Philippine Government and Constitution

Homework

11/15/2011 Lee, Tiffany Torres 4Bio-5

1. Why do we need to study PGC? Functions and importance of political science: 1) The function of political science is to discover the principles that should be adhered to in public affairs and to study the operations of government in order to demonstrate what is good, to criticize what is bad or inefficient, and to suggest improvements. 2) Its findings and conclusions may be of immense practical use to constitution-makers, legislators, executives, and judges who need models or norms that can be applied to immediate situations. Again, they may be of immense practical use to individuals who seek to understand the state in which they live. 3) The study of political science deals also with problems of social welfare, governmental economic programs, international cooperation, and a wide range of other matters that are urgent concern to public officials and to private citizens.

Goal in the study of political science courses: a. Education for citizenship - The preparation of students for careers in politics, law, teaching, the civil service, and the foreign service (though vitally important) is secondary to the task of equipping them to discharge the obligations of democratic citizenship, which grow constantly heavier in the modern world. b. Essential parts of liberal education - Intelligent, responsible citizenship can save democracy; ignorance and negligence can lose it. - Eternal vigilance (caution) is the price of liberty. - Study, information, and understanding of the complexities of the modern government and politics are necessary as eternal vigilance. c. Knowledge and understanding of government - The good citizen who behaves himself and votes regularly is no longer enough. - He much also be the citizen who knows the answer. - He must know how his government really operates, what interests and forces are behind particular policies, what the results of such policies are likely to be, what his rights and
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obligations are, who his elected representatives are, and what they stand for. 2. Three (3) Kinds of government The kinds of government that a people have are important because it indicates generally how it serves the people. a. Dictatorial Government A dictatorial government is ruled by an individual who has full power over the country. The term may refer to a system where the dictator came to power, and holds it, purely by force - but it also includes systems where the dictator first came to power legitimately but then was able to amend the constitution so as to, in effect, gather all power for themselves b. Democratic Government In a democratic government, all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law. It can also encompass social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination. c. Aristocracy Aristocracy, at its heart aristocracy means "rule by the best." Its theoretical foundation begins with the political works of Plato and Aristotle, the two central figures in Greek and European philosophy. Both felt that Greek democracy> had been a disaster; their fundamental problem with democracy was that it put government in the hands of people who were the least capable of making sound decisions. For Plato, the general run of humanity was driven by its selfish passions and desires; this was a poor foundation for deliberate, considered, and selfless decision-making. While Plato and Aristotle were familiar with an infinite variety of possible governments, they believed that government should be in the hands of the most capable members of society. Above all, people in government should be moral and selfless; they should be highly intelligent and educated, as well as brave and temperate. This was "rule by the best." 3. Distinguish Presidential and Parliamentary Government

The parliamentary system typically has clear differentiation between the head of government and the head of state, with the former being the Prime Minister and the latter, the President. The Prime Minister is the chief executive and, together with the Cabinet, exercises executive power or the authority to form and implement policies and programs. He/she is also usually the leader of the political party that wins the majority of votes in the legislature or parliament, either assuming the post automatically or gets elected by the legislature. The members of the Cabinet are chosen by the Prime Minister from the members of parliament and can come from the same party or from a coalition of parties. The head of state, meanwhile, is the President, often elected by a designated electoral college as a figurehead with ceremonial powers. In some cases, however, the President could take on a more significant role during a constitutional or political crisis. In the parliamentary system, there is fusion of powers between the executive and the legislative branches. This union serves to facilitate the exercise and coordination of governmental powers and functions to formulate desired policies and implement programs of government. The success of this fusion depends largely, though, on the reform of the countrys political party and electoral systems. For some parliamentary governments, legislatures can only amend legislation on narrow terms. There are a few permanent or standing committees in the parliament that assist in the drafting and review of legislation. Given its close association with the legislative branch, the executive can be made more accountable for its performance since they are answerable to the members of parliament. There are two ways by which the Prime Minister and the rest of the Cabinet can be asked to step down. The first is through a vote of no-confidence by the legislature often initiated by an opposition party or coalition of opposition parties. This may or may not result in extraordinary elections. The other route is by virtue of a party vote, which does not force a new round of legislative elections. The Prime Minister, as long as he/she enjoys the confidence of the majority of the House, can dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections. The Philippines is one of the countries with a presidential form of government together with South Korea, Indonesia, Nigeria, most South American nations and the US, which is the pioneer. Under this political system, the President is both head of state and head of government. The incumbent for the position is elected nationwide on timing that has been predetermined in the Constitution. Thus, in the presidential system, the President is said to enjoy a direct mandate from the people. There is a fixed term of office for the President, which may be re-elected depending on the country adopting the system.
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The executive branch, which the President heads, is distinct from the legislative and judicial branches of government, which are all independent of one other. This separation of powers serves to check and to balance certain actuations of either branch of government. While the members of the legislature are elected, the members of the Cabinet are appointed by the President and may require the confirmation or consent of the legislative branch. The formulation, amendment and review of legislation are the sole purview of the legislature. However, on many occasions, the executive could endorse a legislative agenda for consideration and veto a bill that was passed in the legislature. The latter, nonetheless, could overturn it via a two-thirds vote. When it comes to the difficult process of removing a President, often the only legal way is through an impeachment process that is undertaken in the legislative branch. 4. Distinguish States from Nation State Political concept Community of persons more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, having a government of their own to which the great body of inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying freedom from external control Not subject to external control Nation Ethnic concept Group of people bound together by certain characteristics such as common social origin, language, customs, and traditions, and who believe that they are one and distinct from others.

Concept

Description

External control

Composition

Example

May or may not be independent of external control A single state may consist of A single nation may be made one or more nations or up of several states peoples Philippines Arab Nation = has several sovereign states: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and others

5. Distinguish States from Government

State Cannot exist without a government

Government Possible to have a government without a state Only the agency through which the state expresses its will. Remain the same as long as its essential Its form may change elements are present 6. Discuss Four (4) Elements Essential of States 1.) People refers to the mass of population living within the state - Without people there can be no functionaries to govern and no subjects to be governed. - There are no requirements as to the number of people that should compose a state. But it should be neither too small nor too large: small enough to be well-governed and large enough to be self-sufficing. 2.) Territory it includes not only the land over which the jurisdiction of the state extends, but also the rivers and lakes therein, a certain area of sea which abuts upon its coasts and the air space above it. - The domain of the state may be described as terrestrial, fluvial, maritime, and aerial. 3.) Government refers to the agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed, and carried out - Sometimes used to refer to the person or aggregate of those persons in whose hands are placed for the time being the function of the political control - The ordinary citizens of a country are a part of the stat, but are not part of the government 4.) Sovereignty defined as the supreme power of the state to command and enforce obedience to its will from people within its jurisdiction and corollarily, to have freedom from foreign control - Has two manifestations: a. Internal power of the state to rule within its territory b. External freedom of the state to carry out its activities without subjection to or control by other states (independence) 7. What is Constitution?

Constitution - a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. - refers to that body of rules and principles in accordance with which the powers of sovereignty are regularly exercised. - when these principles are written down into a single or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to comprise a written constitution. - With particular reference to the Constitution of the Philippines, it may be defined as that written instrument by which the fundamental powers of the government are established, limited, and defined. 8. Kinds of Constitution Constitutions may be classified as follows: a. As their origin and history: Conventional or enacted one which is enacted by a constitution assembly or granted by a monarch to his subject like the Constitution of Japan in 1889 Cumulative or evolved one which is a product of growth or a long period of development originating in customs, traditions, judicial decision, etc., rather than from a deliberate and formal enactment b. As their form: Written one which has been given definite written form at a particular time, usually by a specially constituted authority called a constitutional convention Unwritten one which is entirely the product of political evolution, consisting largely of a mass of customs, usages, and judicial decisions together with a smaller body of statutory enactments of a fundamental characters, usually bearing different dates c. As to manner amending them: Rigid or inelastic one regarded as a document of special sanctity which cannot be amended or altered except by some machinery more cumbrous than the ordinary legislative process Flexible or elastic one which possesses no higher legal authority than ordinary laws and which may be altered in the same way as other laws

9. Advantages Constitution

and

Disadvantages

of

Written

and

Unwritten

Advantages

Disadvantages

Written Unwritten Clearness and definiteness over Flexibility particularly an unwritten one advantageous in keeping the constitution up-to-date Prepared with great care and It has the ability of political deliberation change and development Cannot be easily bent or twisted All that is necessary for the by the legislature or by the courts practices to be changed is for Parliament to agree that change is necessary The protection it affords and the There is an entrenchment, but rights it guarantees are apt to be one that given democratic more secure consensus may be more easily modified than as a written constitution. It is more stable and free from all Unwritten Constitution changes dangers of temporary popular to reflect the times in which we passion live Difficulty of its amendment It carries risks. Prevents the immediate If a constitution is to place limits introduction of needed changes on government or to set out the and may thereby retard the parameters within which healthy growth and progress of governments must operate, the state then the fact that it can be adapted by government whim can be problematic

10. Steps in Constitutional Making 1) Name of your organization The name of your organization should reflect what your group is all about and is a very important factor. You need to bear in mind that every member of your organization should identify with the name of your group. Also, do you want the subject or the main interest of your group to come first, or the area in which you are based? How might the name appear on any literature? Could

it be misleading or offensive to people? Most importantly, is there already a group with the same name located locally? 2) Aims or objectives of your organization To put it another way, why has your group come together? What is it hoping to accomplish? Your objectives should cover not only what you aim to achieve at this point in time, but what you may wish to do in the future. Do not simply list various activities, but keep your aims as wide as possible to enable you to change your activity without amending your constitution, giving you flexibility as you develop. Do not simply state that you want to create a youth club at a particular address, but talk about integrating people in a wider area. The objectives section is the most difficult to change and, therefore, requires a lot of thought and consideration! 3) Powers The Powers section of your constitution should discuss what the group is allowed to do to carry out its activities and meet its objectives. As with the Objectives section, you should always remember that your group may expand in the future or change as it develops, so keep your powers broad. In general, this section may include details on the powers to: - raise money; - employ paid staff or recruit volunteers; - buy or rent premises/equipment; - conduct research; - receive contributions through a membership fee; - work in partnership with different organisations; - carry out anything else within the law necessary to reach the groups objectives. 4) Membership All groups are made up of members who want to work in association to achieve the stated aims. Members essentially own and control the group. But who are you going to invite as members? It may be individuals within a certain area, or defined categories of people with similar interests such as older people, children, disabled people or the unemployed. You must also decide if you are going to charge people to be a member and if so, who is going to fix the price. At this stage you must address how you are going to
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appoint new members and how long membership will last (i.e. for a financial year, calendar year or even academic year). It may be that your existing members appoint new members by a majority decision. Furthermore, what does having a membership entitle them to do? On the flip side, how will you remove people from your group if you need to? Termination of membership may be a necessity if an individuals behavior is detrimental to the aims of your group, and you may need to call a meeting to resolve the matter. How many members it will allow is at the groups discretion, although the majority of organizations opt for a minimum of three (which is a legal requirement for charities). There is no upper limit on the number of members, but too many could make the group inefficient. Larger groups may have between ten and 15 members, whereas smaller groups may have between three and five. 5) Management Committee A management committee is essential to manage not only your groups work, but to make decisions and direct policy making. Management committees should include honorary officers, and may also involve others who have been nominated or elected. In the main, there are three types of committee member including those: - nominated by and from the membership (a large number of members will be appointed via this method); - nominated by a different group; - co-opted by the committee due to their knowledge, skills or experience. As well as deciding who will be on your management committee, it is important to consider the following questions: * When will you elect your management committee? * How long will they be on the committee before a re-election is needed? (For some this is every year and a re-election takes place at the annual general meeting. For others it may be that a specific number stand down each year.) * What procedures will you have in place if a member leaves? * How will you remove a committee member and for what reasons? 6) Officers It is common for committees to have named individuals known as officers, to carry out various tasks on behalf of your group. These may include a president, chairperson, secretary or treasurer. You also need to come to an agreement on how officers will be chosen, whether they will be elected at

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your annual general meeting or appointed by your committee, and how long they will be in place (for a limited or unlimited period). The same questions apply to the officers as for the management committee. How will the officers be removed where this is required? How will their vacancies be filled? Also, what will their powers and responsibilities be? 7) Meetings Within your constitution, you must state where and how often you will meet to discuss the work of your group and make any decision surrounding it. Small groups may find it more appropriate for decisions to be made by all members together, whereas larger organizations may find it better to elect a committee to make any decisions on behalf of members. With regard to meetings, you should ensure that you make provisions for both general and committee meetings. General meetings are open to all members within your organization and at least one should take place per year (usually known as the Annual General Meeting (AGM)). Your group may also wish to hold a minimum number of additional meetings. With regard to meetings, your constitution should include the following details: * The minimum number of meetings you will hold and how often you will have them. * How much notice you will give to inform your members when a meeting will be held * The number of members that need to be present to allow a meeting to commence (this is known as the quorum). * Who is able to vote and how voting will occur (such as a show of hands). * The process by which your members will be allowed to call a meeting as opposed to your committee, covering the minimum number of people required in order to request such a meeting. As well as meeting to deliberate the day-to-day activities of your group, you should always consider the method by which you will meet to discuss the more formal aspects of your group such as your finances, issues concerning the election of committee members, and evaluating and reviewing the work and objectives of your group. This is generally carried out at your AGMs, which should be held no less than 15 months apart. You can also make provisions about what to do if more meetings are necessary. 8) Finance

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For the finance section of your constitution you will need to address several factors. To begin, you should consider where you will keep the groups money. It is often a good idea to open a bank account in the name of your organization. You should also keep a record of all income and expenditure, and have your groups accounts independently examined each year by an accountant. Your constitution must list any members authorized to sign cheques on behalf of the group, including the number of signatories needed. Cheques require a minimum of two signatories, but it is best practice to identify three or four members who are authorized (generally the chairperson, treasurer, secretary and another committee member). In addition, this section may cover aspects of payment. Can any members or anyone involved with your group be paid for their time and services? This is not common practice, but you may want to consider reasonable expenses. 9) Amendments to the Constitution It is essential you acknowledge from the beginning that your group may change as it grows, and you may find that you need to make amendments to your constitution. Although this is the case, your constitution represents why people joined your organization in the first instance, so you should make sure that it cannot easily be changed. With this in mind, you will need to come to a decision on how any changes will be implemented. In general, changes to a constitution are deliberated at a general meeting consisting of all your groups members, and a majority vote in favour of any amendments needs to be reached. As mentioned previously, your constitution contains the reasons people joined your group in the first place so you need to be sure that your members are in favour of any changes. Sometimes it may be that you decide you need a particular number of members to be present at a general meeting and in agreement before you allow any changes to be made, such as a two-third vote (twice the number of people voting in favour as against). You must also give details within your constitution of how you will arrange special general meetings to discuss potential changes, including information regarding how much notice you will give your members. 10) Dissolution If for any reason you need to wind up your group, you must adopt rules similar to those you have put in place to make changes to your constitution.
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This may occur if your group is simply lacking in support or resources, or if your activities have been transferred to another organization. Not only will you need to include details on how you will call a special meeting and how many members should be present before you can dissolve your organization, but you will need to include information regarding what will happen to any remaining assets or money. Usually when a group ceases to exist, debts are repaid and the surplus assets or finances are then distributed or donated to similar groups or local charities. This is basically to reassure the public and any funding bodies that the money is being utilized properly and not just being split between members. 11. Requisitions of a Good Written Constitution a. As to form, a good written constitution should be: Brief a constitution must be broad in its scope because it outlines the organization of the government for the whole state. A statement of provisions and functions of the government, and of the relations between the governing body and the governed, requires a comprehensive document. Broad a constitution must be brief because it is not the place in which the details of organization should be set forth. Some constitutions have been marred by the inclusion of pure regulation. Definite the constitution must be definite. In a statement of principles of underlying the essential nature of a state any vagueness which may lead to opposing interpretations of essential features may cause incalculable harm. Civil war and the disruption of the state may conceivably follow from ambiguous expressions in a constitution. b. As to contents, it should contain at least three sets of provisions: That dealing with the framework of government and its powers, and defining the electorate. This group of provisions has been called the constitution of government. That setting forth the fundamental rights of the people and imposing certain limitations on the powers of the government as a means of securing the enjoyment of these rights. This group has been referred to as the constitution of liberty. That pointing out the mode or procedure for amending or revising the constitution. This group has been called the constitution of sovereignty.
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12. Government of Laws and Not of Men Government of Law means that laws are interpreted objectively not reread by individuals and is to be applied to everyone without regard for their positions, reputations or personal relationships with others. It is not a powergrab by lawyers. It is an affirmation that those who exercise power over us are not free to do entirely as they wish - that would be tyranny - but are subject to limits set by law. A government of laws not men is another way of expressing the concept of the rule of law. The alternative to this is to have our lives dominated by those whose only claim to obedience is their possession of "a bigger stick". A government of men, on the other hand, would be one that is subjective, depending on the relationship of those enforcing the laws and those against whom the laws might be enforced. 13. Discuss Preamble of 1987 Constitution 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.

The word preamble is derived from the Latin word "preambulare" which means "to walk before". A preamble is an introductory and explanatory statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy. 14. Three (3) Essential Powers of Government/States The three inherent powers of the government are the: a. Police Power s power of the government to regulate the rights of the individual - For example, an ordinate prohibits jay-walking

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b. Power Of Taxation power of the government to require individuals to pay each year a certain amount of money for the support of the government - income tax is an example c. Power Of Eminent Domain power of the government to take a private property for some public use, provided that the owner is paid its just price - For example, As piece of land is taken, through court action, because that piece of property will be used for the widening of a street 15. Philippine Constitution in Transition a. 1935 Constitution The Hare-Hawes Cutting Act, passed by Congress in 1932, provided for complete independence of the islands in 1945 after 10years of selfgovernment under U.S. supervision. The bill had been drawn up with the aid of a commission from the Philippines, but Manuel L. Quezon, the leader of the dominant Nationalist party, opposed it, partially because of its threat of American tariffs against Philippine products but principally because of the provisions leaving naval bases in U.S. hands. Under his influence, the Philippine legislature rejected the bill. The Tydings-McDuffie Independence Act (1934) closely resembled the Hare-Hawes Cutting Act, but struck the provisions for American bases and carried a promise of further study to correctimperfections or inequalities. The Philippine legislature ratified the bill; a constitution, approved by President Roosevelt (Mar., 1935) was accepted by the Philippine people in s plebiscite (May); and Quezon was elected the first president (Sept.). When Quezon was inaugurated on Nov. 15, 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was formally established. Defining its powers, composition and organization as it function as the Government of the Philippine Islands. It is based on the principle of separation of powers among the three branches of government. Executive power is vested in the President and shall serve for a single-six year term.
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Legislative power is vested in a unicameral National Assembly, and judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court. It also provides that upon proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Commonwealth of the Philippines shall be known as the Republic of the Philippines. Quezon was reelected in Nov., 1941. To develop defensive forces against possible aggression, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was brought to the islands as military adviser in 1935, and the following year he became field marshal of the Commonwealth army.

b. 1973 Constitution

The 1973 Constitution, composed of a preamble and 17 articles, provides for the shift from presidential to parliamentary system of government. 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. 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. The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Justices. 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. This Constitution retains the independence of the Commission on Elections and establishes two independent constitutional 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 Constitutional 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
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Marcos declared Martial

Law on

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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.

c. Philippine Government Under Martial Law As president, Ferdinand Marcos embarked on a massive spending in infrastructural development, such as roads, health centres and schools as well as intensifying tax collection which gave the Philippines a taste of economic prosperity throughout the 1970's. In Nov., 1969, Marcos won an unparalleled re-election, easily defeating Sergio Osmea, Jr., but the election was accompanied by violence and charges of fraud, and Marcoss second term began with increasing civil disorder. The 1935 constitution was replaced (1973) by a new one that provided the president with direct powers. A plebiscite (July, 1973) gave Marcos the right to remain in office beyond the expiration (Dec., 1973) of his term. Throughout the 1970s poverty and governmental corruption increased, and Imelda Marcos, Ferdinands wife, became more influential. Congress called for a Constitutional Convention in 1970 in response to public cry for a new constitution to replace the colonial 1935 Constitution. An explosion during the proclamation rally of the senatorial slate of the opposition Liberal Party in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on August 21, 1971, prompted Marcos to suspend the writ of habeas corpus hours after the blast, which he restored on January 11, 1972 after public protests. Using the rising wave of lawlessness and the threat of a Communist insurgency as justification, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1081. Martial Law remained in force until 1981, when Marcos was reelected, in the midst of accusations of electoral fraud. Marcos, ruling by decree, curtailed press freedom and other civil liberties; closed down Congress and media establishments; and ordered the arrest of opposition leaders and militant activists, including his staunchest critics Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Senator Jose Diokno. Initially, the
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declaration of martial law was well received, given the social turmoil the Philippines was experiencing. Constitutionally barred from seeking another term beyond1973 and, with his political enemies in jail, Marcos reconvened the Constitutional Convention and manoeuvred its proceedings to adopt a parliamentary form of government, paving the way for him to stay in power beyond 1973. Sensing that the constitution would be rejected in a nationwide plebiscite, Marcos decreed the creation of citizens' assemblies which anomalously ratified the constitution. Even before the constitution could be fully implemented, several amendments were introduced to it by Marcos, including the prolongation of martial law and permitting himself to be President and concurrent Prime Minister. The economy during the decade was robust, with budgetary and trade surpluses. The Gross National Product rose from P55 billion in 1972to P193 billion in 1980. Tourism rose, contributing to the economy's growth. The number of tourists visiting the Philippines rose to one million by 1980 from less than 200,000 in previous years. The first formal elections since 1969 for an interim Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly) were held in 1978. In order to settle the Catholic Church before the visit of Pope John Paul II, Marcos officially lifted martial law on January 17, 1981.However; he retained much of the government's power for arrest and detention.

d. 1986 Constitution/ Freedom Constitution/ Provisional Law In 1986, following the People Power Revolution which ousted Ferdinand Marcos as president, and following on her own inauguration, Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3,declaring a national policy to implement the reforms mandated by the people, protecting their basic rights, adopting a provisional constitution, and providing for an orderly translation to a government under a new constitution.

e. 1987 Constitution
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After the freedom constitution was criticized President Aquino later issued Proclamation No. 9, creating a Constitutional Commission (popularly abbreviated "Con Com" in the Philippines) to frame a new constitution to replace the 1973 Constitution which took effect during the martial law regime imposed by her predecessor. President Aquino appointed 50 members to the Commission. The members of the Commission were drawn from varied backgrounds, including several former senators and congressmen, a former Supreme Court Chief Justice (Roberto Concepcion), a Catholic bishop (Teodoro Bacani) and a noted film director (Lino Brocka). President Aquino also deliberately appointed 5 members, including former Labor Minister Blas Ople, who had been allied with President Marcos until the latter's ouster. After the Commission had convened, it elected as its president Cecilia Munoz Palma, who had emerged as a leading figure in the anti-Marcos opposition following her retirement as the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Commission finished the draft charter within four months after it was convened. The ConCom completed their task on October 12, 1986 and presented the draft constitution to President Aquino on October 15, 1986. After a period of nationwide information campaign, a plebiscite for its ratification was held on February 2, 1987. More than three-fourth of all votes cast. On February 11, 1987, the new constitution was proclaimed ratified and took effect. On that same day, President Aquino; the other government officials; and the Armed Forces of the Philippines pledged allegiance to the Constitution.

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References 1. Juco, J.M. 1975. Philippine government and the new constitution. Mandaluyong, Rizal: Cacho Hermanos. 2. Schulze, H. 1994.States, Nations, and Nationalism. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Publishers Inc. 3. De leon, H. 2005. Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Rex Printing Company, Inc. 4. De Ramos, N. 1968. Outline of Philippine government. Manila: University of Santo Tomas. 5. Taylor, P. J. 1989. Political geography: world economy, nation-state and locality. Harlow, Essex New York: John Wiley: Longman Scientific & Technical. 6. Renato, Pasinio 2000. The Philippine Constitution: including political science. Mandaluyong City: National Book Store. 7. Corpuz, R.M., et. al. 2007. 1987 Philippine constitution. Manila: Mindshapers.

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