CHAPTER 4:

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC,
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL
ISSUES IN
OTHER SUGGESTED TOPICS
FILIPINO FILIPINO- GOVERNMENT
A CULTURAL B AMERICAN C PEACE TREATY
HERITAGE RELATIONS with the MUSLIM
FILIPINOS

INSTITUTIONAL
HISTORY of Schools, BIOGRAPHY of
D Corporations, Industries, E PROMINENT
Religious and groups FILIPINO
 Invitation
This chapter focuses on the three mandated topics in the social, political, economic
and cultural issues in the Philippines, namely: the Constitution, the Taxation
and the Agrarian Reform Program. These mandated topics were taken as a separate
courses before the implimentation of the New General Education Courses.
In the course of discussion, the fundamental ideas on the different issues will be
tackled for the students to have a deeper understanding regarding these issues.
This chapter will further cover the importance of the mandated topics in learning the
history of the Philippines.
CHAPTER LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this Chapter, the students should be able to:

■ Discuss the fundamental concepts of the

Constitution, the taxation and the Agrarian
reform program of the Philippines;
■ Develop their sense of nationalism in
valuing the socio-economic, political and
cultural issues in Philippine History by
creating an output that depicts their sense
of values; and
■ Collaborate activity with the group in
producing quality output concerning these
issues.
“The Filipinos are gifted with a living Constitution.”
- Fr. Joaquin G. Bermas, S.J.

TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the discussion, the students should be able to:
 Identify the influence and implication of the transition of the
Constitutions (1899-1935-1973-1987);
 Determine the significance of the 1899-1935-1973 and 1987
Constitution;
 Develop a sense of patriotism that shall reflect the values of
being a Filipino in real life scenarios; and
 Formulate their constitution of life determining the factors that
are related to the 1899-1935-1973 and 1987 Constitution.
Constitution: Definition
 Constitution comes from the Latin word “constituo” which
means “fixed”, “established”, or “settled”. In its broader sense, the
term CONSTITUTION refers to the body of rules and principles in
accordance with which the power of sovereignty is regularly
exercised.
 Further, it is being defined as a written instrument or document
by which the fundamental powers of government are
established, limited and defined, and by which these powers are
distributed among several departments for their safe and
useful exercise for the benefit of the body politic.
 Justice Samuel Freeman Miller (United States Supreme Court)
NATURE AND PURPOSE
The Constitution is
considered a s the
“supreme l aw of the
IT S E RV E l and”. It m eans th at all
other l aws must adhere to
AS THE it. Laws th at are not
consonance with the
SUPREM E provisions of the
Constitution have no
AND force. Th e final authority
over the constitution is
FUNDAMENTAL vested in the people. Th is
LAW. authority m ay be
exercised directly by the
people or through their
representatives.
NATURE AND PURPOSE
The Constitution
establishes certain basic
IT principles by wh ic h the
E STA B L ISHE S government is fo u nded. It
prescribed the permanent
THE BASIC framework of the system
FRAMEWORK of government a n d
assigns to the different
AND departments or branches
their respective powers
UNDERLYING a n d duties. Also, it is
PRINCIPLES O F designed to preserve a n d
protect the rights of the
GOV E RN ME N T citizens from the power of
the State.
CONSTITUTION AS DISTINGUISHED FROM STATUTE
It is a legislation It is a legislation from
directly from the
the people’s
people.
representatives.
It merely states the It provides the details
general framework of of the subject which it
the law. treats.

It is intended not It is intended primarily

merely to meet to meet existing
existing conditions but conditions only.
to govern the future.
It is conforms with the
It is the supreme or Constitution.
fundamental law of the
land.
PHIL GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ( TAGAPAGBATAS)
BICAMERAL: SENATE & CONGRESS
JUDICIAL BRANCH ( TAGAPAGHUKOM)
EXECUTIVE BRANCH ( TAGAPAGPATUPAD)
 TYPOLOGY OF CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION may be classified as follows:

1.) As to ORIGIN and HISTORY

A. CONVENTIONAL or ENACTED – one which is enacted by
a constituent assembly or granted by a monarch to his subjects
(Example: Constitution of Japan)

B. CUMULATIVE of EVOLVED – one which is a product of

long period of development originating in customs, traditions,
judicial decisions etc. rather than from deliberate and formal
enactment (Example: English Constitution)
 TYPOLOGY OF CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION may be classified as follows:

2.) As to FORM
A. WRITTENCONSTITUTION –one which is has been given
definite form at a particular time, usually by a specially constituted
authority called a Constitutional Convention (ConCon) or
Constitutional Commission (ConCom).

B. UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION – one which is entirely a

product of political evolution, consisting largely of a mass of
customs, usages and judicial decisions.
 TYPOLOGY OF CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION may be classified as follows:

3.) As to MANNER OF AMENDING

A. RIGID OR INELASTIC – one regarded as a document of
special sanctity which cannot be amended or altered except by
some special machinery other than ordinary legislative process.

B. FLEXIBLE OR ELASTIC – one which possesses no higher legal

authority than ordinary laws and which may be altered in the
same way as other laws.
REQUISITES OF A GOOD WRITTEN CONSTITUTION

A. BRIEF – because if the Constitution is too detailed it would

lose the advantage of fundamental law. Itwould never ne
understood by the public.

B. BROAD – because a statement of the powers and functions of

government and of the relations between the governing body and
the governed requires that it be comprehensive as possible.

C. DEFINITE – because otherwise the application of its

provision to concrete situations may prove unduly difficult if not
impossible.