Concepts

of
Constitution

By Johnson M A. Blanco
 Constitution
- Fundamental law of the land

- all other laws emanate from it

- highest sets of principles or

laws in a country
  Statute

- an act of the legislature

enacted to
prescribe conduct,
- adopted pursuant to its
define crimes,
create inferior constitutional authority,
governmental by prescribed means and
bodies, appropriate in certain form such that
public funds, and it becomes the law
in general promote governing conduct within
the public good
its scope
and welfare
 Differences between a constitution
and a statute
Constitution Statute

1. Deals with the fundamental 1. Pertains to specific subjects

principles, subjects of a
general nature regarding the
government

2. Made by an extraordinary 2. Made by an ordinary

body of men chosen for such legislature
purpose of drafting a
constitution

3. Legislation direct from the 3. Provides the detail of the

people framework

4. Intends to meet present as 4. Deals with present conditions

well as future conditions
Classifications of a Constitution

 According to type of government

- Monarchic
- Aristocratic
- Oligarchic
- Democratic
 According to their form
- Written
- Unwritten

 According
to the difficulty
of amending process
- flexible/elastic

- rigid/inelastic
Characteristics/Requisites of a Good
Written Constitution

1. Broad or comprehensive in its scope

2. Brief or concise

3. Clear and definite

 According to origin
- evolved
- enacted
- granted
The methods used for amending
written constitutions
1. By constitutional convention
2. By legislative action only
3. By legislative action and
submission to the electorate
4. By legislative action and
submission to local
governments for approval
5. By direct action of the voters