U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 24,1934, and was sent to the Philippine Senate for approval


  Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934
• The act was authored in the 73rd United States Congress by SenatorMillard E. Tydings (Dem.) of Maryland and Representative JohnMcDuffie (Dem.) of Alabama, and signed into law by President FranklinD. Roosevelt. (en)


  Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934
• The commission composed fifty members of the House of Representatives,former justices of the Supreme Court, a Roman Catholic bishop, and politicalactivists against the Marcos regime. Cecilia Munoz Palma, a former AssociateChief Justice of the SC was elected by the commission as its president.


  The 1987 Philippine Constitution (February 8,1987 to date)
• A democratic republican state (Sec 1, Article 2) Executive (President andVice-President, elected by the Filipino people with six-year term) Senator (elected by the Filipino people, with six-year term and eligible for reelection)


  The 1987 Philippine Constitution (February 8,1987 to date)
• House of Representative (elected by district, 3 years term of office with two reelection)


  The 1987 Philippine Constitution (February 8,1987 to date)