consti1.lastminute

8/8/2019 consti1.lastminute

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Sacro. Tago. Julian. Verzosa | Constitutional Law 1 [Nachura] | Atty. Adonis Gabriel 1

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Political Law Defined: the branchof politicallawwhich

dealswiththe organization and operationofthe

governmentalorgansofthe state and definesthe

relationsofthe state withthe inhabitantsofitsterritory.

Scope/Division:

y Consti. law the study ofthe maintenance of theproper balance betweenauthority asrepresented by the three inherentpowersoftheState and liberty as guaranteed by the billof

rights (AUTHORITY vs. LIBERTY)

y Admin. Law organization,competence,remedies

y Lawon Munic. Corp.y LawonPub. Off.y Electionlaws

Basisofthe Study:

y 1987, 1973, 1935 Consti.y Organiclawsy Statues, exec. Orders & decrees, judicial decisiony U.S. Consti.

THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

Nature of the Constitution

ConstitutionDefined: thatbody of rulesand maximsinaccordance withwhichthe powersofsovereignty are

habitually exercised

Constitutionofthe Philippines: thatwritteninstrumentenacted by directactionofthe people by whichthe

fundamental powers of the government are established,limited and defined, and by whichthose powersare

distributed among the several departments for their safe

and useful exercise for the benefitofthe body politic.

Purpose:1. Permanentframework2. assign powers3. establish firstprinciples

Classifications:

y Written/Unwritteny Enacted (Conventional)/Evolved (Cumulative)y Rigid/Flexible

Qualitiesofa good writtenconstitution:

y Broady Briefy Definite

EssentialParts:

y Constitutionof Liberty

y Constitutionof Governmenty Constitutional Sovereignty

Interpretation/Constructionofthe Constitution:

y Verba Legis ordinary meaningy Ratiolegis etanima intentofthe framersy Utmagisvaleatquam pereat asawholey or.. resorttoother aidsy incase of doubtself executing: mandatory

rather than directory and prospective ratherthan retroactive

Brief Constitutional History

The MalolosConstitution

y Approved: December 23, 1898 Pres. EmilioAguinaldo

y Ratified: January 20, 1899y Promulgated: January 21, 1989y Firstrepublicanconstitutionin Asia, recognized

sovereign power wasvested inthe people,

provided for a parliamentary government,acknowledged separationof powers,andcontained a billof rights

The American Refime and the Organic Acts

y Treaty ofParis (Dec. 10, 1898)y US PresidentMckinleys Instructions (April 7,

1900)

y The Spooner Amendmenttothe ArmyAppropriation Bill (March 2, 1901)

y The Philippine Bill (July 1, 1902)y The Jones Law /Philippine Autonomy Act

(August29, 1916)

y The Tydings-McDuffie Act/ PhilippinesIndependence Act(March 24, 1934)

The 1935 Constitution

y Approval: February 8, 1935y Ratification: May 14, 1935y Philippine Commonwealth Inaugurated:

November 15, 1935

y Independence: June 14, 1946The Japanese (Belligerent) Occupation

y Occupationinmanila: January 2, 1942The 1973 Constitution

The 1987 Constitution

y Approval: October 15, 1986y Ratification & Effectivity: February 2, 1987

Amendments


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Revision: impliesachange thataltersa basic principle orthe substantial entirety ofthe Constitution.

Amendments: change thatadds, reduces, deletes,without

altering the basic principlesinvolved.

Two partTest:

y Quantitative testy Qualitative test

Stepsin Amendatory Process:1st: Proposal[S1-3A17]

1. Congress Senate and HOR2. ConstitutionalConvention[S3A17] 2/3 vote of

allmembersofmembers, OR majority vote ofallwiththe questionofcalling aConCon.

3. Peoples Initiative [S2A17]- 12% registeredvoters; 3% legislative district -only foramendments!

a. Three Systems:i. Initiative onthe Constitutionii. Initiative onstatuesiii. Initiative onlocallegislations

b. Indirectinitiativec. Procedure:

i. Author and sign entire proposalii. Proposal embodied inthe

petition2nd: Ratification[S4A17]

y Majority vote in plebiscitey 60 days < vote < 90 daysuponapprovaly Doctrine ofProper Submission: Constitution

prescribed time frame hence cannotquestioniftime issufficientor adequate time allotted

y Plebiscite may be held on reg. electiony ONE plebiscite only

The Power of Judicial Review

Judicial Review:

y Testsvalidity of exercise of power of executiveand judicial branchinconformity withthe

Constitution.

y Supremacy of Constitutionnotthe judicial branchy Defined:

o Judicial power includes the duty of thecourts of justice to settle actual

controversiesinvolving rightswhicharelegally demandable and enforceable,and

to determine whether or not there has

been a grave abuse of discretionamounting to lack or excess of

jurisdictiononthe partofany branchorinstrumentality of government.

y Supreme Courtand lower courtcan decidequestioninvolving constitutionality oflaws

Functionsof Judicial Review:

1. Checking2. Legitimating3. Symbolic

Requisitesof Judicial Review:1. Actualcase/controversy2. Raised by proper party mustsustained or isin

imminentdanger ofsustaining aninjury. Has

Sufficientinteresta. Requirementsof petitioners:

i. A constitutionalissueii. Taxpayersclaim for illegal

disbursementof public funds

iii. Votersvalidity of electionlawiv. Concerned citizen

transcendentalimportancev. Legislatorsinfringementof

legislative prerogative

b. Facial Challenge questionvalidity ofastatute only if,asapplied tohim,itis

unconstitutional

c.

Void for vagueness

lawis faciallyinvalid ifmenofcommonintelligence

mustnecessarily guessatitsmeaning

and differ astoitsapplication3. Earliesttime possible4. Questiononconstitutionality mustbe

determinative ofthe case itself

Effectsof Declarationof Unconstitutionality

y Twoviews:1. Orthodox View- remove2. ModernView ignore

Partial Unconstitutionalityy Mustretainvalid portiony Valid portioncanstand onitsown

THE PHILIPPINE AS A STATE

Definition of a State

A community of persons,more or lessnumerous,

permanently occupying a definite portionofterritory,independentof externalcontrol,and possessing a

governmenttowhicha greatbody ofinhabitants render

habitualobedience

Elements of a State

(1) People

y Inhabitants. Adequate number for selfsufficiency and defense. Both genders

(2) Territory

y The National Territory [S1A1]


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y Components: Terrestrial, fluvial,maritime andaerial domains

y The Philippine Archipelagoy Other territory over whichthe Philippines

exercises jurisdiction

y Archipelago Doctrine(3) Government

Defined: The agency or instrumentality throughwhichthe willofthe state is formulated, expressed and realized

Functions

y Constituenty Ministrant

Doctrine ofParensPatriae

Classification

y De Jure vs. De Factoo Typesof De Facto

1. By force or voice ofthe majority2. By inhabitantswho rise in

insurrection3. by invading force or an enemy

y Presidentialvs. Parliamentaryo Presidentialseparationof executive

and legislative

o Parliamentary fusionvested inPrimeMinister

y Unitary vs. Federal Governmento Unitary single centralized government,

exercising powersover boththe internaland externalaffairsofthe state

o Federalautonomousstate (local)governmentwithnational governmentexercising limited degree over domesticaffairs

(4) SovereigntyDefined: Supreme and uncontrollable power inherentin

a State by whichthe State is governed

Kinds

y Legaltoissue finalcommandsPoliticalsumtotalofalinfluenceswhichlie

behind the law

y Internal power withinterritoryExternalindependence

Characteristics (PECAIII) permanence, exclusiveness,comprehensiveness,absoluteness,indivisibility,

inalienability,imprescriptibility

Effects

y Change insovereignty = politicallawsareabrogated;municipallaws remainin force

y Belligerentoccupation = nochange insovereignty;however politicallawsare

suspendedexceptthose ontreason;municipallaws remainin force unless repealed bybelligerentoccupation.When belligerent

occupationceases,suspended politicallawswill

automatically become effective (jus

postiiminium)

Dominiumcapacity toownor acquire property,

including landsheld by the State inits proprietarycapacity

Imperiumauthority possessed by the State embraced inthe conceptofsovereignty

Jurisdiction1. Territorial over personsand thingswithinits

territory

2. Personal over itsnationals,may be exercisedevenindividualsoutside the territory

3. Extraterritorial beyond itsterritoryState I

mmunity Fro

mSuitSection 3, Article XVI

Basis: There can be nolegal rightagainstthe authoritywhichmakesthe lawonwhichthe rightdepends.

However,itmay be sued ifitgivesconsent,whether

expressor implied. AkaRoyal Prerogative of Dishonesty

Whomay be immuned: May be enjoyed by other States,

consonantwiththe publicinternationallaw principle of

par in parem non habet imperium. The Head of State,whois deemed the personificationofthe State,isinviolable,

and thus enjoysimmunity fromsuit.

1. States diplomaticagentsand consulstoacertainextent

Foreign Agent mustbe acting withinthe

directive ofthe sending state. Once sued inhis

individualcapacity,he issoughtto be madeliable for whatever damage he may have causedby hisactdone withmalice or in bad faithor

beyond the scope ofauthority or jurisdiction.

2. United Nationsand itsagencies3. Other internationalorganizationsor

internationalagencies

Teststo determine ifsuitisagainstthe State:

y Isthere appropriationsneeded tosatisfy thejudgment?

Note: State immunity fromsuitmay be invoked aslong asthe suitreally affectstheproperty, rights or interestsof

the State and notmerely those ofthe officersnominally

made party defendants.

SuitsagainstGovernmental Agencies:


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y Incorporated ifcharter providesthattheagency cansue and be sued,the suitwilllie

o Municipalcorporations are agenciesofstate when engaged in governmentalfunctionshowever charters provide that

they cansue and be sued.

y Unincorporated inquireprincipalfunctionofthe agency

o Governmental nosuitwithoutconsento Proprietary suitwilllie, because when

the state engagesin principallyproprietary functions,thenitdescendstothe levelofa private individual

SuitagainstPublic Officers

y The doctrine of State Immunity willapply only ifthey are in performance oftheir dutieswithinthe scope oftheir authority. However,once the

officer actswithoutauthority ofthe government,they may be sued and held personally liable.Where a publicofficer hascommitted anultra

viresact,or where there isashowing of bad faith,malice or gross negligence,the officer can be held

personally accountable, evenifsuchactsare

claimed tohave been performance inconnection

withofficial duties.

Need for Consent noconsent, State may waiver

y ExpressConsent -anactofthe legislative bodyo Generallawo Speciallaw mustbe embodied ina

statute and cannotbe given by amerecounsel

y Implied Consento Whenthe State commenceslitigationo Whenthe State entersintoa business

contract

State injure imperii (sovereignacts) nowaiver,noimpliedconsent

State injure gestionis (Commercialor proprietaryacts)

Power of eminentdomainisanexercise ofjure imperiihowever

the state cannotclaim for thedefense ofimmunity for it

deprivesthe person justcompensation.

Scope ofConsent consentto be sued doesnotincludeconsenttothe executionof judgmentagainstthe State.

y The power ofthe courtendswhenthe judgmentis rendered.

y Writ of Execution: Inorder to disburse publicfunds,another waiver is required.

y Ifthe funds belong toa publiccorporation busisclothed witha personality ofitsown,thenthe

fundsare notexemptfrom garnishmentfor oncethe governmententersintocommercialbusiness,itabandonsitssovereigncapacity and

istreated like any other corporation.

y All governmentfunds deposited withany officialdepositary bankofthe Philippine Government

by any ofitsagenciesor instrumentalities,whether by generalor special deposit, remain

governmentfundsand may notbe subjecttogarnishmentor levy inthe absence ofacorresponding appropriationas required by law.

o May availofthe remedy ofmandamusinorder tocompelthe enactmentandapprovalofnecessary appropriations

Suability notequated withoutrightliability : Liability willhave to be determined by the Courtonthe basisoftheevidence and the applicable law

ARTICLE 2: PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES

Preamble

y Doesnotconfer rightsnor impose dutiesy Indicatesauthorship ofthe Constitution. [We the

sovereign Filipino People]

SECTION 1: Republicanism

y Essential Featuresofa democraticandrepublicanstate: (1) representationand (2)renovation

y Manifestations:o Oursisa governmentoflawsand notof

meno Rule ofthe majorityo Accountability of publicofficialso Billof Rightso Legislature cannotpassirrepealable lawo Separationof powerso Delegationof powers

SECTION 2: The Incorporation ClauseRenunciationofwar

y Covenantofthe League of Nations, (2) Kellogg-Briad Pactof 1928, (3) Charter ofthe United

Nations

Doctrine of Incorporationy Courtshave applied the rulesofinternational

lawinanumber ofcases evenifsuch ruleshadnotpreviously beensubjectofstatutoryenactments, because these generally acceptedprinciplesofinternationallaware automatically

partofour ownland.

y What are generally accepted principles ofinternational law?Normsor generalorcustomary internationallawwhichare binding

onallstates.


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y Methodsof becoming partoflawsofland:o Transformation requiresan

internationallaw principles betransformed into domesticlawthoughconstitutionalmechanism,suchaslocal

legislation

o Incorporation by mere constitutionaldeclaration

y Municipallawvs. International Lawo Efforts exerted to reconcile the twoo However,if youcannotreconcile,

municipallawshould be upheld by themunicipalcourt

o Incountrieswhere treatiesandmunicipallawsare equal = Principles of

lex posterior derogat priori mostrecent

will prevail

o Incountrieswhere the constitutionisthe highestformoflaw = statutesandtreatiesmay be invalidated whenin

conflictwiththe constitution.

Note: Please refer to codals

SEPARATION OF POWER

Purpose

y Toprevent concentration ofauthority inonepersonor group of personsthatmightlead toanirreversible error of abuse in its exercisetothe

detrimentof republicaninstitutions.

y Tosecure action,to forestalloveraction,topreventdespotismand toobtain efficiency.

Application:

Notdoctrinairenor withpedantic rigor;notindependence butinterdependence

Principle of Blending ofPowersInstanceswhen powersare notconfined

exclusively withinon departmentbutare

assigned to or shared by several departments.

PrinciplesofChecksand BalancesThisallowsone departmenttoresistencroachmentuponits prerogativesor torectify

mistakes or excessescommitted by the otherdepartment.

Role ofthe Judiciary (Refer to The Power of Judicial

Review)

y The duty ofthe courtsof justice tosettle actualcontroversiesinvolving rights whichare legallydemandable and enforceable,and to determinewhether or notthere has beenagrave abuse of

discretionamounting tolack or excess of

jurisdictiononthe partofany branchorinstrumentality ofthe government.

y Note thatthe courtisnotabove any department.The courtismerely exercising the supremacy ofthe Constitution.

Doctrine of Necessary ImplicationThe grantofan express power carrieswithitall

other powersthatmay be reasonably inferredfromit.

Purely Justiciable Question

Impliesa given right,legally demandable andenforceable,anactor omissionviolative ofsuch

right,and a remedy granted and sanctioned by

law for said breachof right.

Political Question

A questionof policy. Itreferstothose questions

which,under the Constitution,are to be decidedby the people intheir sovereigncapacity,or in

regard towhich full discretionary authority hasbeen delegated tothe legislative or executivebranchof government. Itisconcerned withissues dependentuponthe wisdom,notlegality.

DELEGATION OF POWER

Rule: Potestas delegata non potest delegareThe delegated power notonly constitutesa rightbuta duty to be performed by the delegate

throughthe instrumentality ofhisown judgmentand not through the intervening mind ofanother.

Permissible Delegation

y TariffPowerstothe President[Sec 28(2) Art6]

y Emergency Powerstothe President[Sec 23(2) Art6]

o State of emergency grantsthepresidentsuch power,nolegitimate

constitutionalobjectioncan be raised.

o Exercise emergency powersmanifoldconstitutionalissuesarise. Itrequiresa

delegation fromcongress.Whether thePresidentmay exercise such power is

dependentonwhether Congressdelegatesittotthe former pursuanttoalaw

y Delegationtothe Peopleo Referendumapprovalor rejectionof

legislationthroughan electioncalled for

the purpose. Referendumonstatues Referendumonlocallaw


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o Plebiscite initiative onthe Constitutionisapproved or rejected by the people

y Delegationtolocal Governmentunitso Locallegislaturesare more

knowledgeable thanthe national

lawmaking body onmattersof purelylocalconcern,and are ina betterpositionto enactappropriate legislative

measuresy Delegationto Administrative Bodies

Tests for valid Delegation: Bothtestsmustconcur.

y Completeness Testo the lawmustbe complete inallits

essentialtermsand conditionswhenit

leavesthe legislature sothatthere will

be nothing lefttothe delegate to dowhenitreacheshim exceptto enforce it.

y SufficientStandard Testo Intendstomap outthe boundariesof

the delegatesauthority by defining the

legislative policy and indicating thecircumstancesunder whichitisto bepursued and effected. Thisisintended to

preventatotaltransference oflegislative power fromthe legislature to

the delegate. The standard isusuallyindicated inthe law delegatinglegislative power.

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