Preliminaries of the Constitution Flashcards
What are the two steps in the amendment or revision of the Constitution?
Proposal and Ratification
Who may propose an Amendment or a Revision?
Congress, Constitutional Convention, and the People
What is the voting requirements for the Congress acting as a Constituent Assembly to propose an amendment or revision?
3/4 of the ALL its members of each house in joint session assembly by voting separately
What is the difference between the Congress as a Constituent Assembly and as a Legislative Body?
The Congress as a Constituent Assembly, its primary function is to propose amendments or revisions to the Constitution. Whereas the Congress as a Legislative Body is responsible for making, amending, and repealing laws.
What is the voting requirements for a Constitutional Convention?
2/3 of ALL its members
What are the three theories on the relative position of the Constitutional Convention vis-a-vis the regular departments of the government?
- Theory of Conventional Sovereignty: It is supreme over the other departments of the government because the power it exercises are in the nature of sovereignty powers.
- Is inferior to the other departments of the government since it’s merely a creation of a legislature
- As long as it exists and confines itself within the sphere of its jurisdiction, it must be considered independent of and co-equal with the other departments of the government.
What are the requirements for a People’s Initiative
12% of the total registered votes; 3% of the registered voters of each legislative district
What are the three systems of initiatives?
Petition proposing amendments to:
1. Initiative on the Constitution
2. Initiative on the Statute
3. Initiative on the Local Legislation (regional, provincial, city, municipal, barangay law, resolution or ordinance)
What are the two main requirements for a People’s Initiative?
- The people must author and thus sign the entire proposal. No agent or representative can sign on their behalf.
- The proposal must be embodied in the petition
What are the rules on Ratification?
- Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution under Section 1 hereof shall be valid when ratified by a majority of votes held in a plebiscite which shall be held which shall be held not earlier than 60 days and nor later than 90 days after the approval of such amendment or revision.
- Any amendment under Section 2 hereof shall be valid when ratified by a majority of votes held in a plebiscite which shall be held which shall be held not earlier than 60 days and nor later than 90 days after the certification by the Commission on Elections of the sufficiency of the petition.
What is the definition of a State?
A State is a community of persons occupying a fixed territory, and possessed of an independent government organized for political ends in which the body of inhabitants render habitual obedience.
What is the difference between a Nation and a State?
A Nation refers to a membership or belongingness due to cultural and social ties whereas a State refers to membership based on political ties. A Nation also indicates a relation of birth or origin and implies a common race. The State is a legal concept while the nation is a racial or ethnic concept.
What are the four elements of a state?
- People
- Territory
- Government
- Sovereignty
Define People and its characteristics.
People refers to the inhabitants of the state. The people must be numerous enough to be self-sufficing and be able to defend themselves, but small enough to be easily administered and sustained.
Define Territory and its characteristics.
Territory refers a fixed portion on the surface of the earth inhabited by the People of the State. It must not be too big that it is difficult to administer, and not to small to be unable to provide the needs of the people.