Sarmiento - Constitutional Law 1 Course Syllabus PDF
Sarmiento - Constitutional Law 1 Course Syllabus PDF
Sarmiento - Constitutional Law 1 Course Syllabus PDF
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A survey and evaluation of basic principles dealing with the structure of the Philippine
Government under the Constitution including Philippine constitutional history, the amendment
process, judicial review, the State, citizenship and the various constitutional organs and offices.
Consideration will be given to the core concepts in Constitutional Theory; judicial processes in
constitutional cases; and the power interaction within the constitutional system. Attention will
then be given to the relationships of the three main branches of government, with emphasis on
some of the powers and limitations of the executive, legislative and judicial bodies that arise
from principles of separation of powers and checks and balances.
GRADING SYSTEM:
Attendance and participation in the recitations is required. Readings will include both primary
and secondary sources. Students are expected to read and study the original and full text of the
assigned cases and materials. There will also be a written comprehensive final examination.
COURSE OUTLINE:
POLITICAL LAW
Defined
* People v. Perfecto, 43 Phil. 887
* Macariola v. Asuncion, 114 SCRA 77
Ratification
* Javellana v. Executive Secretary, 50 SCRA 33
Constitutional Construction
* Perfecto v. Meer, 85 Phil. 552
* Endencia v. David, 93 Phil. 696
* Nitafan v. Commisioner of Internal Revenue, 152 SCRA 284
Self-executing provisions
* Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS, GR 122156, Feb. 3, 1997
Constitutional History
Pre-1935 Constitution
Schurman Commission; Taft Commission; Spooner Amendment; Philippine Bill of 1902
Jones Law of 1916; Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934
1935 Constitution
1973 Constitution
*** Javellana v. Executive Secretary, 50 SCRA 33
1987 Constitution
* In re: Letter of Reynato Puno, June 29, 1992, 210 SCRA
AMENDMENT PROCESS
Amendment vs. Revision
Procedure
1. Proposal
a. By Congress
b. By a Constitutional Convention
Theories on Position of Constitutional Convention
c. By the People thru Initiative
RA 6735
* Defensor-Santiago v. Comelec, GR 127325, March 19, 1997
2. Ratification
Doctrine of Proper Submission
* Tolentino v. Comelec, 41 SCRA 702
Presumption of Constitutionality
* Lim v. Pacquing, GR 115044, Jan. 27, 1995
Mootness
* David v. Macapagal-Arroyo (PP1017), GR 171396, May 3, 2006
- La Bugal-B’laan Tribal Assn. v. DENR Secretary, GR 127882, Dec. 1, 2004
* DeFunis v. Odegaard, 416 US 312, 40 L.Ed.2d 164
2. Proper Party
Conventional Standing
- Warth v. Seldin, 422 US 490, 45 L.Ed.2d. 343
Representative Standing
Taxpayer’s Suits
- Bayan v. Zamora, G.R. No. 138570, October 10, 2000
- Gonzales v. Narvasa, G.R. No. 140835, August 14, 2000
CONCEPT OF STATE
1. People
Citizenship
Distinguished from nationality
Modes of Acquiring citizenship
Citizens of the Philippines
* Moy Ya Lim Yao v. Commissioner of Immigration, 41 SCRA 292
* Djumantan v. Domingo, Jan. 30, 1995
Election of Philippine citizenship
Naturalization
* Republic v. De la Rosa, 232 SCRA 785
Loss of citizenship
- By naturalization in a foreign country
* Frivaldo v. Comelec, 174 SCRA 245
* Labo v. Comelec, 176 SCRA 1
- By express renunciation or expatriation
- Yu v. Defensor-Santiago, 169 SCRA 364
Suffrage
- Akbayan Youth v. Comelec, G.R. No. 147066, March 26, 2001
- Makalintal v. Comelec, GR 157013, July 10, 2003
2. Territory
Philippine Archipelago; Archipelago Doctrine; UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
3. Government
Functions
Constituent vs. Ministrant
Laissez-faire vs. Welfare State
Doctrine of Parens Patriae
* Gov't. of Phil. Islands v. Monte de Piedad, 35 Phil. 728
- Cabanas v. Pilapil, 58 SCRA 94
Classification
- De Jure
- De Facto
* Lawyers League v. Aquino, GR 73748, May 22, 1986
4. Sovereignty
Effects of Change in sovereignty
* People v. Perfecto, 43 Phil. 887
* Macariola v. Asuncion, 114 SCRA 77
Effects of Belligerent Occupation
Consent to be sued
Express Consent
- Republic v. Feliciano, 148 SCRA 424
General Law
- CA 327; PD 1445; Art. 2180; Act No. 3038
Special Law
* Meritt v. Gov't. of the Phil. Islands, 34 Phil. 311
Implied Consent
When State commences litigation
- Froilan v. Pan Oriental Shipping, Sept. 30, 1954
When State enters into a business contract
* USA v. Ruiz, 136 SCRA 487
7. Non-delegation of powers
- Phil. Interisland Shipping Ass'n. v. CA, GR 100481, Jan. 22, 1997
Potestas delegata non delegare potest
Permissible Delegation
a. Tariff Powers to the President
b. Emergency Powers to the President
* First Emergency Powers cases, 84 Phil. 368
* Second Emergency Powers cases, 92 Phil. 603
c. Delegation to the People
d. Delegation to Local Government Units
e. Delegation to the Administrative Bodies
Power of Subordinate Legislation
* Miners Association v. Factoran, GR 98332, Jan. 16, 1995
Principle of Subdelegation of Powers
Doctrine of Qualified Political Agency
Act of State
Incorporation Clause
Conflict between municipal law and international law
* Ichong v. Hernandez, 101 Phil. 115
Civilian Supremacy
* IBP v. Zamora, G.R. No. 141284, August 15, 2000
Government to serve and protect the people
People to defend the State
Separation of Church and State
Independent Foreign Policy
Nuclear Free Philippines
Just and dynamic social order
Social Justice
*** Calalang v. Williams, 70 Phil. 726
Respect for human dignity and human rights
Fundamental Equality of men and women
Regalian Doctrine
- Republic v. CA, CCP Intervenor, GR 103882, Nov. 25, 1998
Autonomous Region
- Disomangcop v. DPWH Secretary, GR 149848, November 25, 2004
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Legislative power
Initiative, referendum and Recall
* Defensor-Santiago v. Comelec, GR 127325, March 19, 1997
Indirect Initiative
- SBMA v. Comelec, Sept. 26, 1996
Recall
- Garcia v. Comelec, Oct. 5, 1993
Loss of confidence, a political question
- Evardone v. Comelec, 204 SCRA 464, 472
House of Representatives
Composition (District Representatives; Party-list Representatives)
Party-list Representatives
* Veterans Federation Party v. Comelec, G.R. No. 136781, October 6, 2000
* Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Party v. Comelec, G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001
Natural-born
* Bengson v. HRET, G.R. No. 142840, May 7, 2001
Term of office
Privileges
Freedom from Arrest
Parliamentary Immunity
- Eastland v. US Servicemen's Fund, 421 US 491
- Hutchinson v. Proxmire, 443 US 111
- Jimenez v. Cabangbang, 17 SCRA 714
Quorum
* Avelino v. Cuenco, 83 Phil. 17
Rules of Proceedings
- Arroyo v. De Venecia (Sin-taxes case), GR 127255, Aug. 14, 1997
Discipline of members
Suspension vs. Preventive Suspension
- Santiago v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 128055. April 18, 2001
Electoral Tribunals
Composition
* Bondoc v. Pineda, 201 SCRA 792
* Abbas v. Senate Electoral Tribunal, 166 SCRA 651
Powers
- Aquino v. Comelec, Sept. 18, 1995
- Sampayan v. Daza, 213 SCRA 807
Jurisdiction over Proclamation Controversy
- Caruncho v. Comelec, G.R. No. 135996, September 30, 1999
Commission on Appointments
Composition
* Guingona v. Gonzales, 214 SCRA 789
Powers
* Sarmiento v. Mison, 156 SCRA 549
Powers of Congress
General Legislative Power
Limitations
Substantive Limitations
Procedural Limitations
One Bill, one subject
- Guzman v. Comelec, G.R. No. 129118, July 19, 2000
Legislative Process
Approval of Bills
Presidential veto
Pocket veto
Item veto
- Bengzon v. Drilon, 208 SCRA 133
Power of Taxation
*** McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 US (4 Wheat, 316)
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
President and Vice-President
Qualifications
Natural-born Citizen
* Tecson v. Comelec, G.R. No. 161434, March 3, 2004
Election
Congress as canvassing board
Supreme Court as Electoral Tribunal
* Defensor-Santiago v. Ramos, PET Case no. 001, Feb. 13, 1996
Term of office
Privileges
Official residence
Salary
Rules on Succession
Vacancy at beginning of term
Vacancy during the term
Temporary Disability
Powers
Executive Power
* Planas v. Gil, 67 Phil. 62
* Myers, Administratrix v. United States, 272 US 52
Legislative Powers
- Municipality of San Juan v. CA, Sept. 29, 1997
- Ople v. Torres, GR 127685, July 23, 1998
Residual Powers
* Marcos v. Manglapus, 177 SCRA 668
Prosecution of Crimes
* Webb v. De Leon, 247 SCRA 652
Appointing Power
Discretionary power
- Flores v. Drilon, GR 104732, June 22, 1993
- Gordon v. Judge Santos, CA-GR Sp No. 48339, Aug. 21, 1998
- Gordon v. CA, GR 134900, Sept. 1, 1998
- Luego v. Civil Service Commission, 143 SCRA 327
Classes of Appointment
- Gaminde v. COA, G.R. No. 140335, December 13, 2000
Appointments subject to confirmation of Commission on Appointments
* Sarmiento v. Mison, 156 SCRA 549
- Manalo v. Sistoza, GR 107369, Aug. 11, 1999
Limitations on the Appointment Power
Power of Removal
Power of Control
Control vs. Supervision
* Drilon v. Lim, GR 112497, Aug. 4, 1994
Alter-ego Principle or Doctrine of Qualified Political Agency
* Carpio v. Executive Secretary, Feb. 14, 1992
The Executive Secretary
Military Powers
Commander-in-chief clause
- Ex Parte Milligan, 71 US 2
* David v. Macapagal-Arroyo (PP1017), GR 171396, May 3, 2006
* Aquino v. Military Commission No. 2, 63 SCRA 546
* Olaguer v. Military Commission No. 34, 150 SCRA 144
- Carpio v. Executive Secretary, supra
Pardoning Power
* People v. Salle, 250 SCRA 581, Dec. 4, 1995
* Monsanto v. Factoran, 170 SCRA 190
- Garcia v. Chairman, COA, 226 SCRA 356
Pardon vs. Amnesty
Diplomatic Power
* Dames & Moore v. Regan, 453 US 654
Treaties vs. Executive Agreements
Power to Impound
- Philconsa v. Enriquez, Aug. 19, 1994
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Judicial Power
Expanded jurisdiction
Effect on the political question doctrine
Jurisdiction
- Diaz v. CA, Dec. 5, 1994
- First Lepanto Ceramics v. CA, Oct. 7, 1994
Supreme Court
Composition
En Banc & Division cases
Fortich v. Corona, G.R. No. 131457, August 19, 1999
Tenure of Justices/Judges
- De la Llana v. Alba, 112 SCRA 294
Removal and Discipline
- Maceda v. Ombudsman, GR 102781, Apr. 22, 1993
- People v. Gacott, 246 SCRA 52
Salaries
* Perfecto v. Meer, 85 Phil. 552
* Endencia v. David, 93 Phil. 696
* Nitafan v. Commisioner of Internal Revenue, 152 SCRA 284
2. Commission on Elections
En Banc and Division cases
- Sarmiento v. Comelec, 212 SCRA 307
Powers and Functions
- Relampagos v. Cumba, 243 SCRA 690
- Loong v. Comelec, GR 133676, Apr. 14, 1999
Exclusive Original Jurisdiction and Appellate Jurisdiction
- Guieb v. Fontanilla, 247 SCRA 348, Aug. 14, 1995
Special Registration of New Voters
- Akbayan Youth v. Comelec, G.R. No. 147066, March 26, 2001
3. Commission on Audit
- Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. COA, GR 101976, Jan. 29, 1993
Impeachment
Impeachable Officers
Grounds for Impeachment
Procedure
- Romulo v. Yniguez, 141 SCRA 263
Impeachment and Criminal Prosecution
* Estrada v. Arroyo, G.R. No. 146738, March 2, 2001
* Decision on Motion for Reconsideration, April 3, 2001
Sandiganbayan
Jurisdiction
- Lacson v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 128096, January 20, 1999
Ombudsman
Supervision and control
- Acop v. Office of the Ombudsman, 248 SCRA 566
Prosecutorial Powers
- Camanag v. Guerrero, GR 121017, Feb. 17, 1997
Power to issue subpoena; Form of complaint
- Almonte v. Vasquez, 244 SCRA 266
Power to Investigate Administrative Charges
Concurrent with the Office of the President
- Hagad v. Dadole, 241 SCRA 242
Concurrent with the DOJ
- Honasan v. DOJ Panel of Prosecutors, GR 159747, Apr. 13, 2004
Power to investigate cases of ill-gotten wealth after Feb. 25, 1996
- Republic v. Sandiganbayan, Sept. 24, 1994
Ombudsman for the Military
- Agbay v. Deputy Ombudsman for the Military, G.R. No. 134503, July 2, 1999
Special Prosecutor
- Zaldivar v. Gonzales, 160 SCRA 843
Sequestration
- Republic v. Sandiganbayan, GR 106244, Jan. 22, 1997