Poli _ I. Constitutional Law Flashcards
What are the areas of study under Constitutional Law I? (11)
- General Principles
- Revisions and amendments (Art. XVII)
- Constitutional Doctrines
- The Criteria: State and National Territory (Art. I)
- State Principles and Policies (Art. II)
- Legislative Department (Art. VI)
- Executive Department (Art. VII)
- Judicial Department (Art.VIII)
- Constitutional Commissions (Art. IX)
- National Economy and Patrimony (Art. XII)
- Social Justice, Human Rights, and Education (Art. XIII and Art. XIV)
What is Political Law? B pL
What is a constitution? BoRM
What are the qualities of a good constitution? BBD
Political law is that branch of Public law that REGULATES the RelationshiP of the sovereign and the people.
Constitution is that body of rules and maxims in accordance with which the Powers of SOVEREIGNTY are habitually exercised. - Cooley
BBD - Constitution should be brief, broad, and definite.
Constitution may either be:
A. Written or unwritten; and
B. Rigid or Flexible
What is the meaning of Constitutional Supremacy?
What you cant do Dir, yoi cant Ex Indir
Constitutional supremacy means that if any law, ordinance, EO, or act of governance is INCONSISTENT with the constitution, the latter shall prevail.
“What you cannot DO directly, you cannot EXERCiSE iNDIRectly” - Tawang Cooperative case
What the constitution prohibits to be done cannot be redone in a different way that will achieve the same prohibited result.
The constitution has 3 distinct parts.
Enumerate. Explain the purpose. Name the articles it is found in the constitution.
GLS
Part 1 -
The constitution of Government
This part contains the STRUCTURE of government and HOW government POWERS are distributed. Found in Arts. 6, 7, & 8
Part 2-
The constitution of Liberty
This part contains the RIGHTS of the citizens to be used as PROTECTION from the awesome powers of government.
This is in Art. 3
Part 3-
The constitution of Sovereignty
This is the part that contains the METHOD on how the citizens can Revise or Amend the Constitution.
Art. 17
The provisions of the Constitution are self-executing - True or False?
GR
214 .13
GR: Yes, the provisions are self-executing (w exceptions). It does not need Congressional action to be a source of right or a power.
Exception to GR:
Arts. II, XIII, & XIV have been jurisprudentially declared as non-self-executing provisions of the Constitution.
Hence, they need further Congressional action to be a source of a power, right or an obligation.
Exception to the exception:
There are provisions in ARts 2-13-14 which are complete in themselves and no longer require Congressional action to take effect. In other words, there are self-executing provisions in Arts 2-13-14.
What are the 3 rules of Constitutional Statutory construction? (used to ascertain the intent of the framers of the constitution)
PIT rules
- Verbal legis rule or ‘ the plain meaning rule’
- Ratio legis est anima or ‘ the intention rule’
- Ut mais vleat guam pereat or the ‘ totality rule’
Distinguish Revision vs Amendment (Article XVII)
COB v PC
To revise means a COMPLETE OVERHAUL of the constitution that would change fundamentalBasic structures and systems of the State.
To amend connotes a PIECEMEAL CHANGE in the Constitution without substantially affecting other provisions of the constitution.
Revisions and Amendments:
Distinguish Quantitative test vs Qualitative test
Quantitative test - it asks whether the proposed change is so extensive in its provisions as to change directly the ‘substantial entirety’ of the constitution by the deletion or alteration of numerous existing provisions.
Here, the court examines ONLY the NUMBER of provisions Affected
and
does NOT Consider the DEGREE of the change.
Qualitative test - It asks whether the change will Accomplish FAR-reaching changes in the Nature of our basic GOVernmental PLAN as to Amount to a REVISION.
How to make a constitutional Change?
Differentiate these 3 modes.
Concon
Conass
Pi
Either through;
1. Constitutional convention
2. Congress through Constituent Assembly
3. People’s initiative
A. As to the type of change: Peoples’ initiative can only be used for Amendments. The other two may be employed for Amendment and/or Revision
B. As to the Votes required:
Concon requires 2/3 votes of Congress or Majority votes to submit to electorate the question of calling such ConCon
ConAss requires 3/4 votes of All members of Congress
PI - requires petition from AT LEAST 12% of the total number of registered voters, of which Every legislative district Must be represented by at least 3% of the registered voters therein.
C. Plebiscite requirement - required for all 3 - plebiscite to be held Not earlier than 60 days Nor Later than 90 days after the approval of such change (in case of PI, it is After Certification by COMELEC of the sufficiency of the petition)
Note: Lack of budget cannot stop the exercise of the people’s power of initiative and referendum.
What are the 7 basic constitutional Doctrines?
Sep
C&B
Blend
nD oP
pD x
PQ
Trans
- Separation of powers doctrine - demarcation of the 3 fundamental powers of government
- Check and balances doctrine - to temper the official acts of the 3 branches of govt
- Blending of powers (doctrine of interdependence) - there is a degree of blending or admixture of the 3 branches of government.
- non-delegation of powers doctrine - the delegated power is Not just a Right but also a Duty to be performed by the Delegate
- Powers delegated Cannot be further delegated -
Exceptions: a) Delegation in favour of LGU; b) delegation in favor of administrative agencies; c) Delegation in favor of the people; d) delegation in favor of President in exercise of emergency powers - Political question doctrine - these are the questions to be decided by the people in their sovereign capacity, or in regard to which full discretionary authority has been DELEGATED to the legislative or executive branch
- Transcendental Importance doctrine - this is a judicial construct which has 2 variants;
a) 1st variant states that courts may decide in a case even though the person who instituted it has no legal standing IF THE issues raise are of transcendental importance;
b) 2nd variant states that if the issues raised are of transcendental importance, courts may recognize a person’s standing
GR: Powers delegated cannot be further delegated.
What are the requisites so the President can DELEGATE the exercise of Emergency powers? (4)
WLtd R Pol
What are the 2 tests to check whether there is a Valid Delegation of powers?
Ct & SSt
- there must be a WAR (or other EMERGENCY)
- delegation must only be for a LIMITED PERIOD
- delegation must be subject to RESTRICTIONS Congress may prescribe
- Emergency powers must be exercised to carry out a NATIONAL POLICY
2 tests (permissible delegation when it comply with these 2 tests)
1. Completeness test - law must be complete with all the terms and conditions such that the delegate will ONLY has to Enforce it. AND
2. Sufficient standard test - there must be limitations to the delegate’s authority to prevent him from abusing the power
State and National Territory (Article I)
What are the 4 criteria for a State? PTGC
State and National Territory
What is an association?
- permanent population
- defined territory
- government
- capacity to enter into relations with other states
An association is formed when 2 STATES of unequal power voluntarily establish durable links. In the basic model, one state, the associate, delegates certain responsibilities to the other, the principal, while maintaining its international status as a state.
An associative relationship between the Bangsamoro Judicial entity and the Philipine state is not supported by the Constitution and is in fact contrary to the fundamental law.
State and National Territory (Article I)
What are the 3 fundamental powers of the State?
- Police power - power to create laws REGULATING the person’s liberty or property rights for the Purpose of PUBLIC safety, good, health, and customs.
- Eminent domain - the power to Take PRIVATE property for public use After payment of JUST Compensation
- Taxation - power to Demand proportional CONTRIBUTION LEVIED FROM Persons or Property to meet/cover the expenses of the government
Art I - State and National territory
International Law
What is the doctrine of auto limitation?
This doctrine emphasizes a situation wherein the STATE through the legislature IMPOSES SELF-LIMITATION on the EXERCISE of its PoweR out of respect for the relations that it created.
Hence, international law is binding on the State because States have restricted their powers through the process of auto-limitation.
State and National Territory (Article I)
De facto government - what is the logic behind? To Ex ToC o pop&ter
What are the 3 types of de facto governments?
Recognizing a de facto government can help prevent a power vacuum, which can lead to further instability and conflict.
The legal concepts of ‘statehood’ and ‘de facto governments’ are Used for Examining a) the type of CONTROL those political entities exercise over their population and territory; AND b) their RELATIONSHIP with the international community.
1) De facto in a proper legal sense is a government that gets possession and control, (by force or by voice of majority), the RIGHTFUL LEGAL+
- government.
2) Government of paramount force is that which is established and maintained by MILITARY forces who occupy enemy territories
3) Breakaway government is that government established as an INDEPENDENT government by the inhabitants of a country who rose in insurrection against the parent state
State and National Territory (Article I)
What is Archipelagic doctrine?
Grp of I consdrd as 1 unit
W abc Islands Form p o iw
Under UNCLOS, an archipelago shall be considered as one unit rather than a fragmented group of islands.
Thus, the waters around, between, and connecting the islands, regardless of breadth or dimension form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
State and National Territory (Article I)
Normal baselines vs Straight baselines (UNCLOS)
Methods
The normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the low water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal State.
On the other hand, the method of straight baselines joining appropriate points may be employed in drawing the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
State and National Territory (Article I)
What is the “Royal Prerogative of Dishonesty”? State cant b S
What are the forms of Consent that the State may give: (2)
This is the general rule stating that The State cannot be sued.
Exceptions
1. When the state consents
2. The doctrine of state immunity cannot be used to perpetuate injustice
The state may give (a) Express consent and/or (b) Implied consent, eg. When the government enters in a contract that is ‘ jure gestonis ‘
State and National Territory (Article I)
Suability vs Liability
Suability is different from Liability.
Waiver of one does not carry the waiver of the other
State and National Territory (Article I)
What is functional immunity? (Liang vs People)
It means that immunity of International Organizations and their officers/employees are only available if the actions are related to their functions.
State Principles and Policies (Art. II)
What are the essential characteristics of Republicanism? (3)
RAT
Representation
Transparency &
Accountability
State Principles and Policies (Art. II)
Doctrine of Incorporation vs Doctrine of Transformation
a) What is adopted
b) How are they adopted
Incorporation adopts Generally accepted principles of international law while Transformation adopts Treaties.
How — The generally accepted principles of international law are automatically made part of the laws of the land (Incorporation)
While in transformation:
Domestic Legislation: The treaty’s provisions are incorporated into domestic law through legislation enacted by the country’s legislature
State Principles and Policies (Art. II)
Wha is the exception to the citizen’s right against involuntary servitude?
The state power to call on its citizen to the protection of the state.
State Principles and Policies (Art. II)
What is the rule on the provisions on Health & Healthful Ecology?
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
These are self-executing provisions, as it is complete and no need for Congressional action to be enforced.