1. What is Philippine Constitutional Law?
It is the supreme and fundamental law of the Republic of the
Philippines. It established the basic framework and underlying
principles of the government. It lays down and guides the
duties and powers of the government, and the duties and
rights of its citizens and residents.
2. What makes the Constitution a fundamental law?
No central, state or local government can intervene with the
rights, duties, privileges, laws and regulations as mentioned in
the Constitution. It is the source of all law for the country
because all laws passed will have to articulate and comply with
the requirements and principles set out in the Constitution.
3. What is the Philippine Bill of 1902 and what is its
importance?
The Philippine Bill of 1902 was the first organic law enacted by
the United States. It organized the Philippine Assembly and
specified that legislative power would be vested in a bicameral
legislature composed of the Philippine Commission (upper
house) and the Philippine Assembly (lower house). Its key
provision is the bill of rights for the Filipinos.
4. What was the right upheld by ESTRADA v. ESCRITOR?
The state respects the respondent to exercise her right to
freedom of religion.
5. Differentiate de facto from de jure government?
DE JURE GOVERNMENT (government of law) is an organized
government of state which has been created in respect of
constitutional law and with the general support of the people.
DE FACTO GOVENRNMENT (government of fact) is a
government which actually exercises power or control by force
or in any other unconstitutional method but it is without legal
title.
6. Is the Presidency of Corazon Aquino a de facto or de jure?
The Supreme Court declared that the Aquino government was
a DE JURE GOVERNMENT as the people have already accepted
it and the community of nations have recognized its legitimacy.
7. In the case of Javellana, can a Constitutional Commission
call for a plebiscite?
8. What is the power of judicial review and who posses it?
It is the SUPREME COURT’s power to declare a law, treated,
international law, E.O., P.D., proclamation, ordinance and
regulations, UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
9. What does judicial power include?
10. May congress abolish courts established by statute?
11. What do you mean by fiscal autonomy and how does it
apply to judiciary?
Art VIII, Section 3 “The judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy.
Appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced by the
legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous
year and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly
released.” Fiscal autonomy is granted to the SC in order to
strengthen its independence.
12. What are the compositions of the Supreme Court?
13. What are the cases decided by the Supreme Court?
14. Give at least two (2) powers of the Supreme Court.
15. What are the qualifications to become a member of the
Supreme Court?
16. What are the compositions of the Judicial and bar
Council?
17. Who appoints members of the Supreme Court and how is
this done?
18. Enumerate the hierarchy of Courts.
19. What is the quasi-judicial agency and is it under the
power of judiciary?
20. What do you mean by the SC is a “Trier of law not facts”?
21. What are the requisites of judicial review as enunciated in
the PACU case?
22. May the SC decide on matters that are moot and
academic?
23. What do you mean by “locus standi” and is this
important?
24. Differentiate justiciable from political question?
Justiciable question are those which the sovereign has set to
be decided in the Courts. To be justiciable, the court must not
be offering an advisory opinion, the plaintiff must have
standing, and the issue must be ripe but neither moot nor
violative of the political question doctrine. Political questions
are questions, under the Constitution, are to be decided by the
people in their sovereign capacity or full discretionary
authority has been delegated to the legislative/executive
branch in government.
25. What is a taxpayer’s suit?

It is the remedy available to a taxpayer when taxes are used for

illegal activities or when the public funds are used by the
government for projects which are not intended for public
purpose.