CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I,

SAT 9-12 AM CLASS

MIDTERM EXAMINATION REVIEW GUIDE

POSSIBLE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS

Important reminder: Any wrong answer to qualifying questions

will automatically mean a grade of 60 percent in the examination.

1. Who are citizens of the Philippines under the 1987

Constitution?

2. Whom shall the President appoint?

3. Give the definition of judicial power under the 1987

Constitution?

4. What are the powers of the Supreme Court under Section 5,

Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution?

POSSIBLE NON-QUALIFYING QUESTIONS

PART 1. Define/Briefly explain the following terms/concepts:
Political law
State
Constitution
Sovereignty
Executive power
Legislative power
Archipelagic doctrine
Incompatible offices
Forbidden offices
Parliamentary privilege
Appointment
Power of judicial review
Rule-making power of the Supreme Court
One subject-one title rule
 Power of control

PART 2. Distinguish the following

De jure vs. De facto government

Question hour vs. Congressional inquiry
War powers of Congress vs. War powers of the
President
Pardon v. Amnesty
Forbidden office v. Incompatible office
The President’s power to veto bills v. The President’s
power to veto items in an appropriate, revenue or tariff bills
The President’s power over executive departments,
bureaus and offices v. The President’s power over local
governments
Question hour v. Congressional inquiry
Regular appointment v. ad interim appointment
The President’s emergency power v. Power to declare
martial law
Privilege from arrest v. Privilege of Speech or Debate

PART 3
1. What comprises the national territory under the 1987
Constitution?
2. What comprises the Philippine archipelago?
3. What comprises the territories over which the Philippines has
sovereignty or jurisdiction?
4. What are the modes of acquiring citizenship?
5. Who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of
the 1987 Constitution?
6. Who are natural-born citizens of the Philippines?
7. What is the effect of marriage to an alien on Philippine citizenship?
8. What are the qualifications for the exercise of the right of
suffrage?
9. Briefly explain the so-called privilege of speech or debate of
members of Congress?
10. Briefly explain the so-called privilege from arrest of members of
Congress?
11. What are the prohibitions on members of Congress in relation to
holding or being appointed to other offices?
12. What are the prohibitions on members of Congress with respect to
the practice of profession or pursuit of business?
13. What are the powers of each house with respect to its own
members?
14. What is the function of the Electoral Tribunal of each house of
Congress?
15. What are the inherent government powers that Congress may
exercise? Briefly describe each.
16. What are the limitations to the power of inquiry of Congress?
17. When may heads of departments appear before the Senate or
House and be heard on matters pertaining to their departments?
18. What power or powers may Congress delegate to the President?
19. What kinds of bills shall originate exclusively in the House of
Representatives?
20. What is Congress prohibited from doing to the budget proposed by
the President?
21. What are the limitations on the power of Congress to appropriate?
22. Under Section 26, Article VI, what are the limitations on the power
of Congress to pass bills in general?
23. What is the power of the President with respect to appropriations,
revenue or tariff bills?
24. Give at least two constitutional limitations on Congress’ power to
tax. Brief explain each.
25. What are the qualifications for President?
26. Enumerate at least eight constitutional powers of the President
and briefly discuss each.
27. What are the duties of Congress with respect to the canvassing of
election returns for President and Vice President?
28. Give instances when the Vice President shall serve as acting
President.
29. Give a constitutionally provided power of the Vice President.
30. How does the Constitution prevent nepotism by the President in
the exercise of his appointing powers
31. Who are the appointees that require the confirmation by the
Commission on Appointments?
32. State the prohibition on the President, Vice President, Members of
the Cabinet and their deputies with respect to the holding of other
offices, exercise of profession and pursuit of business?
33. When may the President exercise his calling out powers as
Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
34. What are the requisites for the exercise by the President of his
power to declare martial law or suspend the privilege of writ of habeas
corpus?
35. What are the constitutional limitations on the powers of the
president to declare martial law or suspend the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus?
36. What is the extent of the power of the Supreme Court with respect
to cases questioning the validity of the imposition of martial law?
37. What is the effect of a declaration of martial law?
38. What are the limitations on the appointing power of the President?
39. What are the limitations to the pardoning power of the President?
40. What are the limitations on the President’s power to contract or
guarantee loans?
41. What is required for a treaty or international agreement entered
into by the President to be valid?
42. Is the President’s power of appointment exclusive? Who else may
exercise this power and how?
43. In whom is judicial power vested?
44. What are the limitations on the power of Congress to make
appropriations for the judiciary?
45. What is the power of Congress with respect to jurisdiction of
courts?
46. What is the limitation on the power of Congress to reorganize the
judiciary?
47. What is the constitutional requirement for decisions rendered by
the courts?
48. Who has the power to establish lower courts?
49. What is the function of the Judicial and Bar Council?
50. What safeguards are embodied in the Constitution to ensure the
independence of the judiciary? Give at least 10.
51. What are the limitations to the rule-making power of the Supreme
Court?
52. How is the concept of people power reflected in the Constitution?
53. Give six (6) ways by which Congress can “check” the exercise of
power by the President? Briefly explain each.
54. Give four (4) ways by which Congress can “check” the exercise
of power by the Supreme Court. Briefly explain each.
55. Give two (2) ways by which the President can “check” the
exercise of power by Congress. Briefly explain.
56. Give two (2) ways by which the President can “check” the
exercise of power by the Supreme Court. Briefly explain.
57. Give one (1) way by which the Supreme Court can “check” the
exercise of power by the President and Congress. Briefly explain.
58. Give at least four specific powers of Congress under the
Constitution and briefly explain each.
59. Give at least eight specific powers of the President under the
Constitution and briefly explain each.
60. Give the basic steps in the legislative process or in the passing of
bills.
61. Give three (3) ways by which a bill passed by Congress becomes
a law.

PART 4. PROBLEMS.
Please review all previous bar questions in political law relating to
citizenship, powers of the president, congress and the Supreme Court.

WARNING:
QUESTIONS SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED
TOPICS. BE PREPARED FOR A LONG EXAMINATION.