Test Your Knowledge of the Philippine Constitution

Summary of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

• The Philippine national territory includes the archipelago, its waters, and other territories over which the country has sovereignty or jurisdiction.

• The Constitution declares the Philippines as a democratic and republican state, with sovereignty residing in the people and all government authority emanating from them.

• The Constitution renounces war as an instrument of national policy and upholds principles of international law, peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.

• The Constitution mandates that civilian authority is supreme over the military and that the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people.

• The Constitution separates Church and State and recognizes the vital roles of the youth, women, and indigenous cultural communities in nation-building.

• The Constitution affirms the right to health, balanced and healthful ecology, education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports, as well as labor as a primary social economic force.

• The Constitution recognizes and promotes social justice, the dignity of every human person, and the sanctity of family life.

• The Constitution guarantees the right to due process of law, equal protection of the laws, and the right to privacy, free speech, religious profession and worship, and freedom of assembly and petition.

• The Constitution upholds the right to information, formation of unions and associations, and protection of private property.

• The Constitution prohibits torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, and other means that vitiate free will and involuntary servitude, excessive fines, and cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment.

• The Constitution recognizes the right to bail, presumption of innocence, speedy disposition of cases, and protection against double jeopardy, ex post facto law, and bill of attainder.

• The Constitution outlines the rules on citizenship, suffrage, and the legislative, executive, and judicial departments of the government, as well as the constitutional commissions, local government, accountability of public officers, national economy and patrimony, and amendments or revisions.Summary of Article VI: The Legislative Department

• The legislative power is vested in a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• Senators are elected at large while members of the House of Representatives are elected from legislative districts apportioned among provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area based on population.

• The House of Representatives shall not exceed 250 members, and 20% of the total number of representatives shall be party-list representatives.

• Legislative districts should be contiguous, compact, and adjacent with each province and city having at least one representative. The Congress shall reapportion legislative districts every three years following the census.

• Members of both houses must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, at least 25 years of age, able to read and write, and registered voters in their respective districts for at least one year immediately preceding the election.

• Members of both houses shall serve for a term of three years, with no member serving more than three consecutive terms.

• Regular elections for senators and representatives shall be held on the second Monday of May, while special elections may be called to fill vacancies.

• Salaries of senators and representatives shall be determined by law and shall not be increased until after the full term of all members approving such increases.

• Members of both houses shall be privileged from arrest while Congress is in session. No member shall be held liable for any speech or debate in Congress or any committee thereof.

• Members of both houses must make full disclosures of their financial and business interests and must not hold any other office or employment in the government during their term without forfeiting their seat.

• Congress shall convene once every year for its regular session on the fourth Monday of July and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine.

• Bills passed by Congress must only have one subject expressed in the title, must pass three readings on separate days, and must be presented to the President for approval. The President may veto a bill, which may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses.Summary of the Philippine Constitution's Article VI and VII

• Article VI of the Philippine Constitution establishes a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• The Senate is composed of 24 members elected at large by qualified voters of the Philippines, while the House of Representatives is composed of not more than 300 members, each elected from a legislative district.

• The term of office of Senators is six years, while the term of office of Representatives is three years.

• The Constitution provides for an independent Commission on Elections, which is responsible for the conduct of elections and the enforcement of election laws.

• The Constitution also provides for a special fund, which shall be treated as a special fund and paid out for such purpose only. If the purpose for which a special fund was created has been fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if any, shall be transferred to the general funds of the Government.

• Article VII of the Philippine Constitution establishes the executive department, which is headed by the President of the Philippines.

• The President and Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter.

• The President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.

• The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.

• In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.

• The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President.

• Except in cases of impeachment, or as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the President may grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, after conviction by final judgment. He shall also have the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress.Summary of the Constitution of the Philippines - Article VII to IX

• Article VII of the Philippine Constitution outlines the powers and duties of the President, including the power to appoint officials and the responsibility to submit a budget to Congress.

• The Senate must concur in any treaty or international agreement by at least two-thirds of its members.

• Article VIII establishes the judicial system in the Philippines, with the Supreme Court as the highest court and lower courts established by law.

• The Supreme Court has the power to settle actual controversies and determine whether there has been a grave abuse of discretion by any branch of government.

• Congress may define and apportion the jurisdiction of various courts, but may not deprive the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction over certain cases.

• The Judiciary enjoys fiscal autonomy and its budget may not be reduced below the previous year's amount.

• The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices and may sit en banc or in divisions of three, five, or seven members.

• The Supreme Court has the power to exercise original jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors and petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.

• The Supreme Court may review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari final judgments and orders of lower courts in certain cases.

• The Judicial and Bar Council, composed of the Chief Justice, Secretary of Justice, a representative of Congress, a representative of the Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a retired Supreme Court Justice, and a representative of the private sector, recommends appointees to the Judiciary.

• The Civil Service Commission, Commission on Elections, and Commission on Audit are the three independent Constitutional Commissions.

• The Civil Service Commission administers the civil service, which includes all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the government, and appointments are made according to merit and fitness determined by competitive examination.