INTRODUCTION  Philippine  Constitutionalism,  Birth  Pangs,  and  Traumatic  Growth    I.  Early  Organic  Acts    A  constitution  is  a  written  instrument  by  which  the  fundamental  powers  of  the  government  are  established,  limited,  and  defined,  and   by   which   these   powers   are   distributed   among   several  departments,   for   their   more   safe   and   useful   exercise,   for   the  benefit  of   the  body  politic.   It   is   the  supreme  written   law  of   the  land.  It  is  both  a  grant  and  limitation  of  governmental  authority.      Classification  According  to  Norms  of  Governmental  Action    

1. Normative   Constitution   –   norms   direct   governmental  action  and  government  habitually  adjusts  to  its  actions.    

2. Nominal   Constitution   –   cannot   yet   be   fully   operative  because  of  existing  socio-­‐economic  conditions.     Its  value  is   educational.   It   points   towards   the   mature   state   to  which  a  fledging  polity  must  grow.      

3. Semantic   Constitution   –   The   primary   purpose   of   a  constitution  is  to  limit  power  but  this  does  the  opposite.  It   is  a  tool  for  the  perpetuation  of  power  in  the  hands  of  power  holders.    

 

Constitution  may  be  divided  into  three  parts:      

1. Constitution   of   government   –   provisions   that   set   up  government  structure  

2. Constitution   of   liberty   –   provisions   that   provide  individual   fundamental   liberties   against   government  abuse.    

3. Constitution  of  Sovereignty  –  provisions  that  outline  the  process   whereby   the   sovereign   people   may   change   the  constitution  

 The   Constitution   is   what   the   judges   say   it   is.   Judicial   review  involves   the   power   and   duty   on   the   part   of   the   Court   of  pronouncing   void   any   such   act  which  does  not   square  with   its  own  reading  of  the  constitutional  instrument.      Philippine   Constitution   grew   from   organic   documents   enacted  by  the  US  government:    

1. President   McKinley’s   Instructions   to   the   Second  Philippine  Commission  

2. The  Philippine  Bill  of  1902  3. The  Philippine  Autonomy  Act  of  1916  

 Tydings   –   McDuffie   Law   –   provided   for   the   established   of   a  Commonwealth   government   to   be   established   under   a  constitution  drafted  and  ratified  by  the  Filipino  people.      II.  The  1935  Constitution      The   Constitutional   Convention   met   on   July   30   1934   until  February   8   1935.   On   March   3   1935,   the   President   of   the   US  approved   the   draft.   On   May   14   1935,   it   was   ratified   by   the  

Book:  Constitutional  Structure  and  Powers  of  Government  Class:  Constitutional  Law  I  Topic:  Introduction  

Filipinos.   On   November   15,   1935,   the   Commonwealth  government  was  created.      III.  The  1973  Constitution      The   1971   Constitutional   Convention   began   on   June   1   1971.  However,   martial   law   was   announced   on   September   21   1972.  On   November   29   1972,   the   Convention   approved   its   draft.   On  November  30  1972,  the  President  issued  Presidential  Decree  No.  73  and  set   the  date   for   the  plebiscite  on   January  15  1973.  This  was  postponed.  Oh  January  17,  1973,  by  Proclamation  No.  1102,  the   proposed   constitution   was   ratified   by   members   of   the  Citizens  Assembly.  On  March  31  1973,  the  Supreme  Court  ruled  that  there  is  no  further  judicial  obstacle  to  the  new  Constitution  being   considered   in   force   and   effect   (Javellana   v.   Executive  Secretary).      In   1976,   the   Constitution   was   amended   to   give   birth   to   the  interim  Batasang  Pambansa,  a  legislative  body  which  functioned  no  better  than  as  a  rubber  stamp  for  the  will  of  the  President.  In  1981,   the   Constitution   was   amended   again   to   give   way   to   a  regular  Batasang  Pambansa.      IV.  The  Freedom  Constitution      Elections   were   held   on   February   8   1986.   On   February   15,  Batasan  Pambansa  declared  Marcos  the  winner.  On  February  22  1986,  Juan  Ponce  Enrile  (Minister  of  National  Defense)  and  Fidel  Ramos   (Vice   Chief   of   Staff   General)   revolted.   They  would   have  lost  but  were  backed  up  the  civilians.      

On  February  25  1986,  Cory  was  declared  first  woman  president  of  the  Philippines.  She  turned  her  back  on  the  Batasan  Pambansa  and  the  1973  Constitution  and  instead  through  Proclamation  No.  3,  established  the  Freedom  Constitution.      V.  The  1987  Constitution    Article  VI  of  Proclamation  No.  3  provided  the  conditions  for  the  establishment  of  the  new  Constitution.  The  1986  Constitutional  Convention   convened   on   June   1   1986   and   finished   on  October  15   1986.   On   Feb   2   1987,   the   Constitution   was   ratified   by   the  plebiscite.   The   government   has   fought   against   coups   and  although   there   has   been   informal   debates   about   changing   the  constitution,  it  still  remains  to  be  the  same  today.