12.2 Philippine Government and Civics

Why Civics Matters for the PUPCET

Civics items are gift points: the answers are fixed by law and barely change between exam years. Expect questions on the three branches, terms of office, qualifications of officials, the lawmaking process, and the Bill of Rights. Learn the tables in this section and you can answer these items in seconds, saving time for harder math and abstract reasoning questions.

The 1987 Constitution

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines is the supreme law of the land — every law, order, and government act must conform to it. Drafted by a Constitutional Commission appointed by President Corazon Aquino, it was ratified in a plebiscite on February 2, 1987, replacing the 1973 Marcos-era constitution. It contains 18 Articles, covering the national territory, the declaration of principles and state policies (Article II), the Bill of Rights (Article III), citizenship (Article IV), suffrage, the three branches, local government, accountability of public officers, social justice, education, and the constitutional commissions.

Key Article II principles worth memorizing:

• The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy.
• Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.
• The State values the dignity of every person and guarantees full respect for human rights.
• The State protects the people's right to a balanced and healthful ecology.
• Sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them.

The Constitution can be changed through a constituent assembly (Congress voting by three-fourths), a constitutional convention, or a people's initiative (a petition of at least 12% of all registered voters, with at least 3% in every legislative district) — and any change must be ratified by a majority of votes in a plebiscite.

The Three Branches of Government

The Constitution separates power among three co-equal branches that check and balance one another.

Executive branch. The President is head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The President enforces laws, appoints top officials, and may veto bills. The Vice President assumes the presidency in case of death, permanent disability, removal, or resignation.

Legislative branch. Congress makes laws and has two chambers. The Senate has 24 senators elected nationwide; only the Senate can concur in treaties (by two-thirds vote) and try impeachment cases. The House of Representatives has more than 300 members — district representatives plus party-list representatives (about 20% of seats); only the House can initiate impeachment cases.

Judicial branch. The Supreme Court — one Chief Justice and 14 associate justices — and the lower courts interpret laws and settle disputes. Justices are appointed by the President from a shortlist prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and serve during good behavior until age 70.

Memory tip: think 25 House, 35 Senate, 40 President — the minimum age climbs with the office. Also note that the President's 6-year term carries no re-election at all, unlike senators and representatives who may return after consecutive-term limits.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. Filing and first reading. A member of Congress files the bill; its title is read and it is referred to the proper committee.
2. Committee stage. The committee conducts hearings and may amend, approve, or kill the bill.
3. Second reading. The full chamber debates the bill and introduces amendments.
4. Third reading. Members vote yes or no; no further amendments are allowed.
5. The other chamber repeats the same three readings. If the two versions differ, a bicameral conference committee reconciles them.
6. Presidential action. The President may sign the bill into law, veto it and return it to Congress, or take no action — in which case it lapses into law after 30 days.
7. Override. Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of each House, voting separately.

Elections and the Constitutional Commissions

National elections (President, Vice President, half of the Senate, and the House) are held every six years on the second Monday of May; midterm and local elections follow three years later. Voting has been automated since 2010.

Three Constitutional Commissions operate independently of the three branches: the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which administers elections, registers parties, and proclaims winners; the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the central human-resource agency of the government; and the Commission on Audit (COA), which audits all government funds and property. Each is headed by a chairman and commissioners serving a single seven-year term without reappointment. Separately, the Office of the Ombudsman investigates and prosecutes erring public officials, including impeachable officers other than those removable only by impeachment.

Local Government Units (LGUs)

The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) devolved many services — health, agriculture, social welfare, environment — from the national government to LGUs. From largest to smallest:

• Province — led by a governor, vice governor, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
• City or municipality — led by a mayor, vice mayor, and the sanggunian (city or municipal council).
• Barangay — the basic political unit of the Philippines, led by the Punong Barangay (barangay captain) and the Sangguniang Barangay.
• Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) — the youth council in every barangay, giving young Filipinos a voice in local governance.

Bill of Rights Highlights (Article III)

• Due process and equal protection (Section 1): no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor denied the equal protection of the laws.
• Freedom of speech, expression, and the press, and the right to assemble and petition the government (Section 4).
• Freedom of religion; no religious test is required for the exercise of civil or political rights (Section 5).
• Liberty of abode and travel (Section 6) and the right to information on matters of public concern (Section 7).
• Rights of persons under investigation: to remain silent, to have competent and independent counsel, and to be informed of these rights (Section 12).
• Right to bail (Section 13) and to the writ of habeas corpus (Section 15).
• No imprisonment for debt or non-payment of a poll tax (Section 20).

Citizenship and Civic Duties

Philippine citizenship follows jus sanguinis — citizenship by blood, not by place of birth. You are a Filipino citizen if your father or your mother is a Filipino. Natural-born citizens are citizens from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their citizenship; only natural-born citizens may serve as President, Vice President, senators, representatives, or Supreme Court justices. Others may become citizens through naturalization following the process set by law.

With rights come duties. Citizens must defend the State — Article II provides that all citizens may be required to render personal, military, or civil service — as well as vote, pay taxes, obey the law, and participate in community affairs.

Common Traps and Exam Tips

• The President serves 6 years with no re-election; senators may serve two consecutive 6-year terms; representatives three consecutive 3-year terms.
• Only the House initiates impeachment; only the Senate tries and decides it.
• A veto is overridden by two-thirds of each House voting separately — never a joint session.
• Natural-born means citizen from birth; do not confuse it with naturalized.
• COMELEC, CSC, and COA are independent constitutional commissions — they do not belong to the executive, legislative, or judicial branch.