
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines established a representative democracy with power divided among three independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. The constitution was drafted in 133 days by a 48-member Constitutional Commission and ratified by the people in a plebiscite. It was modelled on the American Constitution and incorporated Roman, Spanish, and Anglo law. The constitution outlines the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras, with the President exercising general supervision to ensure laws are executed faithfully. It defines Filipino citizenship and establishes a House of Representatives with a maximum of 250 members, elected through a party-list system. The constitution also includes provisions for double jeopardy, prohibiting ex post facto laws, and outlines the powers of Congress and the President in declaring war and vetoing bills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | 250 |
| Autonomous regions | Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras |
| Powers of Congress | Declare war, override presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses |
| Powers of the President | Veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress, appoint Supreme Court justices |
| Citizenship | Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth |
| Double jeopardy | No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offence |
| Ex post facto law | No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted |
| National territory | The Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction |
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What You'll Learn
- The 1987 Constitution established a representative democracy
- It created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras
- The President has general supervision over autonomous regions
- Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority
- The House of Representatives has a maximum of 250 members

The 1987 Constitution established a representative democracy
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines established a representative democracy, with power divided among three independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. This constitution was drafted by an appointed Constitutional Commission of 48 members and ratified by the people in a plebiscite held on February 2, 1987. It was modelled on the American Constitution, but also incorporated Roman, Spanish, and Anglo law.
The Executive branch is led by the President, who has broad powers, including the ability to veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress. The President also has the power to appoint members of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, from a list of nominees presented by a Judicial and Bar Council. The Judiciary is independent of the other two branches and exercises the judicial power of the government.
The Legislature is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is limited to 250 members, who are elected for three-year terms from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area. The number of representatives from each district is based on the number of inhabitants, with each district having at least one representative. Party-list representatives make up 20% of the total number of representatives, and these are selected from registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organisations.
The 1987 Constitution also provided for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras, with the President exercising general supervision to ensure laws are faithfully executed.
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It created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines established a representative democracy with power divided among three independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. The constitution was largely modelled on the American Constitution, but it also incorporated Roman, Spanish, and Anglo law.
One of the key characteristics of the 1987 Constitution was its provision for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. This measure was designed to recognise and accommodate the unique historical, cultural, economic, and social characteristics of these regions within the broader framework of the Philippine nation-state.
The autonomous regions were to consist of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas that shared a common heritage and context. The President of the Philippines was given general supervisory powers over these regions to ensure the faithful execution of laws. However, all powers, functions, and responsibilities not explicitly granted to the autonomous regions by the Constitution or by law were to remain under the purview of the National Government.
The Constitution further stipulated that Congress would enact an organic act for each autonomous region, with the assistance and participation of a regional consultative commission. This commission would be composed of representatives appointed by the President from a list of nominees from multisectoral bodies. This provision ensured that the unique needs and perspectives of the autonomous regions would be considered and addressed in the legislative process.
The creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras represented a significant step towards recognising and respecting the cultural and historical diversity within the Philippines. By granting a degree of self-governance and representation, the Constitution aimed to promote unity and equality within the nation.
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The President has general supervision over autonomous regions
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines established a representative democracy with power divided among three separate and independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. The President has general supervision over autonomous regions to ensure that laws are faithfully executed.
The 1987 Constitution provides for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. These regions consist of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas that share a common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics. The President's general supervision over these autonomous regions is intended to ensure that the laws enacted by the central government are properly implemented.
The Constitution vests the National Government with all powers, functions, and responsibilities not explicitly granted to the autonomous regions. This means that while the autonomous regions have a degree of self-governance, they still operate within the broader framework of the Constitution and the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.
The President's role in supervising the autonomous regions is further supported by their power to appoint representatives to the regional consultative commissions. These commissions assist in enacting organic acts for each autonomous region, ensuring that the specific needs and characteristics of each region are considered in the law-making process.
The 1987 Constitution's approach to autonomous regions and the President's general supervision over them reflects a balance between decentralisation and unity. By creating autonomous regions, the Constitution recognises the diverse historical, cultural, and economic characteristics of different areas within the Philippines. At the same time, the President's supervisory role ensures that the country remains unified under a single legal framework and that national interests are protected.
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Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines established a representative democracy with power divided among three independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. One of the most important powers of Congress is the ability to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses. This means that if a bill passed by Congress is vetoed by the President, Congress can still enact it into law if at least two-thirds of its members in both houses vote to override the veto.
The 1987 Constitution also outlines the structure of the House of Representatives, which is composed of up to 250 members elected from legislative districts apportioned based on population and a progressive ratio. Twenty per cent of the representatives are chosen in proportion to party representation, and for three consecutive terms after the ratification of the Constitution, half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives were filled by selection or election from various sectors, including labour, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, and youth.
The Constitution also provides for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras, consisting of provinces, cities, and municipalities with distinct historical, cultural, and economic characteristics. The President is tasked with supervising these regions to ensure the faithful execution of laws, while all powers not granted to the autonomous regions are vested in the National Government.
The 1987 Constitution was drafted in 133 days by a Constitutional Commission of 48 members and ratified by the people of the Philippines in a plebiscite held on February 2, 1987. It was modelled on the American Constitution, incorporating elements of Roman, Spanish, and Anglo law.
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The House of Representatives has a maximum of 250 members
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines established a representative democracy with power divided among three independent branches of government: the Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary. The House of Representatives, which is part of the bicameral Legislature, has a maximum of 250 members. This limit can be altered, however, if it is deemed necessary and fixed by law.
The representatives are elected from legislative districts, apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area. The number of representatives from each area is determined by the number of inhabitants, using a uniform and progressive ratio. Twenty per cent of the total number of representatives are party-list representatives from registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organisations.
For three consecutive terms after the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives were filled by selection or election from the labour, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and other sectors as provided by law. This was done to ensure that marginalised groups were represented in the government.
The 1987 Constitution also created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras, consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics. The President is responsible for the general supervision of these autonomous regions to ensure that laws are faithfully executed. All powers, functions, and responsibilities not granted to the autonomous regions by the Constitution or by law are vested in the National Government.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines establishes a just and humane society, promoting independence and democracy under the rule of law, with a focus on truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace. It outlines the creation of autonomous regions with distinctive cultural and historical heritages, and it ensures that no person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offence.
The 1987 Constitution provides for three governmental branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch is headed by the President and their appointed cabinet members.
There are three possible methods to amend the Constitution: a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), or People's Initiative. All methods require ratification by majority vote in a national referendum.
The 1987 Constitution replaced the "Freedom Constitution", which was a transitional constitution adopted after the 1986 People Power Revolution that overthrew Marcos. The "Freedom Constitution" maintained provisions from the 1973 Constitution, including the presidential right to rule by decree.

























