FINAL EXAMINATION IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

LECTURER: ATTY. LOUIE BERNARD C. AQUINO

DIRECTIONS:
 Deletions in your answers should be indicated only by a single straight line.
 Explain your answers briefly. Answers without any explanation will not earn any
point.

1. What is the Doctrine of Separation of powers and its purposes?

2. A group of losing litigants in a case decided by the SC filed a complaint before the
Ombudsman charging the Justices with knowingly and deliberately rendering an unjust
decision in utter violation of the penal laws of the land. Can the Ombudsman validly take
cognizance of the case?

3. What is the principle of Checks and Balances?

4. Can Congress or COMELEC impose an additional qualification for candidates for

senator /representative?

5. May a congressman who committed an offense punishable for less than 6 years, but is
not attending the session, be arrested?

6. Is a non-sitting President immune from suit for acts committed during his tenure?

7. May the President be held liable for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances as
the Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine military?

8. Pres. Espaldon appointed Anthony as the Acting Secretary of Justice. After a couple of
days, Pres. Espaldon designated Anthony as the Acting Solicitor General in a concurrent
capacity. Ben contested the appointment of Anthony on the ground that the
appointment violated Sec. 13, Art. VII of the Constitution which expressly prohibits the
President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants
from holding any other office or employment during their tenure unless otherwise
provided in the Constitution. On the other hand, Anthony claims that according to Sec.
7, par. (2), Art. IX-B of the Constitution, his appointment to such positions is outside the
coverage of the prohibition under Sec. 13 of Art. VII as it falls into one of the exceptions
as being allowed by law or by the primary functions of his position. Does the designation
of Anthony as the Acting Secretary of Justice, concurrently with his position as Acting
Solicitor General, violate the constitutional prohibition against dual or multiple offices
for the Members of the Cabinet and their deputies and assistants?

9. During the impeachment proceedings against the SC Chief Justice, the House
Impeachment Panel, through letters, asked for the examination of records and the
issuance of certified true copies of the rollos and the Agenda and Minutes of
Deliberations of specific SC-decided cases. Also, the same panel requested for the
attendance of court officials including judges, justices, and employees as witnesses
under subpoenas. May judges, justices, and Court officials and employees testify in an
impeachment proceeding against a Member of the Court on confidential matters
learned in their official capacity?
 FINAL EXAMINATION IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
LECTURER: ATTY. LOUIE BERNARD C. AQUINO

10. Does the CSC have jurisdiction over an employee of the judiciary for acts committed
while said employee was still in the executive branch?