The Philippines’ drastic changes in government type and influence from the United States are evident in their countless number of constitutions. The Philippines first constitution, the Constitution of La Liga Filipina was created by Jose Rizal but it was soon eliminated and replaced by the Constitution of Biak-na-Bato which established rule over the Republic of Biak-ne-Bato in 1897 and was based on the Cuban Constitution.The government was modified once again as the first republican constitution in Asia, the Malolos Constitution of 1899 granted citizens basic civil rights, created an Assembly of Representatives, and separated the church and state. During the Philippines’ thirty-six year period of as an American territory, the United States Congress set up two “constitutions” in the Philippines. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902, and the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 fused the United States’ governmental views with the interests of the Philippines. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was governed in accordance to the 1935 Constitution which was greatly influenced by the United States in the hope that they would grant the Philippines independence. It created a National Assembly and a President, elected for a six-year term. Amendments made in 1940 established a Senate and a House of Representatives During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the 1943 Constitution was drafted by the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence to establish indirect legislative elections and a more powerful executive branch. The 1973 Constitution was the reestablishment of the 1935 Constitution but was modified with many amendments. It granted the President permission to use personal judgement when faced with a threat or emergency in which the National Assembly cannot act upon immediately. The constitution was manipulated by President Marcos to establish full power for himself. After President Marcos was removed from power, the 1986 Freedom Constitution was created as a provisional constitution and allowed the President to reorganize the government. The Philippines’ current constitution was established in 1987 under President Corazon Aquino. It is constitutional republic with presidential system where the president is head of state and government and commander-in-chief of army. Presidents are directly elected by the people for a six-year term and have the power to appoint cabinet members. Similar to the Constitution of the United States, it exhibits a separation of powers, bill of rights, senate, and house of representatives.
