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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 1 (6/20/2013)

1.Q: What is Political La!A: It is that branch of public law which deals with the organization and

operations of the governmental organs of the State and defines itsrelations with the inhabitants of the territory. (People v. Perfecto, G.R. No.L-18463, October 4, 1922)

POLITI!L L!" # $% t&e br'c& of pbl$c l'* *&$c& +e'l% *$t& t&eor'$'t$o '+ oper't$o% of t&e overet'l or'% of t&e /t'te '++ef$e% t&e rel't$o% of t&e /t'te *$t& t&e $&'b$t't% of $t% terr$tor0.

Q: What is th" sco#" o$ #olitical la!

A: 1. Political law2. Constitutional law3. dministrative law!. "aw on municipal corporations#. "aw on public officers$. %lection laws&. Public international law

2.What is co%stit&tio%al la!Is that branch of political law which fi'es the organization of government(

determines the competence of the administrative authorities who e'ecutethe law and indicates to the individual( remedies for the violation of hisrights.

What is a Co%stit&tio%!

1. Constitution is the fundamental organic law of a State whichcontains the principles on which the government is founded andregulates the division and e'ercise of sovereign powers.

2. body of rules and ma'ims in accordance with which thepowers of sovereignty are habitually e'ercised.

Q: What is th" Co%stit&tio%!A: )he Constitution is the basic and paramount law to which all other lawsmust conform and to which all persons( including the highest officials(

must defer. (r, o%t$tt$o'l L'*, 1998 e+., p. 4)

Q: 'o is th" Phili##i%" Co%stit&tio% classi$i"!

A: It is classified as written( enacted and rigid. (!rt. II, 198o%t$tt$o)

Q: Wh"% i th" Phili##i%" Co%stit&tio% ta" "$$"ct!A: It too* effect on +ebruary 2( 1,-&( which was the date of the plebiscite.

(e Leo v. 5%err', G.R. No. L-879, !. 31, 198)

Q: 'o sho&l th" Phili##i%" Co%stit&tio% *" i%t"+#+"t"!

A:

1. erb' le$% whenever possible( the words used in theConstitution must be given their ordinary meaning e'cept

where technical terms are employed.

2. R't$o le$% et '$' where there is ambiguity( the words ofthe Constitution should be interpreted in accordance with theintent of the framers.

3. t '$% v'le't ' pere't the Constitution has to beinterpreted as a whole. (:r'c$%co v. ;R, G.R. No. 16261,

Nov. 1, 23)

Q: I% cas" o$ o&*t, ho sho&l th" Co%stit&tio% *" co%st+&"!

A: )he provisions should be considered self/e'ecuting0 mandatory ratherthan directory0 and prospective rather than retroactive. (N'c&r',

Rev$e*er $ Pol$t$c'l L'*, 27 e+., p. 3)

Q: What a+" th" th+"" "ss "%tial #a+ts o$ a +itt"% Co%stit&tio%!A:

1. o%t$tt$o of /overe$t0 this refers to the provisionspointing out the modes or procedure in accordance with which

formal changes in the Constitution may be made !rt. II,!e+et% or Rev$%$o%)

2. o%t$tt$o of L$bert0 the series of prescriptions settingforth the fundamental civil and political rights of the citizens

and imposing limitations on the power of the government as ameans of securing the enoyment of those rights !rt. III,

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coBectr'l or 't$c$p'tor0, or t&'t *&$c& %eeC% to re%olve &0pot&et$c'l orfe$e+ co%t$tt$o'l proble%.

!ote: ! pet$t$o r'$%$ ' co%t$tt$o'l e%t$o +oe% ot pre%et 'H'ct'l cotrover%0 le%% $t 'llee% ' le'l r$&t or po*er. @oreover, $t%t %&o* t&'t ' cofl$ct of r$&t% e>$%t%, for $&eret $ t&e ter

Hcotrover%0 $% t&e pre%ece of oppo%$ v$e*% or cotet$o%. T&ecotrover%0 %t 'l%o be B%t$c$'bleJ t&'t $%, $t %t be %%cept$ble of

B+$c$'l +eter$'t$o. (I

ect$ve 't&or$t$e%, ' l'* $% %ppo%e+ to &'ve bee

c'refll0 %t+$e+ '+ +eter$e+ to be co%t$tt$o'l before $t *'% f$'ll0e'cte+. !% lo '% t&ere 're ot&er b'%e% *&$c& cort% c' %e for+ec$%$o, co%t$tt$o'l$t0 of t&e l'* *$ll ot be toc&e+.

Q: What is the &rinciple of 'tare (ecisis?A:! pr$c$ple +erl0$ t&e +ec$%$o $ oe c'%e $% + eee+ of $per't$ve

't&or$t0, cotroll$ t&e +ec$%$o% of l$Ce c'%e% $ t&e %'e cort '+ $lo*er cort% *$t&$ t&e %'e Br$%+$ct$o, le%% '+ t$l t&e +ec$%$o $e%t$o $% rever%e+ or overrle+ b0 ' cort of copetet 't&or$t0. (e

'%tro v. ?

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n unconstitutional act is not a law. It confers no rights. It imposes noduties. It affords no protection. It creates no office. It is inoperative( as if it

had not been passed at all. rt &( Civil Code8

2. 9odern 7iew

Courts simply refuse to recognize the law and determine the rights of theparties as if the statute had no e'istence. Certain legal effects of thestatute prior to its declaration of unconstitutionality may be recognized.

)hus( a public officer who implemented an unconstitutional law prior to thedeclaration of unconstitutionality cannot be held liable.Q: What are the reuisites before a law can be declared partially

unconstitutional?A:

1. T&e le$%l'tre %t be *$ll$ to ret'$ v'l$+ port$o (%ep'r'b$l$t0cl'%e)2. T&e v'l$+ port$o c' %t'+ $+epe+etl0 '% l'*

+I+0, ; +H, C!'+I++I!I. :eneral PrinciplesI I. ) he Ph ili pp ine Cons ti tu tion

I II. ) he Ph ili pp ines as a StateI7. )he +undamental Powers of the State7. Prin cip le s a nd State Polic y

7I. ;ill of III. ccountabil ity of Public 6fficers>I7. 4ational %conomy and Patrimony

>7. Social ?ustice and @uman 7I. %ducation( Science and )echnology

rts( Culture and Sports

>7II. )he +amily>7I II . :eneral Provisions>I>. )ransitory Provisions

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