1973 Martial Law Constitution

1973
Martial Law Constitution
Members: Shan Michael Biongan, John Austin Cabana, Honorato Polines III
Philippine
Constitution
The Philippines has a total of six

constitutions since the Proclamation of
Independence on June 12, 1898. In 1899,
the Malolos Constitution, the first
Philippine Constitution and the first
republican constitution in Asia was
drafted and adopted by the First Philippine
Republic, which lasted from 1899 to 1901.
FERDINAND
MARCOS
Ferdinand Marcos was elected president
in 1965 and was re-elected in 1969, the
first president to be so re-elected.
Desirous of remaining in power beyond
his legal tenure, he declared martial law
in 1972, just before the end of his second
and last term, citing a growing
communist insurgency as its justification.
Marcos cited a growing communist insurgence
as reason for the martial law which was
provided in the 1935 Constitution, with Marcos
estate favor the direction of the convention
turn with accounts that the President himself
dictated some provisions of the Constitution
manipulating the document to be able to hold
January 17,1973 on to power first long as it could.
President Marcos issued proclamation No.1102

and announced that the constitution of 1973 had
been ratified by the overwhelming majority of
the people and thus become affected.
He then manipulated an ongoing Constitutional
Convention and caused the drafting of a new constitution
the 1973 Constitution which allowed him to rule by
decree until 1978 when the presidential system of the
1935 Constitution was replaced with a parliamentary one.
Under this new system, Marcos held on to power and
continued to govern by decree, suppressing democratic
institutions and restricting civil freedoms.
In 1981, martial law was officially lifted, but Marcos
continued to rule by the expedient of being “re-elected”
in a farce of an election to a new 6-year term. He
continued to suppress dissent and thousands of vocal
objectors to his rule either mysteriously disappeared or
were incarcerated. Despite economic decline, corruption
allowed Marcos and his wife Imelda to live extravagantly,
causing resentment domestically and criticism
internationally.
1973 Philippine Constitution
Preamble 17 Articles
The 1973 constitution is composed of a preamble and 17 articles that provides for
the shift from presidential to parliamentary system of government. Its constitution
was a deviation from the Philippines commitment to democratic ideals. Former
president Ferdinand Marcos euphemistically called the 1973 constitution as
authoritarian nature yet democratic in practice
THE PREAMBLE
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to
establish a Government that shall embody our ideals, promote the general welfare,
conserve and develop the patrimony of our Nation, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity the blessings of democracy under a regime of justice, peace, liberty, and
equality, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
The Constitution
The Constitution vests the legislative power in

the National Assembly. A Prime Minister is
elected from among the members of the
National Assembly and serves as the head of
government and commander-in-chief of the
Philippine Armed Forces.
• President
A President is elected from among the members of
the National Assembly and serves as the symbolic
head of state with a six year term.
• Judicial Power
The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court,
composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Justices.
• National Assembly
The National Assembly exercises the power to
define, prescribe and apportion the jurisdiction of
the lower courts. All justices of the Supreme Court
and judges of the lower courts are appointed by the
Prime Minister.
Duties and Obligation of the Citizen
As stated in Article V of the 1973 Constitution,

It shall be the duty of the citizen to be loyal to the Republic and to honor the Philippine flag, to
defend the State and contribute to its development and welfare, to uphold the Constitution and
obey the laws, and to cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and
preservation of a just and orderly society.
This Constitution retains the independence of the Commission on Elections and establishes two
independent Constitution al bodies [Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit] as well
as the National Economic Development Authority [NEDA]. On 24 August 1970, Congress enacted RA
No. 6132, otherwise known as the Constitution al Convention Act, for the purpose of convening a
Constitution al Convention. The 320 delegates met from June 1971 until 30 November 1972, when they
approved the draft of the new Charter. While in the process of drafting a new Constitution, President
Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on 21 September 1972. The draft Constitution was submitted
to the Citizen's Assemblies from January 10 to 17, 1973 for ratification. On 17 January 1973, President
Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1102, announcing the ratification of the Constitution of the Republic of
the Philippines. The above constitution was amended in 1976, 1980 and in 1981. There were minor
amendments done in 1984.
Conclusion
The 1973 Martial Law Constitution has cause a lot of impact in

our country, the way how our country ran under the leadership
of our former President Ferdinand Marcos. Under martial law
there were widespread excesses and human rights abuses, even
while the regime reduced violent urban crime, collected
unregistered firearms, and suppressed communist insurgency in
some areas. Martial Law caused trauma to everyone, especially
those who were severely affected by it. This pushed Filipino
writers to write outstanding stories that depict the cruelty of the
Marcos Administration. Each stories represent the hardships
that Filipino's had to face during Marcos' reign.

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1973 Martial Law Constitution

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1973

Martial Law Constitution

The Philippines has a total of six

President Marcos issued proclamation No.1102

The Constitution vests the legislative power in

As stated in Article V of the 1973 Constitution,

The 1973 Martial Law Constitution has cause a lot of impact in

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