The Philippines had framed seven constitutions.

1. Constitution of the Biak-na-Bato Republic, 1897

2. Constitution of the Malolos Republic, 1899

3. The 1935 Constitution of the Philippines

4. The Constitution of the Second Philippine Republic, 1943

5. The 1973 Constitution

6. The Freedom Constitution, 1986

7. The 1987 Constitution

Constitution of the Malolos Republic, 1899

President Emilio Aguinaldo convoked a Revolutionary Congress at Barasoain church, Malolos,

Bulacan. The congress was held on September 15, 1898. In the afternoon, they elected officers
which was won by Pedro A. Paterno as the Congress' president. Originally, the Congress was
convoked to advise President Aguinaldo, but the congress proposed the drafting of a constitution.

Apolinario Mabini opposed the proposal citing the peace and order condition of the country,
however, he submitted his "Constitutional Plan of the Philippine Republic."

A committee was created tasked to draft a constitution. It was led by Felipe G. Calderon.
Calderon set aside the draft presented by Mabini and Patemo. With the advice of Cayetano
Arellano, Calderon drew his own draft.

The Malolos Constitution was benchmarked from the Constitutions of Mexico, Belgium,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil and France.

Calderon was poised to make Catholicism a state religion. After a heated discussion, the
Congress voted on it. The result was a tie. But it was defeated on the second vote by just one
vote. The state, therefore, recognizes the separation of church and state.

On October 8, 1898, Calderon presented a draft of the Constitution. On October 21, printed
copies of the said drafts were made. Deliberations started on October 25, 1898.

President Aguinaldo promulgated the Malolos Constitution on January 21, 1899.

The 1935 Constitution of the Philippines

The 1935 Constitution provided the legal basis of the Commonwealth Government which was
considered a transition government before the granting of the Philippine independence with
American-inspired constitution; the Philippine government would eventually pattern its
government system after American government.

HARE- HAWES CUTTING ACT

Butler Hare, Harry Hawes, and Bronson Cutting Approved on January 17, 1933. This law
promised Philippines Independence after a 10-year transition period, but reserved several
military and naval bases for the United States, as well as imposing tariffs and quotas on
Philippine Exports.

Tydings Mcduffie Act – eliminated objectionable provisions of the hare hawes cutting act.

In July 1901, the Americans formally established the first civil government in the islands. During
the administration of Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison (1913-1921), Filipinos were
given a hand in running the country. In 1916, the Philippine Autonomy Act (Jones Law of 1916)
was passed resulting to an all-Filipino legislature. During the administration of Governor-
General Francis Burton Harrison (1913-1921), Filipinos were given a hand in running the
country

From 1918 to 1932 there were at least five (5) Philippine independence missions to the United
States. The efforts result to the passage of Tydings -McDuffie law on March 24, 1934. It
provided for the guidelines for a constitution for a 10-year period before the actual grant of
independence On July 10, 1934, two hundred two (202) delegates were elected to write the
Constitution. The convention opened on July 30. The draft was finished by January 31, 1935 The
Constitution was approved by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 23, 1935. The
Filipinos ratified the constitution on May 14, 1935.

The 1973 Constitution

President Ferdinand E. Marcos was the first president to be re-elected, he manipulated an

ongoing Constitutional Convention and caused the drafting of a new constitution which called
the 1973 Constitution.

President Ferdinand E. Marcos envisions the new constitution to meet the myriad of challenges
faced by the Philippines since the independence in 1946. A constitutional convention was
convened at the Manila Hotel on June 1, 1971. Despite the declaration of Martial Law, the
convention pushed through, which was finished and the draft approved by November 30, 1972.
The draft was submitted to citizens' assemblies which were formed to approve or reject the new
constitution.

On January 17, 1973, Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Proclamation 1102 declaring the
ratification of the 1973 Constitution. It provided for a parliamentary form of government.
Legislative power was vested in Batasang Pambansa, Constitutional commissions include: CSC,
COMELEC, COA.

Important Laws still used up to this day:

Aricle 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Presidential Decree No. 86, s. 1972

also known as creating barangay or citizen assemblies. Now, the barangay is considered as the
basic unit of the government and is recognized in the 1987 constitution.

Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 86 calling for the cancellation of the plebiscite and
instituted barangays' citizens' assemblies to ratify the new constitution by a referendum from 10–
15 January 1973. Alongside the utilization of citizens' assemblies, the voting age was also
reduced to 18. Voting in citizens' assemblies took place through viva voce voting, similar to
parliamentary procedure, rather than the standard secret ballot that had been used up until that
point.

The 1987 Constitution

On May 26, 1986, President Corazon C. Aquino appointed 50 Constitutional Commission

members representing various sectors of the society.

On June 2, 1986, ConCom members, led by Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma, started their sessions
at the Batasang Pambansa By October 12, 1986, they were done with their tasks. The draft was
presented to the President on October 15, 1986.

On February 2, 1987, a plebiscite was conducted to ratify the Constitution. The Filipinos ratified
it.