Quiz Flashcards
What is the definition of a constitution?
A body of rules and maxims in accordance with which the powers of the sovereign are habitually exercised.
(COOLY, Constitutional Limitations, p. 4)
What does a constitution determine?
The powers and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people.
A constitution is the basic principle and laws of a nation, state, or social group.
How is the constitution described in relation to law?
The highest expression of the law.
What is the purpose of a constitution?
To prescribe the framework of the system or the kind of government that will exist in the state.
What is one of the key functions of a constitution?
It creates the different departments and specifies their respective functions and duties.
What role does a constitution play in government power?
It is the source of the sovereign powers of a government by establishing the fixed, first or basic principles.
What does a constitution promote for the public?
Public welfare, safety, prosperity, health, and happiness of the people.
What is a written constitution?
A constitution in which most of its provisions are embodied in a single formal written document or set of documents.
What is an example of a written constitution?
The United States Constitution.
What is an unwritten constitution?
A constitution which consists of rules that are scattered in various sources and not integrated into a single form.
What is an example of an unwritten constitution?
The English Constitution.
What is an enacted constitution?
A constitution that is formally struck off at a definite time and place following a conscious effort by a constituent body or ruler.
What is an example of an enacted constitution?
The Japanese Constitution of 1889.
What is an evolved constitution?
A constitution which results from political evolution, changing by accretion rather than by a systematic method.
What is an example of an evolved constitution?
The English Constitution.
What is a rigid constitution?
A constitution that can be amended only by a formal and usually difficult process.
What is an example of a rigid constitution?
The Australian Constitution.
What is a flexible constitution?
A constitution that can be altered by the same body that makes ordinary laws of the state.
What is an example of a flexible constitution?
The Israeli Constitution.
What are the essential parts of a good written constitution?
- Constitution of Government
- Constitution of Liberty
- Constitution of Sovereignty
What does the Constitution of Government describe?
The framework of government and its power; it also defines the electorate.
What does the Constitution of Liberty enumerate?
The fundamental rights of the people guaranteed under the constitution.
What does the Constitution of Sovereignty indicate?
The manner of amending or revising the Constitution.
What is the Biak-na-Bato Constitution?
A provisionary constitution promulgated by the Philippine Revolutionary Government on November 1, 1897.
What significant event occurred on June 12, 1898?
Philippine independence was declared.
What was the first democratic government of the Philippines?
The Malolos Republic.
What was the purpose of the Philippine Organic Act of 1902?
To provide for the creation of the Philippine Assembly.
What significant change did the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 make?
It replaced the Philippine Commission with a Senate elected by Filipino voters.
What did the Philippine Independence Act of 1934 establish?
Guidelines for drafting a formal constitution via a constitutional convention.
What was the 1935 Constitution’s role in Philippine history?
It served as the fundamental law of the land from 1935 to 1972.
What significant provisions were included in the 1935 Constitution?
- Bill of Rights
- Women’s suffrage
- Creation of a Philippine Armed Forces
- Development of the national language
What interrupted the Commonwealth Government in 1943?
The Second World War and the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines.
What was the purpose of the Commonwealth Government established in 1935?
To show that Filipinos had the capability for self-government
The Commonwealth Government led to the country’s independence a decade later.
What interrupted the Commonwealth Government?
The Second World War and the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines
What role did KALIBAPI play during the Japanese occupation?
Created the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence (PCPI) to write a new constitution
When was the 1943 Constitution signed and ratified?
Signed on September 4, 1943 and ratified a few days later