HumanRights - Final Quiz

DISCUSS THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS THE
CHANGES INTRODUCED FROM ITS ORIGINAL PASSAGE UP TO THE PRESENT. YOU

WILL BE GRADED BASED ON YOUR COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION.
● The 1899 Malolos Constitution (1899-1901)

● The 1935 Constitution (1935-1943, 1945-1973)
● The 1943 Constitution (1943-1945)
● The 1972 Constituion
● The 1973 Constitution (1973-1986)
● The 1987 Constitution (1987-present
The Philippine Constitution has undergone several revisions throughout the years to
respond to the needs of the people and the changing times. Here are some of the
significant events and changes in the Philippine Constitution:
1. The First Philippine Republic (1898-1901) - The Malolos Constitution became the
first written constitution of the Philippines. It established the country as a
republic with a presidential form of government.
2. The American Colonial Period (1901-1946) - The Philippine Commission created
a new constitution that established a bicameral legislature with an Assembly and
a Senate in 1902. The Jones Law of 1916 provided for a more democratic
government and set up a bicameral legislature with an elected Senate and a
House of Representatives.
3. The Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) - During the Japanese Occupation, the
Philippines had a puppet government headed by Jose P. Laurel. The 1943
Constitution was created to legitimize the government.
4. The Third Republic (1946-1972) - The 1935 Constitution was reinstated with a
few amendments. It established a presidential form of government with a
bicameral legislature.
5. Martial Law Era (1972-1981) - President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law
in 1972 and suspended the Constitution. A new Constitution was drafted in 1973,
which gave Marcos authoritarian powers and eliminated term limits for the
presidency.
6. The Fourth Republic (1981-1986) - Marcos lifted Martial Law in 1981 and
restored the 1935 Constitution with some amendments.
7. The Fifth Republic (1987-present) - A new Constitution was ratified in 1987 after
the People Power Revolution forced Marcos out of power. It established a
presidential form of government with a bicameral legislature, a bill of rights, and
an independent judiciary. The Constitution has been amended several times
since its ratification, the most significant of which was the removal of term limits
for local officials in 2013.
The Malolos Constitution is mainly about the establishment of the First Philippine
Republic during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. It formalized the
separation of the Philippines from Spain and defined the structure of the new
government, including the separation of powers and the creation of a unicameral
National Assembly. The constitution also enshrined fundamental rights such as
freedom of speech, religion, and the press. It was adopted on January 21, 1899, and
remained in effect until the end of the Philippine-American War in 1901.
The 1935 Constitution of the Philippines was changed to amend certain provisions that
were deemed outdated or inadequate for the evolving needs of the country. Some of the
reasons for the change were:
1. The desire to promote greater social justice and economic progress by empowering
the government to regulate private business and promote public welfare.
2. The need to restructure the government system by establishing a bicameral

legislature and creating more efficient administrative agencies.
3. The aim to strengthen national defense and ensure the country's security by
expanding the military and imposing stricter immigration controls.
4. The necessity to safeguard civil liberties and protect individual rights by explicitly
stating provisions on freedom of speech, religion, and due process of law.
5. The effort to promote national unity and identity by emphasizing the role of the
Filipino language and culture in education, government, and media.
Overall, the changes made to the 1935 Constitution were intended to modernize and
streamline the Philippine government while also promoting social and economic
progress and protecting individual rights.
The 1943 Philippine Constitution was about the establishment of a Commonwealth

government in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. It provided the
framework for a government that was under the control of the Japanese during World
War II. The Constitution abolished the bicameral system and replaced it with a
unicameral National Assembly. It also granted the President of the Commonwealth
broad powers, included the power to declare war, and imposed strict censorship on the
media. The 1943 Constitution was repealed by the 1946 Philippine Constitution after the
country regained its independence.
The 1972 Philippine Constitution was the second constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines, which replaced the 1935 Constitution. It was promulgated during the Martial
Law era by the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. It aimed to centralize power in the
Presidency and introduce a parliamentary-style government that would further
legitimize Marcos' authoritarian rule. The 1972 Constitution was characterized by a
strong executive branch, the abolition of the Senate, and the establishment of the
Batasang Pambansa, a unicameral parliament composed of Marcos supporters. The
Constitution was suspended in 1981, and a new one was promulgated in 1987,
following the People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos regime.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution is the fundamental law of the Republic of the
Philippines that outlines the structure of the national government, establishes the
country's sovereignty, and outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens.
It was drafted and ratified after the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship and the
overthrow of the People Power Movement. The constitution provides for a democratic
form of government with three branches, with a bicameral legislature composed of the
Senate and the House of Representatives. It also strengthens the protection of civil and
political rights, social and economic rights, and cultural and environmental rights. The
constitution is the cornerstone of the Philippines' political and legal systems, guiding
the development and evolution of the nation's political, economic, and social structures.
In conclusion, all of the constitutions that the Philippines had is important in a way that
It serves as a social contract between the government and the people. The Philippine
constitution is a binding agreement between the government and the people, which
outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It establishes the principles and
values that the government must adhere to and the expectations and obligations that
the people have towards the government. It ensures the protection of fundamental
rights and freedoms. The Philippine constitution guarantees the protection of
fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly, the
right to due process, and the right to equal protection under the law. These protections
are essential to promoting a free and democratic society.

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DISCUSS THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS THE

CHANGES INTRODUCED FROM ITS ORIGINAL PASSAGE UP TO THE PRESENT. YOU

● The 1899 Malolos Constitution (1899-1901)

2. The need to restructure the government system by establishing a bicameral

The 1943 Philippine Constitution was about the establishment of a Commonwealth

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