The 1973 Constitution

The 1973 Philippine Constitution

The 1973 Philippine Constitution is composed of
a preamble and 17 articles, provides for the shift
from presidential to parliamentary system of
government.
Preamble
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: The National Territory
The national territory comprises the Philippine
archipelago, with all the islands and waters
embraced therein, and all the other territories
belonging to the Philippines by historic or legal
title, including the territorial sea, the air space, the
subsoil, the sea-bed, the insular shelves, and the
submarine areas over which the Philippines has
sovereignty or jurisdiction. The waters around,
between, and connecting the islands of the
archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and
dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines.
 Article II: Declaration of Principles and
State Policies
Section 1. The Philippines is a republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
Section 2. The defense of the State is the prime duty of government, and in the fulfillment of this duty all citizens may be required by law to render personal military or
civil service.
Section 3. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land,
and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.
Section 4. The State shall strengthen the family as a basic social institution. The natural right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the
development of moral character shall receive the aid and support of the government.
Section 5. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote their physical, intellectual and social well-being.
Section 6. The State shall promote social justice to ensure the dignity, welfare, and security of all the people. Towards this end, the State shall regulate the acquisition,
ownership, use, enjoyment, and disposition of private property, and equitably diffuse property ownership and profits.
Section 7. The State shall establish, maintain, and ensure adequate social services in the field of education, health, housing, employment, welfare, and social security to
guarantee the enjoyment of the people of a decent standard of living.
Section 8. Civilian authority is at all times supreme over the military.
Section 9. The State shall afford protection to labor, promote full employment and equality in employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race, or
creed, and regulate the relation between workers and employers. The State shall assure the rights of workers to self-organization, collective bargaining, security of tenure,
and just and humane conditions of work. The State may provide for compulsory arbitration.
Section 10. The State shall guarantee and promote the autonomy of local government units, especially the barrio, to ensure their fullest development as self-reliant
communities.
Article III: Bill of Rights
Composed of 23 sections stating the declaration and
important rights of the citizens of the Philippines
Article IV: Citizenship
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
(1) Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.
(2) Those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines.
(3) Those who elect Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of nineteen
hundred and thirty-five.
(4) Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
Section 2. A female citizen of the Philippines who marries an alien retains her Philippine citizenship,
unless by her act or omission she is deemed, under the law, to have renounced her citizenship.
Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.
Section 4. A natural-born citizen is one who is a citizen of the Philippines from birth without having to
perform any act to acquire or perfect his Philippine citizenship.
Article V: Duties and Obligations of the
Citizens
Section 1. 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.
Section 2. The rights of the individual impose upon him the correlative duty to exercise them
responsibly and with due regard for the rights of others.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of every citizen to engage in gainful work to assure himself and his
family a life worthy of human dignity.
Section 4. It shall be the obligation of every citizen qualified to vote to register and cast his vote.
Article VI: Suffrage
Suffrage shall be exercised by citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise disqualified by law, who are eighteen years of age or over
and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year
and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months
preceding the election. No literacy, property or other substantive
requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of, suffrage. The
Batasang Pambansa shall provide a system for the purpose of
securing the secrecy and sanctity of the vote.
Article VII: The President and Vice-
President
Composed of 7 Sections stating who can be President and
Vice-President. Also, the duties and responsibilities of the
President and Vice-President are stated in this article.
Article VIII: The National Assembly
Composed of 20 Sections.

The Constitution vests the legislative power in the

National Assembly.
Article IX: The Prime Minister and the
Cabinet
Composed of 16 Sections

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. 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.
Article X: The Judiciary
The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court,
composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Justices.
Article Xi: Local Government
Section 1. The territorial and political subdivisions of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barrios.
Section 2. The Batasang Pambansa shall enact a local government code which may not be thereafter amended except by a majority vote
of all its Members, defining a more responsive and accountable local government structure with an effective system of recall, allocating
among the different local government units their powers, responsibilities, and resources, and providing for the qualifications, election and
removal, term, salaries, powers, functions, and duties of local officials, and all other matters relating to the organization and operation of
the local units. However, any change in the existing form of local government shall not take effect until ratified by a majority of the votes
cast in a plebiscite called for the purpose.
Section 3. No province, city, municipality, or barrio may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered
except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government code, and subject to the approval by a majority of the votes
cast in a plebiscite in the unit or units affected.
Section 4.
(1) Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities with respect to component barrios, shall ensure that the acts of their
component units are within the scope of their assigned powers and functions. Highly urbanized cities, as determined by standards
established in the local government code shall be independent of the province.
(2) Local government units may group themselves, or consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes
commonly beneficial to them.
Section 5. Each local government unit shall have the power to create its own sources of revenue and to levy taxes, subject to limitations as
may be provided by law.
Article XII: The Constitutional
Commissions
A. Common Provisions
B. The Civil Service Commission
C. The Commission on Elections
D. Commission on Audit
Article XIII: Accountability of Public
Officers
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees shall serve with the highest degree of responsibility, integrity,
loyalty, and efficiency, and shall remain accountable to the people.
Section 2. The President, the Justices of the Supreme Court, and the Members of the Constitutional Commissions shall be removed from
office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, other high crimes, or graft and
corruption.
Section 3. The National Assembly shall have the exclusive power to initiate, try, decide all cases of impeachment. Upon the filing of a
verified complaint, the National Assembly may initiate impeachment by a vote of at least one-fifth of all its Members. No official shall be
convicted without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all the members thereof. When the National Assembly sits in impeachment
cases, its Members shall be on oath or affirmation.
Section 4. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall be limited to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust,
or profit under the Republic of the Philippines, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and
punishment, in accordance with law.
Section 5. The National Assembly shall create a special court, to be known as Sandiganbayan, which shall have jurisdiction over criminal
and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those
in government-owned or controlled corporations, in relation to their office as may be determined by law.
Section 6. The National Assembly shall create an office of the Ombudsman, to be known as Tanodbayan, which shall receive and
investigate complaints relative to public office, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, make appropriate
recommendations, and in case of failure of justice as defined by law, file and prosecute the corresponding criminal, civil, or administrative
case before the proper court or body.
Article XIV: The National Economy and
the Patrimony of the Nation
Composed of 15 Sections.

Article XV: General Provisions

Composed of 16 Sections.
Article XVI: Amendments
Section 1.
(1) Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by the National
Assembly upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members, or by a constitutional convention.
(2) The National Assembly may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its Members, call a constitutional
convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit the question of calling such a
convention to the electorate in an election.
Section 2. Any amendment to or revision of this Constitution shall be valid when ratified by a
majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite which shall be held not later than three months after
the approval of such amendment or revision.
Article XVII: Transitory Provisions
Composed of 16 Sections
SUMMARY
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
Constitutional 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. The text provided here incorporates these amendments.
Some pictures of Martial Law
Thank You…