THE PHILIPPINE boundaries such that a single nation may

"spill over" into multiple states.

CONSTITUTION
SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND Philippine Constitution 1899 Malolos
CULTURAL ISSUES IN PHILIPPINE Constitution
HISTORY Title II, Article 4, states that the form of
The Philippine Constitution government is to be popular,
A constitution is defined as the set of representative alternative, and
principles that establish the nature and responsible"
extent of the government of a nation- Three distinct powers:
state. The Philippines has had four 1. Legislative (vested in the Assembly of
numerous constitutional changes since representatives where the members are
the 1899 Malolos Congress, including elected for a four-year term);
acts and provisional constitutions, 2. Executive (vested in the President,
especially during the American there was no vice president but in case of
colonization and Japanese occupation. vacancy, the position shall be selected by
The Philippine Constitutions and Acts: the constituent assembly); and
1. The 1899 Malolos Constitution 3. Judicial
2. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902
3. The Jones Law of 1916 The Malolos Constitution was never
4 The 1935 Constitution enforced because of the Philippine-
5. The 1943 Constitution American War
6. The 1973 Constitution The Treaty of Paris of 1898 ended the
7. The 1986 Freedom Constitution Spanish-American War, involving Spain
8 The 1987 Constitution selling the Philippines to the United States
1899 Malolos Constitution for 20 million dollars, without the Filipinos
What is a state? knowing about the agreement.
A state is a territory considered as an The two ongoing wars against Spain prior
organized political community under one to the formation of the Malolos Congress:
government. A state can be created with a 1. The Philippine Revolution, which
conscious effort. For example, after 1947, lasted from 23 August 1896 to 13 August
Pakistan was created as an independent 1898
state. A state has both political and legal 2. The Spanish-American War, which
power. Therefore, it can also create and went on from 21 April 1898 to 13 August
impose laws. 1898
A state has four main elements: The Organic Act of 1902 enabled the
1. territory, creation of the Philippine Assembly. Key
2 population, provisions of the act included the bill of
3. government, and rights of the Filipinos and the appointment
4. sovereignty. of two representatives to the US House of
What is a NATION? Representatives. This act also vested
A nation is a group of people who see legislative Power in a bicameral
themselves as a cohesive and coherent legislature, which is composed of the
unit based on shared cultural or historical Philippine Commission (upper house) and
criteria. Nations are socially constructed the Philippine Assembly (lower house).
units, not given by nature. Their Jones Law, or the Philippine Autonomy
existence, definition, and members can Act of 1916 removed the Philippine
change dramatically based on Commission and replaced it with a Senate
circumstances. Nations in some ways can that served as the upper house Its
be thought of as "imagined communities" members were elected by the Filipino
that are bound together by notions of unity voters. This act also stated the recognition
that can pivot around religion, ethnic of the Philippines as an independent
identity, language, cultural practice and so country as soon as a stable government
forth. The concept and practice of a nation was established. It declared the purpose
work to establish who belongs and who of the United States to end their
does not (insider vs outsider). Such sovereignty over the country
conceptions often ignore political
Tydings-McDuffie Act, or the Philippine Diosdado P. Macapagal,
Independence Act defined the Ferdinand E. Marcos.
establishment of a formal constitution by a The 1973 Constitution served as a way
Constitutional Convention, which was first for the office of the president to hold on to
held on 30 July 1934 and installed Claro its executive powers and abolish the
M. Recto as its president . Senate.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt On 25 February 1986, Corazon Aquino
approved the draft of what would become became the president of the Philippines,
the 1935 Constitution, which established 1987 Constitution
the Philippine Commonwealth. Three options regarding the Constitution
• Through the Constitution, the Reinstate the 1935 Constitution, Retain
Commonwealth of the Philippines the 1973 Constitution, or start a new
governed the Philippines from 1935 to constitution.
1946, serving as a transitional Freedom Constitution was the
administration that would prepare the transitional constitution that would last for
country for its independence Rights to a year while the new constitution was
suffrage are given to Filipino male citizens being drafted. A constitutional convention
who are at least twenty-one years of age was created in 1986, which consisted of
and who can read and write two years 48 members appointed by the president.
later, in 1937, suffrage was extended to The convention was largely influenced by
Filipino women. the setup. abolished by Marcos in 1972,
On 23 February 1935, the draft of the mixed with new ways to keep the
constitution was approved by the president in check, a response to the
constitutional convention and ratified by experience under the Marcos regime The
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 25 new constitution was adopted on 2
March 1935. February 1987.
In September 1935, Manuel Quezon was Branches of the Government under the
elected as President of the new constitution:
Commonwealth. 1. Executive Headed by the president,
The Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) with the appointed cabinet members The
interrupted the Commonwealth during president is the head of state and the
World War II. In the meantime, a new chief executive, buthis/her power is
Philippine Republic was inaugurated limited.
under the 1943 Constitution, with Jose P. 2. Legislative Divided into two Houses:
Laurel as President. The Japanese- the Senate and the House of
sanctioned Constitution was soon Representatives 24 Senators are elected
repealed after the defeat of Japan and its by popular vote and can serve no more
allied forces. than two consecutive six-year terms.
The 1935 Constitution was reinstated at 3. Judiciary The Philippine Court system
the end of the War in 1945. On 4 July consists of the Supreme Court And the
1946, the United States granted the lower courts, as created by the law.
Philippines independence, but with "parity
rights' ' for American businesses to exploit
our natural resources and allow US
military bases in the archipelago. The
1935 Constitution remained in place until
Marcos maneuvered to have it ratified
through supposed "citizens' assemblies."
Presidents under the 1935
Constitution:
Manuel L. Quezon,
Sergio Osmeña,
Manuel A. Roxas,
Elpidio Quirino,
Ramon Magsaysay,
Carlos P. Garcia,