Constitutional Commissions and Supreme Court Quiz

Government employees can't be fired or suspended without a valid legal reason.

No government employee can participate in political campaigns.

Government employees have the right to form unions.

The Civil Service Commission manages government personnel.

The Civil Service Commission aims to improve employee morale, efficiency, and public service.

All government officials and employees must swear to uphold the Constitution.

Government salaries are standardized based on job responsibilities and qualifications.

Candidates who lose an election cannot get government jobs for a year after the election.

If both the President and Vice-President are unable to serve, the President of the Senate acts as President until a new President or Vice-President is elected.

The Congress has the power to determine who will act as President if the Acting President dies, becomes disabled, or resigns.

When the Vice-President position is vacant, the President nominates a new Vice-President from Congress. Both Houses must vote to confirm the nominee.

If both the President and Vice-President positions are vacant, Congress must convene and call for a special election within seven days. The election happens 45-60 days later.

A special election is not called if the vacancy occurs within 18 months of the next presidential election.

The President can temporarily transfer their duties to the Vice-President by sending a written declaration to Congress. This transfer is temporary and can be reversed.

The Vice-President acts as Acting President until the President sends a written declaration that they are able to resume their duties.

The Acting President has the same powers and restrictions as the President, but only temporarily until the President or Vice-President is elected and qualified.

Cases filed after the 1987 Constitution must be decided within a specific timeframe. The Supreme Court has 24 months, lower collegiate courts 12 months (unless reduced by the Supreme Court), and other lower courts 3 months.

A case is considered submitted for decision when the last required brief or memorandum is filed.

After the designated time, a certification is issued, explaining any delay in decision.

Even after the deadline, courts must still decide cases without further delay.

The Supreme Court provides an annual report to the President and Congress on the Judiciary's performance.

The Civil Service Commission, Commission on Elections, and Commission on Audit are independent bodies established by the Constitution.

Members of Constitutional Commissions cannot hold other positions, practice certain professions, or have financial interests that could conflict with their duties.

The salaries of the Chairman and Commissioners are fixed by law and cannot be reduced during their tenure.

The Ombudsman and their deputies are chosen by the President from a list of nominees provided by the Judicial and Bar Council. This ensures their appointment is based on merit.

The Ombudsman and their deputies must be Filipino citizens, at least 40 years old, with proven integrity and independence, and qualified lawyers with significant legal experience.

The Ombudsman and their deputies have a fixed term of 7 years and cannot be reappointed. This ensures they are free from political pressure.

The Ombudsman can independently investigate any suspected wrongdoing by public officials or employees, even without a complaint from someone else.

The Ombudsman is responsible for addressing complaints against public officials and employees, including those working in government-owned institutions.

The Ombudsman has the authority to investigate any actions by public officials or employees that are possibly illegal, unfair, improper, or ineffective, whether formally reported or not.

The Ombudsman and their deputies have the same rank and salary as members of the Constitutional Commissions. Their salaries cannot be reduced during their tenure.

The Ombudsman and their deputies are prohibited from holding any elected office right after their term ends. This prevents them from using their position for future political gain.

A legal principle stating that rulings made by the Supreme Court en banc (full court) can only be changed by the full court itself. This prevents a division of the court from overturning major decisions.

The power of the Supreme Court to review and potentially change decisions made by lower courts. This allows for consistency and ensures that the law is applied correctly throughout the country.

Cases involving the constitutionality of agreements, laws, or presidential orders must be heard by the full Supreme Court ('en banc'). This ensures that the court's most important decisions are made with widespread consensus.

The Supreme Court can directly hear certain cases, such as those involving ambassadors or petitions for habeas corpus (cases challenging imprisonment).

The Supreme Court is responsible for determining whether a law, treaty, or presidential act is in line with the Constitution, ensuring that no branch of government oversteps its bounds.

Cases where the Supreme Court can review a lower court's decision and change it, revise it, overturn it, or uphold it. This is a key part of the court's appellate jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court can temporarily send judges from lower courts to other locations when needed to improve efficiency and fairness in the judicial system. Such assignments are usually limited in duration.

The Supreme Court can order a change of venue (location of the trial) or place of trial to prevent a miscarriage of justice, ensuring that trials occur in a fair and unbiased setting.

The government directly manages these activities or partners with Filipino-owned companies, with a minimum 60% Filipino ownership, for a maximum 25-year lease, renewable for another 25 years.

The government can lease out alienable lands of the public domain for a maximum of 25 years with a renewal option for another 25 years. The total area cannot be more than 1000 hectares.

Alienable lands are those parts of the public domain that can be transferred to private ownership. This includes agricultural lands.

The public domain in the Philippines is categorized into four groups: agricultural, forest or timber, mineral lands, and national parks.

The state has control over mineral, petroleum, and other oil resources. They can allow foreign companies to participate in exploration and development, but foreign involvement needs to be beneficial to the Philippines' economic growth and welfare.

The state aims to ensure the exclusive use and enjoyment of the nation's marine wealth, including its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for Filipino citizens.

Water rights for irrigation, water supply, fisheries, or industrial uses (excluding water power development) are granted based on the principle of beneficial use. This means only the amount of water needed will be allocated.

The government may allow small-scale utilization of natural resources by Filipino citizens and co-operative fish farming, prioritizing subsistence fishermen and fishworkers.