Philippine Constitution Overview

Preamble

• The Filipino people, seeking divine aid, establish a just society and government.
• The ideals and aspirations of the people are to promote the common good, conserve and develop the patrimony, and secure freedom, love, equality, and peace.

Legislative Department

• Section 1: Legislative power vested in Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).
• Section 2: Senate composed of 24 Senators elected at large by qualified voters.
• Section 3: Senator qualifications: natural-born Filipino citizen, 35 years of age or older on election day, able to read and write, registered voter, and resident of the Philippines for at least two years.
• Section 4: Term of office for Senators is 6 years, commencing on the 30th day of June following their election. No Senator can serve for more than two consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of office does not interrupt serving the full term.

House of Representatives

• Section 5: House of Representatives composed of no more than 250 members, unless otherwise determined by law. Members are elected from legislative districts (proportional to population) and through a party-list system.
• Section 6: House of Representatives' Member qualifications: natural-born Filipino citizen, 25 years of age or older, able to read and write, registered voter in the district, resident for at least 1 year prior to the election.
• Section 7: Term of office for House members is 3 years. No member may serve more than three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation does not interrupt service.
• Section 8: Regular elections for Senators and Representatives held on the second Monday of May unless otherwise provided by law.

Congressional Sessions & Leadership

• Section 15: Congress convenes annually on the fourth Monday of July for a regular session.
• Section 16: Senate elects a President and House elects a Speaker (majority vote). House members may compel attendance of absent members.
• Section 16-4: Each House has rules to manage order, suspension or expelling.
• Section 17: Electoral Tribunals are established to determine election contests for Senate and Representative members.

Special Powers & Legislative Processes

• Section 20: Congress holds authority to preserve records and books, audited by the Commission on Audit annually.
• Section 21: Senate or House committees conduct inquiries for legislation.
• Section 22: Department heads can testify before Houses on legislative matters.

Budget, Taxation, & Financial Matters

• Section 25: Congress may not increase the president's appropriations, adhering to budget law standards.
• Section 25-2: No general appropriation bills unless it relates specifically to a particular appropriation.
• Section 25-3: Congress' approval procedure for appropriations follows steps applicable to the other departments and agencies.
• Section 25-4: Special appropriations bills must identify and be supported by available funds.
• Section 25-5 & 6 Congress can authorize transfer of funds but requires guidelines and appropriate vouchers.
• Section 26: All bills must embrace a single subject.

Bill Passage and Veto

• Section 27: Every bill must be presented to the President. If signed it becomes a law. A veto can be overridden by two-thirds vote from each house.
• Section 27-2: President can veto specific items within appropriation bills.
• Section 28: Rules of taxation and power to set tariffs, import & export quotas.
• Section 28-3: Charitable institutions and related properties are exempt from taxation.

Other Provisions

• Section 29: No money paid out of Treasury without appropriation (by law). No public funds for religion or religious personnel. Special funds used for specified purposes.
• Section 30: No Congressional law may increase the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction without Court advice.
• Section 31: No law granting a title of royalty or nobility shall be enacted.
• Section 32: Congress must enact legislation for an initiative and referendum system.

Executive Department

• Section 1: Executive power vested in the President.
• Section 2: President qualifications: natural born citizen, registered voter able to read and write, at least 40 years old, resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years prior to election.
• Section 3: Vice President with same qualifications and term as President, removes from office same way as President. Can be Member of Cabinet.
• Section 4: President and Vice President terms of office is 6 years. President cannot be re-elected.

Presidential Inability and Serious Illness

• Section 11: President can declare inability to discharge powers, duties are discharged by Vice-President.
• Section 12: Cabinet declares Presidential inability, Vice-President becomes temporary President. Congress determines Presidential inability by a two-thirds vote.
• Section 13: President, Vice President, Cabinet, and their deputies cannot hold other office, participate in business, or be financially interested in contracts with the government.

Powers and Duties of the President

• Section 13: President is Commander-in-Chief of armed forces, can call forces out to prevent unlawful acts. Can suspend habeas corpus during invasion/rebellion.
• Executive departments are under control of the President, and this office ensures laws are faithfully executed.

Appointments

• Section 14 Appointments made by Acting President effective until revoked by elected President within 90 days.
• Section 15: Appointments limited in two months before election.
• Section 16: President nominates heads of executive departments, ambassadors, and other prominent officials. Congress approves these appointments. May make appointments while Congress is not in session.
• Section 17: President controls executive departments.

Judicial Department

• Section 1: Judicial power vested in Supreme Court and lower courts.
• Section 2: Congress determines jurisdiction of courts but cannot diminish Supreme Court's jurisdiction.
• Section 3: Judiciary enjoys fiscal autonomy. Appropriations cannot decrease below prior year's.
• Section 4: Supreme Court composed of Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices. Any vacancies filled within 90 days.
• Section 5: Supreme Court's original jurisdiction over specific cases and appellate jurisdiction (for cases decided by lower courts). Cases must be decided in consultation.

Administrative Functions and Supervision

• Section 6: Administrative supervision of supreme court over all courts and personnel.
• Section 7 No one can serve as Supreme Court member if they are not a natural born citizen of the Philippines, and have not been a judge for at least 15 years (or engaged in law practice for that amount of time).
• Section 8: Judicial and Bar Council established to oversee the appointment of judges and other judicial matters.

Tenure, Salaries, and Prohibitions

• Section 10: Supreme Court, and lower courts, judges, salaries are determined by law but cannot be decreased once in office.
• Section 11: Supreme Court members in good standing have life tenure.

Judicial Decisions and Resolutions

• Section 13: Court decisions follow specific procedures, documented and reviewed by all judges.

Timelines and Reporting

• Section 15: Cases are resolved within specific timeframes (24 months for Supreme Court).

This quiz focuses on the preamble and legislative department of the Philippine Constitution. It covers the ideals of society, the roles of Congress, and the qualifications and terms for Senators. Test your knowledge on these foundational elements of the Philippine government.