PHILIPPINE CONSITUTION A. NATURE 1. Definition 2. Purpose 3. Classification: a. Written/ Unwritten b. Enacted (conventional) or evolved (cumulative) c. Rigid or Flexible 4.

Qualities: a. Broad b. Brief c. Definite 5. Essential parts: a. Constitution of Liberty. b. Constitution of Government. c. Constitution of Sovereignty. 6. Interpretation/ Construction of the Constitution. 1). Verba legis plain meaning; 2). Ratio legis et anima intention of the framers; 3). Ut magis valeat quam pereat as a whole. a. Aids of construction available b. In case of doubt, consider them self-executory & prospective rather than retroactive. c. Self-executing provisions. B. HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTION 1. Malolos Constitution first republican Constitution. 2. American regime and the Organic Acts. 3. 1935 Constitution. 4. Japanese (Belligerent) Occupation 5. 1973 Constitution C. 1987 Constitution D. AMENDMENT 1. Amendment v. Revision 2. Constituent v. Legislative power 3. Steps in amendatory process: a Proposal. (Secs. 1-3, Art. XVII) i. Congress (3/4 vote) See: Occena v. Comelec (104 SCRA 1) ii. ConCon (Sec. 3, Art. XVII) iia. 3 theories: Theory of Conventional Sovereignty Covention is inferior Co-equality to other department iii. People, through the power of initiative (Sec. 2, Art. XVII) iiia. Limitation 5 years iiib. RA 6735 (An Act Providing for a System of Initiative and Referendum) iiic. Defensor-Santiago v. Comelec (G.R. No. 127325, March 19, 1997) b. Ratification (Sec. 4, Art. XVII) i. Doctrine of proper submission. ia. Plebiscite same day as regular elections. ib. Use of word election 4. Judicial Review of Amendements. e. Power of Judicial Review 1. Judicial Review. a. vested in courts. (Sec. 1, Art. VIII) b. Sec. 4(2), Art. VIII 2. who may exercise the power. [Sec. 4(2), Art. VIII) a. Sec. 5(2), Art. VIII b. Mirasol v. CA (G.R. No. 128448, Feb. 1, 2001) 3. Functions:

a. Checking b. Legitimating c. Symbolic (Salonga v. Pano, 134 SCRA 438) 4. Requisites: a. Actual case or controversy. i. an action for declaratory relief. ii. issues must not be moot & academic iii. Tanada v. Angara, 272 SCRA 18 iv. Cases not ripe for judicial determination b. Constitutional question raised by proper party. c. must be raised at the earliest possible opportunity. d. must be determinative of the case itself. 5. Effects of Declaration of Unconstitutionality. a. Orthodox view. b. Modern view. 6. Partial Unconstitutionality. Requisites: a. Retain valid portions; separability clause b. Valid portion can stand independently as law.