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Constitution of The Philippines
Constitution of The Philippines
Constitution of The Philippines
Ratified
February 2, 1987
Location
Author(s)
Purpose
Philippines
Constitution[show]
Legislature[show]
The Constitution of the Philippines (Filipino: Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas), popularly known as
the 1987 Constitution, is theconstitution or the supreme law of the Republic of the Philippines. It
was enacted in 1987, during the administration of PresidentCorazon C. Aquino.[1]
Philippine constitutional law experts recognise three other previous constitutions as having
effectively governed the country the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution, the 1973 Constitution,
and the 1986 Freedom Constitution.[2][3] Two further constitutions were drafted and adopted during
two short-lived war-time governments, by the revolutionary forces during the Philippine
Revolution withEmilio Aguinaldo as President and by the occupation forces during the Japanese
Occupation of the Philippines during World War IIwith Jos P. Laurel as President.
Preamble
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the 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.[1]
The Constitution is divided into 18 parts (excluding the Preamble) which are called Articles.
Specifies that the Philippines is an archipelago, the Philippines territory consist of the islands and
waters embraced therein, all other territories which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction,
and the terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains including the territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the
insular shelves and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands
of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines.
Sets down basic social and political creed of the country. particularly the implementation of the
constitution, Set fort the objectives of the government, provide the interpretation of specific
provisions of the fundamental law and help court in its decisions. Some of its provisions are
Enumerates the specific protections against State power. Many of these guarantees are similar
to those provided in the American constitution and other democratic constitutions, including the:
The scope and limitations to these rights have largely been determined by Philippine
Supreme Court decisions.
Article IV - Citizenship
Enumerates the citizenship of the Fiipinos, there are two kinds of citizens, namely:
Natural-born citizens - Citizens of the Philippines from birth and have the right to vote
and right to run for public office.
Naturalized citizens - Foreigners who acquire, voluntarily or by operation of law, the
citizenship of the Philippines
Article V - Suffrage
Specifies the qualification and right to vote by citizen, It also enumerates the system and
secrecy of the ballot and absentee voting, and procedure to the disabled and the
illiterates to vote.
Enumerates the composition, qualification and term of office and function of the
Senators and representatives. It also specifies the organization, procedure, election and
leadership of officials and process of making law. Some of the power of Congress
includes:
The power of interpretation and application of the law was entrusted to the Judicial
branch. the Supreme Court occupies the highest judicial hierarchy,It has a
jurisdiction over the lower courts that are part of the judicial branch. The article VIII
enumerates the qualification, tenure, power and functions of courts within the
Judicial department, including the organization of Judicial and Bar council.
Enumerates the qualification, tenure, power and functions and composition of three
Constitutional commission. which includes the following:
Explains that the position entrusted by he people to the government officials are
public in nature. the government position should be taken care of at all times. It
specifies the process and grounds for Impeachment of the public officials. It
also creates and describe the Office of the Ombudsman.
(We, the Representatives of the Filipino people, lawfully convened in order to establish
justice, provide for common defence, promote the general welfare, and insure the benefits of
liberty, imploring the aid of the Sovereign Legislator of the Universe for the attainment of
these ends, have voted, decreed, and sanctioned the following)