The Philippine

Constitution
ALDRIN P. CABAHUG, LPT
lecturer
Topics to be discussed:

 State, Nation and Government

 Forms of Government
 Citizenship
 Suffrage
 Bill of Rights
 Branches of Governments
 Public Officials
 Amendments or Revisions
 Preamble
Article IV: CITIZENSHIP
Citizen – is a member of a political community.
He owes allegiance to the state. Example a Filipino
who lives in Philippines is a Filipino Citizen.

National – is not a part of political community. He

owes allegiance to the State. Example a Filipino
who lives in Dubai is a Filipino National.
Principles in Acquiring Citizenship

Jus Sanguinis – blood relationship

children follow the citizenship of the parents or one of

them
predominating principle in the Philippines

Jus soli or jus loci – place of birth

a person becomes a citizen of a state where he is born

Irrespective of the citizenship of the parents
Acquiring Citizenship
Involuntary (Natural born Citizen) –
citizenship by birth

Voluntary (Naturalized Citizen) –

citizenship by applying (Naturalization).
Example an Arab wants to be a Filipino
Citizen, he can apply for it if also he met the
requirements in Naturalization Process.
Citizen of the Philippines according to Article IV
Section I

1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the

time of the adoption of this Constitution.

- People who are present in the Philippines during the

adoption of the constitution is a Filipino Citizen.

2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the

Philippines

- Child whose parent is a Filipino is considered as

Filipino (Jus Sanguinis Principle).
3. Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino
mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon
reaching the age of majority.

- This means that anyone born before January 17, 1973

of Filipino mother is a Filipino.

4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Naturalized Citizen

- Not born to Filipino parents

- It has limits in terms of running in a Political
Positions and in applying Jobs due to the fact that a
Naturalized Citizen might not have its loyalty to
the Philippines.
Article V: SUFFRAGE
Requirements to vote

1.At least eighteen years of age.

2. Have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and

3. Resided in the place wherein they propose to vote for at

least six months immediately preceding the election.
Function of the Congress:

1. Provide a system for securing the secrecy and

sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for
absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.

2. Design a procedure for the disabled and the

illiterates to vote without the assistance of other
persons.
Bill of Rights
- Declaration and enumeration of the individual rights and
privileges which the constitution had designed to protect against
violation of the Government or by individual or group of
individual.

Classes of Rights of Citizens

Natural Rights – these are inherent to a person as creation of

God. e.g. Natural Right under Constitution (Life, Liberty,
Property) and right to love.

Constitutional – these are rights which are granted and protected

by the constitution.

Statutory Rights – these refers to rights provided by laws which

are granted by the legislature and may be abolished by the same,
e.g. Right to maternity leave for employed women, etc.
Classification of Constitutional Rights:

Political Rights – those right a citizen exercises to participate in

the affairs of the government.
e.g. Right to suffrage , right of citizenship, etc.

Civil Rights – those right that a citizen enjoys in pursuance of

individual happiness and development.
E.g. Right to property, right to abode and travel etc.

Social and economic rights – rights intended to ensure the well-

being and economic security of the individual.

Rights of the accused – intended to protect persons accused of

any crime.
Branches of Government
The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws,
alter, and repeal them through the power vested in the
Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the
Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Executive branch carries out laws. It is composed

of the President and the Vice President who are elected
by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The
Constitution grants the President authority to appoint his
Cabinet.
The Judicial branch evaluates laws. It holds the
power to settle controversies involving rights that
are legally demandable and enforceable. This
branch determines whether or not there has been a
grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or
excess of jurisdiction on the part and
instrumentality of the government. It is made up of
a Supreme Court and lower courts.
Each branch of government can change acts of the other
branches as follows:

• The President can veto laws passed by Congress.

• Congress confirms or rejects the President's

appointments and can remove the President from office
in exceptional circumstances.

• The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn

unconstitutional laws, are appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate.
 Legislative Department
The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects
Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war. This
branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives)
and several agencies that provide support services to Congress.

• Senate –  The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who

shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as
may be provided by law.

• House of Representatives – The House of Representatives shall be

composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless
otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts
apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila
area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants,
and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as
provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of
registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.
The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per
cent of the total number of representatives including
those under the party list. For three consecutive terms
after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the
seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled,
as provided by law, by selection or election from the
labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as
may be provided by law, except the religious sector.
Executive Department

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the
President, Vice President, the Cabinet, executive departments,
independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

Key roles of the executive branch include:

• President – The President leads the country. He/she is the head of

state, leader of the national government, and Commander in Chief of
all armed forces of the Philippines. The President serves a six-year
term and cannot be re-elected.
• Vice President – The Vice President supports the President. If the
President is unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President.
He/she serves a six-year term.
• The Cabinet – Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President.
They include the Vice President and the heads of executive
departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and
must be confirmed by the Commission of Appointments.
Judicial Department

- The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies

laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the
Constitution. The judicial power shall be vested in one 
Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be
established by law.

- Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to

settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally
demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not
there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack
or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or
instrumentality of the Government. The judicial branch
interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual
cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution.
Article XI: Accountability of the Public Officers
Public Office – is the right, authority, and duty created and
conferred by law by which a given period either fixed by law
or enduring at the pleasure of the appointing power.

Nature of Public Office

1. Public Trust – means Public Office Position should be of
rendering service to the public.
2. Public Office is not a Property – the holder of the office
should not claim that he as the full right and he owns his
position.
3. Public Office is not a Contract – anyone being removed
from the office should not blame the government for any
damages he sue after being removed.
Impeachment –method of national inquest into
the conduct of Public Men.

Officials to be removed by the Impeachment

1. President and Vice-President

2. Member of the Supreme Court
3. Members of the Constitutional Commission
4. Ombudsman
The Ombudsman (Office of the Special
Prosecutor)
-known as the “Tanodbayan”
-serves as the WATCHDOG of the Government
Offices and Agencies.

Power of the Ombudsman

1. Investigate- made an investigation on a certain
complain against a Government Officials
2. Prosecute- suggest a solution to the complain
ARTICLE XVII- AMENDMENTS OR
REVISIONS
Amendment – an alteration of one or a few specific
provisions of the Constitution. Its main purpose is to
improve specific provisions of the Constitution. The
changes brought about by amendments will not affect the
other provisions of the Constitution.

Revision – an examination of the entire Constitution to

determine how and to what extent it should be altered. A
revision implies substantive change, affecting the
Constitution as a whole.
Constituent power v. Legislative power

Constituent power is the power to formulate a Constitution or to

propose amendments to or revisions of the Constitution and to ratify
such proposal. Legislative power is the power to pass, repeal or
amend or ordinary laws or statutes (as opposed to organic law).

Constituent power is exercised by Congress (by special

constitutional conferment), by a Constitutional Convention or
Commission, by the people through initiative and referendum, and
ultimately by sovereign electorate, whereas legislative power is an
ordinary power of Congress and of the people, also through initiative
and referendum.

The exercise of constituent power does not need the approval of the
Chief Executive, whereas the exercise of legislative power ordinarily
needs the approval of the Chief Executive, except when done by
people through initiative and referendum.
"We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society
and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals
and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and
develop our patrimony, and secure to ·ourselves and our
posterity the blessings of independence and democracy
under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice,
freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this Constitution."

- The Preamble, 1987 Philippine Constitution

- the preamble of the Constitution provides that we
should establish a Government which shall
"conserve and develop our patrimony." Our
"patrimony" includes our public forests,
mangroves, wildlife, and flora and fauna which
should be conserved, protected and renewed.
Sample Questions

1. What are the 3 main branches of the Government of the

Philippines?

a. Senate, Supreme Court, Congress

b. Presidential, Unicameral- Parliamentary, Bicameral-

Parliamentary

c. Legislative, Executive, Judicial

d. The Legislature, The Senate, The Supreme Court

 ANSWER:

c. Legislative, Executive, Judicial 

2. The Supreme Court shall be composed of a Chief
Justice and how many Associates Justices?

a. 12
b. 13
c. 14
d. 15
ANSWER:

c.14
3. The Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the
Philippines this 2020 is .

a. Air Force Commanding General Jeffrey Delgado

b. Rodrigo Duterte
c. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
d. AFP Chief Lieutenant Gen. Emmanuel Bautista
 ANSWER
b. President Rodrigo Duterte
4. The executive power shall be vested in the _____.

a. President of the Philippines

b. House of Representatives
c. The Supreme Court
d. The Congress
 Answer:

a. President of the Philippines

5. The legislative power shall be vested in the which
shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

a. Congress of the Philippines

b. House of Ombudsman
c. The Supreme Court
d. Bureau of Internal Revenue
 Answer:
a. Congress of the Philippines
6. The Senate shall be composed of how many senators
elected at large by voters of the Philippines?

a. 21
b. 22
c. 23
d. 24

ANSWER: d. 24
ANSWER:
d. 24
7. How long shall the term of office of the senators be
commenced?

a. 3 years
b. 4 years
c. 5 years
d. 6 years
ANSWER:
d. 6 years
8. The following shall be exempted from taxation except:

a. Lands and buildings

b. Churches and convents
c. Charitable institutions
d. Non-profit cemeteries
 ANSWER:
a. Lands and buildings
9. It states that “no person shall be deprived of life,
liberty, or property without due process of law, nor any
person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

a. Article VI
b. Bill of Rights
c. Republic Act
d. Court Order
 ANSWER:
b. Bill of Rights
10. It is the right and obligation by all citizens, who are
at least 18 years of age, and qualified by law, to vote in
the election of national and local officials of the
government without literacy,, property, or other
substantive requirement.

a. Suffrage
b. Election
c. Voting power
d. Civil Right
ANSWER:
a. Suffrage
11. The following are members of the Constitutional
Commission except:

a. Commission on Civil Rights

b. Commission on Elections
c. Civil Service Commission
d. Commission on Audit
 ANSWER:
a. Commission on Civil Rights
12. It states that public office is public trust and that
public officers and employees must, at all times, be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost
responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency; act with
patriotism and justice and lead modest lives.

a. Public Trust
b. Constitutional Rights
c. Accountability
d. Responsibility
 ANSWER:
c. Accountability
13. Who shall have the exclusive power to initiate all
cases of impeachment?

a. House of Blue Ribbon Committee

b. House of Representatives
c. House of the Senate
d. Speaker of the House
 ANSWER:
b. House of Representatives
14. The following are duties and responsibilities of
Public officials and Employees except:

a. Act promptly on letters, inquiries, calls or any other

form of communications sent by the public.
b. Submit performance reports of the agency or office
regularly
c. Accept gifts from the public upon prioritizing their
queries.
d. Process documents and papers expeditiously.
 ANSWER:
c. Accept gifts from the public upon prioritizing
their queries.
15. It is a written instrument containing the proposition
and required number of signatories and shall be in a form
determined by and submitted to the Commission on
Elections.

a. Bill
b. Law
c. Proposition
d. Petition
ANSWER:
d. Petition
16. It is the electoral process by which an initiative on the
Constitution is either approved or rejected by the people.

a. Referendum
b. Plebiscite
c. Petition
d. Initiative
ANSWER:
b. Plebiscite
17. It is the power of the electorate to approve or reject
legislation through an election called for the purpose.

a. Referendum
b. Plebiscite
c. Petition
d. Initiative
 ANSWER:
a. Referendum
18. This law promotes responsible family planning and
proper use of reproductive methods to eliminate over-
population growth.

a. RH Bill
b. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law
c. Reproductive Law
d. Family Planning
 ANSWER:
b. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Law
19. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that
concerns international public health.

a. Department of Health
b. World Health Organization
c. International Health Organization
d. All of the above
 ANSWER:
b. World Health Organization
20. APEC is a summit that promotes free trade and
economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region
countries. APEC stands for:

a. Asia Pacific Economic Corporation

b. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
c. Asia Pacific Economic Council
d. Asia Pacific Economic Countries
 ANSWER:
b. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
21. Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) aims to accelerate economic growth,
stability, social progress and cultural development in
the spirit of equality and partnership to strengthen
prosperous and peaceful community along
Southeast Asian Nations. Which of the following
countries is not a member of ASEAN?

a. Hong Kong
b. Philippines
c. Singapore
d. Thailand
 ANSWER:
a. Hong Kong
22. It is a law in the Philippines that aims to address legal
issues concerning online interactions and harmful
internet behavior in the Philippines. It aims to prevent
and punish cybercrime in the country.

a. Cybersquatting
b. Cybercrime Act
c. Cybercrime Prevention Act
d. Cyber Identity Theft Act
 ANSWER:
c. Cybercrime Prevention Act
23. The Congress, by a vote of both Houses in joint
session assembled, voting separately, shall have the sole
power to declare a state of war.

a. Two-thirds
b. One-half
c. Three quarters
d. Minority
 ANSWER:
a. Two-thirds
24. All of the following is TRUE except:

a. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against

himself
b. No person shall be imprisoned for non-payment of
debt or poll tax.
c. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall not be
enacted.
d. No person shall be detained solely by reason of his
political beliefs and aspirations.
 ANSWER:
c. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall not
be enacted.
25. The following are citizens of the Philippines except:

a. Those fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines

b. Those who are born before January 17, 1973, of
Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon
reaching the age of majority
c. Those who are naturalized citizens of the Philippines
in accordance with law.
d. All of the above are true.
 ANSWER:
d. All of the above are true.