Syllabus for Constitutional Law I

Cordillera Career Development College

College of Law

SYLLABUS FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I
I. BASIC CONCEPTS AND PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

A. The Philippine Constitution

1. Definition
2. Purpose
3. Classification
4. Interpretation
5. History

B. National territory
1. Definition
a. National Territory
b. Archipelago
c. Archipelagic Doctrine
i. Internal Waters
ii. Right of Innocent Passage

C. The Philippines as a State

a. Definition of a State
b. Elements of a State
D. Fundamental Powers of a the State

E. Separation of powers
 US v. Bull, 15 Phil 7

F. Checks and balances

 Overlapping powers.

G. State immunity
 REPUBLIC v VILLASOR, 54 SCRA 83
 MINUCHER v COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 142396, February 11, 2003.
 MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION v. JUDGE FIRME, 195 SCRA
692.
 LANSANG v COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 102667, February 23, 2000.
 US v RUIZ, 136 SCRA 487

H. Declaration of principles and State policies

 M.H. WYLIE v. RARANG, 209 SCRA 357 (May 28, 1992) Generally accepted principles
of International Law.
 CHAVEZ v ROMULO, G.R. No. 157036, June 9, 2006 (Article II, Sections 4 and 5)
 OPOSA v FACTORAN 224 SCRA 792, G.R. No. 101083
 ANTOLIN v. DOMONDON, G.R. No. 165036, July 5, 2010 (Article II, Section 28).
 LIM v. EXEC. SEC., G.R. No. 151445 (April 11, 2002), Independent Foreign Policy.
 CALALANG v. WILLIAMS, 70 Phil 726 (December 02, 1940), Social Justice.
 PHILIPPINE TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CO. v. NLRC, G.R. No. 118978, May
23, 1997.
 PASEI v. DRILON, 163 SCRA 386, Fundamental equality between men and women.
 IMBONG & IMBONG ET.AL v. OCHOA, ET.AL. G.R. No. 204819 April 8, 2014,
Sanctity of family life.
 PAMATONG v. COMELEC; G.R. No. 161872 (April 13, 2004), Equal access to
 Syllabus for Constitutional Law I
opportunities to public service.
 LINA v PANO, G.R. No. 129093, August 30, 2001.

II. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

A. Legislative power
1. Scope and limitations
2. Principle of non-delegability; exceptions
B. Houses of Congress; composition and qualification of members
1. Senate
2. House of Representatives
a. District representatives and questions of apportionment
- Tobias v. Abalos, 239 SCRA 106
- Sema v. COMELEC, GR No. 177597, July 16, 2008.
b. Party-list system
- See RA 7941
- Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party v COMELEC, GR No.
147589.
C. Privileges, inhibitions, and disqualifications
- People v Jalosjos, GR No. 132875, February 3, 2000
- Trillanes IV v Pimentel, GR No. 179817, June 27, 2008
- Adaza v Pacana, 135 SCRA 431

D. Discipline of members
- Jimenez v Cabangbang, 17 SCRA 876.

E. Process of law-making

- Lacson v Executive Secretary, GR 128096, January 20, 1999.

- Farinas v Executive Secretary, GR 147387, December 10, 2003.
- Astorga v Villegas, 56 SCRA 714

F. Quorum and voting majorities

- Arroyo v De Venecia, GR No. 127255, June 26, 1998.
- Avelino v Cuenco, 83 Phil 17.

G. Appropriation and re-alignment

- Guingona v Carague, 196 SCRA 221

H. Legislative inquiries and oversight functions

- Bengzon v Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, 203 SCRA 767
- Standard Chartered Bank v Senate Committee on Banks, GR
No. 167173, December 27, 2007
- Arnault v Balagtas, 97 Phil 358

I. Power of impeachment
J. Electoral Tribunals
- Ruy Elias Lopez v Senate of the Philippines
- Angara v Electoral Commissions, 63 Phil 139.
- Lerias v House Electoral Tribunal

K. Commission on Appointments

L. Initiative and referendum

-See R.A. No. 6735, An Act Providing for a System of Initiative and referendum

------------------------ MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS-------------------------------

III. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

 Syllabus for Constitutional Law I
A. Qualifications, election, and term of the President and Vice-President
B. Privileges, inhibitions, and disqualifications
C. Powers of the President
1. Executive and administrative powers in general
- SENATE v ERMITA, G.R. No. 169777, April 20, 2006 Executive
Privilege
- MARCOS v MANGLAPUS, GR No. 88211, September 15, 1989

2. Power of appointment
a. Confirmation and by-passed appointments
b. Midnight and ad interim appointments
c. Power of removal
3. Power of control and supervision
a. Doctrine of qualified political agency
- Mondano v Silvosa, 97 Phil 143,148
- Lacson-Magallanes v Pano, 21 SCRA 895
- Maceda v Macaraeg, 197 SCRA 771

b. Executive departments and officers

c. Local Government Units
4. Military powers
a. Calling out power
b. Declaration of Martial Law and suspension of the privilege of the
writ of habeas corpus; requisites and parameters of extension
- ALEXANDER PADILLA, ET.AL v CONGRESS OF THE
PHILIPPINES, et. Al ; GR No. 231671,
- TANADA ET. AL. v CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES,
ET.AL. G.R. No. 231694, July 25, 2017.
- LAGMAN v. MEDIALDEA G.R. No. 231658, 231771 & 231774;
July 4, 2017
5. Executive clemency
- Barrioquinto v Fernandez, 85 Phil 642.
- Monsanto v Factoran Jr., GR No. 78239, February 9, 1989

6. Powers pertinent to foreign relations

- VINUYA v. ROMULO G.R. No. 162230, April 28, 2010 In
relation to Article VII, Section 21

D. Rules of succession
- JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA v GLORIA MACAPAGAL
ARROYO, G.R.No. 146738, March 2, 2001.

IV. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

A. Judicial power
- Definition of Judicial Power

B. Judicial review
1. Requisites
2. Political question doctrine
3. Moot questions
4. Operative fact doctrine

C. Safeguards of judicial independence

1. Judicial and Bar Council
a. Composition
b. Powers and Functions

- Francis Jardelez v Maria Lourdes Sereno, GR No. 213181, Aug.

19, 2014.
 Syllabus for Constitutional Law I
2. Fiscal autonomy
D. Qualifications of members of the Judiciary- Of proven competence, integrity,
probity and independence.

a. Supreme Court
b. Lower Collegiate Courts
c. Lower Courts

E. Workings of the Supreme Court

1. En banc and division cases

- Fortich v Corona, GR No. 131457, August 19, 1999.
- Arturo de Castro v Judicial and Bar Council, GR No. 191002,
April 20, 2010

2. Procedural rule-making
- First Lepanto Ceramics v Court of Appeals, GR No. 110571,
March 10, 1994.
- Re: Request for Creation of a Special Division, AM No. 02-1-09-
SC, January 21, 2002
- In Re Integration of the Bar of the Philippines, 49 SCRA 22.
- A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC Rule on the Writ of Amparo
- Lee v Ilagan, GR No. 203254, Oct. 8, 2014.

3. Administrative supervision over lower courts

- Fuentes v Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, GR No. 124295,
Oct. 2 3, 2001.
- Godinez v Alano A.M. RTJ-98-1409

4. Original and appellate jurisdiction

- Franciso Jr v Toll Regulatory Board, GR No. 106910, Oct. 19,
2010.
- People v redulosa, 255 SCRA 279.
- Garcia v People, GR No. 106531, Nov. 18, 1999.
- Republic v Sandiganbayan, GR No. 135789, Jan. 31, 2002

V. CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS
A. Common provisions
B. Powers and functions of the CSC, COMELEC, and COA
a) Civil Service Commission
b) COMELEC
c) Commission on Audit

C. Composition and qualifications of members

a) Civil Service Commission
b) COMELEC
c) Commission on Audit
- Gaminde v Commission on Audit, GR No. 140335, Dec. 13, 2000.

D. Prohibited offices and interests

- Dennis Funa v Chairman, Civil Service Commission, GR No.
191672, Nov. 25, 2014.
-
E. Review of final orders, resolutions, and decisions
- Estrella v COMELEC GR No. 160465, May 27, 2004.
- Dumayas v COMELEC, GR No. 141952-53, April 20, 2001
- Mahinay v Court of Appeals, GR No. 152457, April 30,
2008.
- Abella jr. v Civil Service Commission, GR No. 152574,
November 17, 2004.
 Syllabus for Constitutional Law I

-------------------------- FINAL EXAMINATIONS--------------------------

Grading System
Midterm Grade MTG:
Final Term Grade:
Final Grade:
Attendance (10%)+ Seatwork and Quizzes (20%)+ Recitation
(20%)+ Midterm Exams (50%)
Attendance (10%)+ Seatwork and Quizzes (20%)+ Recitation
(20%)+ Midterm Exams (50%)
MTG (40%)+ FTG(60%)

Passing Grade: 75

Resources:

- Outline Reviewer in Political Law by Antonio E.B. Nachura, 2015 ed.

- Philippine Constitutional Law Volume I, Hector S. De Leon and Hector M. de Leon, Jr.
- Philippine Constitutional Law Volume II, Hector S. De Leon and Hector M. de Leon, Jr.
- The 1987 Philippine Constitution : a comprehensive reviewer, Joaquin Bernas.

Prepared by:

MILLER E. QUINTIN, JR.