1987 PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION
DANNYLYN ESPORSADO
AVEGAIL INES
BS COE – 1C
What is constitution? 
 A constitution is a system for
government, codified as a
written document, which
contains fundamental laws
and principles. It usually
contains fundamental political
principles, and establishes the
structure, procedures, powers
and duties, of a government.
The Constitution of the Philippines is the
supreme law of the Philippines. The
Constitution currently in effect was enacted in
1987, during the administration of President
Corazon C. Aquino, and is popularly known as
the "1987 Constitution―. Philippine
constitutional law experts recognize three
other previous constitutions as having
effectively governed the country — the 1935
Commonwealth Constitution, the 1973
Constitution, and the 1986 Freedom
Constitution. Constitutions for the Philippines
were also drafted and adopted during the
short-lived governments of Presidents Emilio
Aguinaldo (1898)and José P. Laurel (1943).
Nature and purpose of
Constitution

1. It serves as the supreme or fundamental

law

2. It establishes basic framework and

underlying principles of government 
 Constitutional Law

Body of law derived from

country’s written
constitution. It lays down
and guides the duties and
powers of the government,
and the duties and rights of
its citizens and residents.
PARTS OF A CONSTITUTION
Constitution of Government

Constitution of Liberty

Constitution of Sovereignty
Constitution of
Government

Provisions which set up the

governmental structure.

(Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX and X)

Constitution of Liberty

Provisions which guarantee

individual fundamental
liberties against
governmental abuse.

(Articles III, IV, V, XII, XIII, XIV

& XV)
Constitution of Sovereignty

Provisions which outline the process

whereby the sovereign people may
change the constitution

(Articles II, Section 1 and XVII)

Kind of Constitution
1. As to their origin and history
a. Conventional or enacted - one which is
enacted by a constituent assembly or granted by a monarch to his subjects
b. Cumulative or evolved - one which is a
product of a long period of development originating in customs, traditions,
judicial decisions etc, rather than from deliberate and formal enactment.
2. As to their form
a. Written - one which has been given definite form at a
particular time, usually by a specially constituted authority called a
“constitutional convention” or “constitutional commission”
b. Unwritten - one which is entirely a product of
political evolution, consisting largely of a mass of customs, usages,
and judicial decisions.

3. As to manner of amending them

a. Rigid or inelastic - one regarded as a

document of special sanctity, which can not be amended or altered
except by some special machinery other than ordinary legislative
process.
b. Flexible or elastic - one which possesses
no higher legal authority than ordinary laws and which may be
altered in the same way as other laws.
PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION
Parts of the 1987 Constitution The Constitution is
divided into 18 parts, excluding the Preamble, which
are called Articles. The Articles are as follows:
Art. I – National Territory
Art. II – Declaration of Principles and State
Policies
Art. III – Bill of Rights
Art. IV – Citizenship
Art. V – Suffrage
Art. VI – Legislative Department
Art. VII – Executive Department
Art. VIII – Judicial Department
Art. IX – Constitutional
Commissions(COA, CSC, COMELEC)
Art. X – Local Government
Art. XI – Accountability of Public
Officers
Art. XII – National Economy and
Patrimony
Art. XIII – Social Justice and
Human Rights
Art. XIV – Education, S & T, Arts,
Culture and Sports
Art. XV – The Family
Art. XVI – General Provisions
Art. XVII – Amendments or
Revisions
Art. XVIII – Transitory
Provisions
Preamble of the 1987 Constitution

The Preamble reads:

“We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring

the aid of 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.” 
Article I. National Territory

Article II. Declaration of

Principles and State Policies

Article II lays out the basic social

and political creed of the
Philippines, particularly the
implementation of the
constitution and sets forth the
objectives of the government.
Article III. Bill of Rights

Article III enumerates

specific protections against
the abuse of state power,
most of which are similar to
the provisions of the U.S.
Constitution. of public
concern
Article IV. Citizenship
Article IV defines the citizenship of Filipinos. It
enumerates two kinds of citizens: natural-born
citizens and naturalized citizens. Natural-born
citizens are those who are citizens from birth
without having to perform any act to acquire or
perfect Philippine citizenship. The Philippines
follows a jus sanguinis system where citizenship
is mainly acquired through a blood relationship
with Filipino citizens. Natural-born citizenship
forms an important part of the political system
as only natural-born Filipinos are eligible to
hold high offices, including all elective offices
beginning with a representative in the House of
Representatives up to the President. 
Article V. Suffrage
Article V mandates various
age and residence
qualifications to vote and a
system of secret ballots and
absentee voting. It also
mandates a procedure for
overseas and disabled and
illiterate Filipinos to vote.
Article VI. The Legislative
Department
Article VI provides for a bicameral
legislature called the Congress
composed of the Senate and the House
of Representatives. It vests upon
Congress, among others, the power of
investigation and inquiry in aid of
legislation, the power to declare the
existence of a state of war, the power of
the purse, the power of taxation, and
the power of eminent domain.
Article VII. The Executive
Department
Article VII provides for a
presidential form of government
where the executive power is vested
on the President. It provides for the
qualification, terms of office,
election, and power and functions
of the President. It also provides for
a Vice President and for the
presidential line of succession.
Article VIII. The Judicial Department
Article VIII vests the judicial power upon
the Supreme Court and other lower courts
as may be established by law (by Congress).
While the power to appoint justices and
judges still reside with the President, the
President may only appoint nominees pre-
selected by the Judicial and Bar Council, a
body composed of the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, the Secretary of Justice,
the Chairs of the Senate and House
Committees on Justice, and representatives
from the legal profession. 
Article IX. Constitutional
Commissions
Article IX establishes three
constitutional commissions: the Civil
Service Commission, the
Commission on Elections, and the
Commission on Audit.

Article X. Local Government

Article X pursues for local autonomy
and mandates Congress to enact a law
for the local government, now currently
the Local Government Code. 
Article XI. Accountability of
Public Officers
Section 1. Public office is a public
trust. Public officers and
employees must, at all times, be
accountable to the people, serve
them with utmost responsibility,
integrity, loyalty, and efficiency;
act with patriotism and justice,
and lead modest lives.
Article XII. National Economy
and Patrimony
Section 1. The goals of the national
economy are a more equitable
distribution of opportunities, income,
and wealth; a sustained increase in the
amount of goods and services
produced by the nation for the benefit
of the people; and an expanding
productivity as the key to raising the
quality of life for all, especially the
underprivileged.
Article XIII. Social Justice and
Human Rights
Section 1. The Congress shall give highest
priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all the
people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic, and political inequalities, and
remove cultural inequities by equitably
diffusing wealth and political power for the
common good. To this end, the State shall
regulate the acquisition, ownership, use,
and disposition of property and its
increments.
Article XIV. Education, Science &
Technology, Arts, Culture & Sports
Section 1. The State shall protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels and shall take
appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all.

Article XV. The Family

Section 1. The State recognizes the Filipino
family as the foundation of the nation.
Accordingly, it shall strengthen its
solidarity and actively promote its total
development.
Article XVI. General Provisions
Section 1. The flag of the Philippines
shall be red, white, and blue, with a sun
and three stars, as consecrated and
honored by the people and recognized by
law.

Article XVII. Amendments and

Revisions
Section 1. Any amendment to, or revision
of, this Constitution may be proposed by:
(1)The Congress, upon a vote of three-
fourths of all its Members; or (2) A
constitutional convention.
Article XVIII. Transitory
Provisions
Section 1. The first elections of Members
of the Congress under this Constitution
shall be held on the second Monday of
May, 1987. The first local elections shall
be held on a date to be determined by
the President, which may simultaneous
with the election of the Members of the
Congress. It shall include the election of
all Members of the city or municipal
councils in the Metropolitan Manila
area.