Constitutional Convention (Philippines)
Constitutional convention or con-con is one of the three modes in which the "Constitution of the Philippines can be amended. The other two modes are via a People's Initiative or "PI" and Constituent Assembly or "Con-Ass".
Under Article XVII, Sec.3 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines: “The Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its Members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention.”[1][2]
The 1987 constitution does not specify how delegates to a Constitutional Convention would be chosen.[1] Delegates for past conventions were chosen by means specified in the legislation calling for the convention. For example, in 1971 under an earlier constitution, Republic Act No. 6132 provided that delegates to a constitutional convention would be chosen in a special election by the national legislative district level.[3] The 1987 constitution specifies that any proposed amendment to the 1987 Constitution must by ratified by a majority of voters in a plebiscite.[1]
The process of amending or revising the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines has become known to many Filipinos as Charter Change.
History
There have been five constitutional conventions in Philippine history:
- Tejeros Convention (1897)
- Malolos Congress (1899)
- 1934 Constitutional Convention
- 1971 Constitutional Convention
- 1986 Constitutional Commission (an entirely appointive body)
There have been other calls for Constitutional Conventions:
- The 2010 Philippine Presidential election year, at the end of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Administration, saw wide discussion of whether the current Constitution of the Philippines should be amended.[4][5]
See also
- Constitutional reform in the Philippines
- Constitution of the Philippines
- Philippine constitutional plebiscite, 1987
- Federalism in the Philippines
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
- ↑ "Article XVII Amendments or Revisions". 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Chan Robles Law Library.
- ↑ "REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6132 : AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RESOLUTION OF BOTH HOUSES NUMBERED TWO AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION OF BOTH HOUSES NUMBERED FOUR OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES CALLING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, PROVIDING FOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION THEREIN AND OTHER DETAILS RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO AND THE HOLDING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FOURTEEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.". Chan Robles Law Library. August 24, 1970.
- ↑ "Senators want polls for con-con in 2010". The Philippine Star. December 2, 2008.
- ↑ "House open to con-con". The Philippine Star. December 5, 2008.
Bibliography
- Cruz, Isagani (1995). "The Nature of the Constitution". Constitutional Law. Philippines: Central Lawbook Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 18–20. ISBN 971-16-0333-0.