Art.

I Preamble- states the goals of the government

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.

Art II. National Territory

Art. III. Bill of Rights

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,
nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be
inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to
be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the
complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be
searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon
lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise, as prescribed by
law.

(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for
any purpose in any proceeding.

Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress
of grievances.

Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without
discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the
exercise of civil or political rights.

Section 6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law
shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be
impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be
provided by law.

Section 7. The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be
recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts,
transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by
law.

Section 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to
form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance
shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

Section 12. (1) Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the
right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent
counsel preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he
must be provided with one. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence
of counsel.

(2) No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free
will shall be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar
forms of detention are prohibited.

(3) Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this or Section 17 hereof shall be
inadmissible in evidence against him.

(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for violations of this section as well as
compensation to and rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices, and their families.

Section 13. All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua
when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be
released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even
when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be
required.

Section 14. (1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of
law.

(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is
proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to
meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of
witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may
proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused provided that he has been duly notified
and his failure to appear is unjustifiable.
 Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of
invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.

Section 16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all
judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

Section 17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and
aspirations.

(2) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted.

Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman
punishment inflicted. Neither shall the death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons
involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already
imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua.

(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or
detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions
shall be dealt with by law.

Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

Section 21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an
act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a
bar to another prosecution for the same act.

Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Art. 4 Citizenship. Citizens of the Philippines are:

[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship
upon reaching the age of majority; and
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Acquisition of Citizenship: Jus Sanguinis (blood) Jus Solis (land)

Dual citizenship is allowed, but dial allegiance is prohibited.

Art. 5 Suffrage. (right to vote)

Electorate- voting people

Initiative" is the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitutions or to propose and
enact legislations through an election called for the purpose

Referendum" is the power of the electorate to approve or reject a legislation through an election called
for the purpose.

Plebiscite" is the electoral process by which an initiative on the Constitution is approved or rejected by
the people

Recall- voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum before that official's term
of office has ended.

Art. 6 Legislative Department- law making body, referred to as the congress

Senate House of Representative

Classification: Upper house Lower house
Composed of: 24 Senators 250 Representatives
Term: 6 year term 3 year term
Elects: Senate President House Speaker

-makes law
-can override a Presidential Veto
-wage war (2/3) vote
-conduct Senate Investigation

Art. 7 Executive Department- law implementing body

Executive Power is vested in the President of the Philippines.

Qualification: at least 40 years old, natural born citizen, registered voter, able to read and write,a
resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years.

President and Vice president: 6 year term

Who shall assume office:

President-VP-Senate President-Speaker of the House

Powers of the president:

* Appointing powers

*control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure that the laws be
faithfully executed

*Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines

*suspension of writ of habeas corpus (but with Congress and Supreme court approval)

a law stating that an individual cannot be imprisoned or held in custody inside a prison
cell unless he/she has first been brought before a court of law, which decides whether or not it is legal
for the person to be kept in prison

Art. 8 Judiciary Department- law interpreting body

Judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court.

Judicial power includes:

-the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are
legally demandable and enforceable,
-determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack
or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.

Members of the Judiciary:

Supreme Court
1 Chief Justice
14 Associate Justices

Art. 9 Constitutional Commission

1. Commission on Election- (1 chairman and 6 commissioner) Enforce and administer all laws and
regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall

2. Commission on Audit(1 Chairman and 2 Commissioner) power, authority, and duty to examine,
audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses
of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government,

3. Civil Service Commission (1 chairman and 2 commissioner) etablish a career service and adopt
measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and
courtesy in the civil service