COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Philippine Government and Constitution

Course Abbreviation: PGC
Course Credit: Three (3) units
Prerequisite: None
Course Requirements:
1. Three (3) short quizzes per unit
2. Two (2) long quizzes per major examination
3. One (1) reaction paper per exposure/educational tour
4. One (1) community involvement and a reflection paper
Grading System:
Shifting Grade = 60% Class Standing + 40% Shifting Examination
Course Description:
The course emphasizes a study on the basic concepts and principles of political science, state and its essential elements, the Philippine government and its fundamental laws specially
bodied in the 1987 constitution. It focuses on the provisions involving national territory, duties and obligations of citizens, citizenship, suffrage, bill of rights, branches of government,
constitutional commissions and local government. Emphasis is likewise made on current socio-political issues of utmost relevance to the nation and its people.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, the students shall be able to do the following with at least 75% sufficiency:
A. Cognitive
1. Know the basic concepts and principles of political science;
2. Understand the essence of politics and its importance to every institution in society;
3. Comprehend the structure of Philippine government, its branches, powers and functions;
4. Recognize the importance of a constitution to any government;
5. Familiarize the 1987 Philippine Constitution
6. Trace the evolution of Philippine government and its constitution and
7. Identify their basic rights as persons and as citizens
B. Affective
1. Appreciate the importance of the Philippine government and its constitution to the Filipino nation and its people,
2. Safeguard their rights and duties as citizens of the country
3. Respect the rights of their fellowmen
4. Develop their sense of nationalism and spirit of patriotism, and
5. Be proud of being citizens of their country
C. Psychomotor
1. Participate in socio-political affairs and activities when deemed necessary, practicable and beneficial
2. Advance socio-cultural issues and challenges for general welfare and
3. Fight peacefully and responsibly for the good of the country and its people
Course Outline
TIME TEACHING
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT EVALUATION TOOLS
FRAME METHODS/TECHNIQUES
At the end of the units, the students UNIT I – INTRODUCTION 5 hours • Lecture These may be employed per unit:
shall be able to: 1. Meaning of political science • Recitation • Assignment
1. Comprehend the nature meaning, 2. Scope of political science • Class discussion • Reaction papers
and scope of political science 3. Interrelationship with other branches of • Group discussion • Long/short quizzes
2. Point out the relationship of learning • Documentary film viewing • Unit examination
political science with other 4. Goal in the study of political science •
• Research Major examinations
disciplines courses (preliminary and final)
3. Know the essence and 5. Role/functions of political in society
importance of politics to social
institutions and every citizen.
 4. Reason out the importance of the
study of Philippine government
and its constitution
5. Trace the evolution of Philippine
government and its constitution
6. Appreciate the importance of
Philippine government and its
constitution to the Filipino nation
1. Know the meaning of state
2. Familiarize the elements of
the state, specifically the
government
3. Trace the origin of Philippine
government and its constitution
4. Appreciate the significance
of state and its elements
5. Value the Philippine
government and its constitution
by doing one’s duties and
responsibilities as citizens of the
country.
1. Know and understand the
meaning of a constitution
2. Compare and contrast the
various constitutions of the
Philippines
3. Appreciate the significance
of a constitution by respecting its
provisions
1. Know and understand the essence
of a preamble
2. Appreciate the importance of a
preamble in a constitution
UNIT II – CONMCEPT OF STATE AND 3 hours • Lecture
GOVERNEMENT • Recitation
• Class discussion
• Group discussion
• Panel discussion
• Debate
• Guest lecture
• Documentary film viewing
• Research
UNIT III – CONCEPTS OF CONSTITUTION
1. Meaning of constitution 2 hours • Research
2. Nature and function of constitution • Lecture
3. Meaning of constitutional law • Class discussion
4. Kinds of constitution • Guest lecture
5. Advantages and disadvantages of a
written constitution
6. Requisites of a good written constitution
7. Constitution distinguished from a statute
8. Authority to interpret the constitution
9. Purpose of interpreting the constitution
10. Constitution og the Philippines from
the 1898 Constitution to the 1987
Constitution
UNIT IV - PREAMBLE
1. Meaning of a preamble
2. Essential in a constitution
3. Object and value of preamble
4. Source of a constitution’s authority 1 hour • Research
5. Belief in God stressed • Class discussion
6. National purpose and aims in
adopting a constitution
7. Attainment of the constitutional
goals
8.
UNIT V – NATIONAL TERRITORY
1. Necessity of defining the Philippine
territory 2 hours • Research
2. Meaning of “archipelago doctrine” • Class discussion
3. The Philippine position
UNIT VI – DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
AND STATE POLICY
• Lecture
• Section 1 to 26 of the 1987 4 hours
• Cases analyses
Constitution
• Film/documentary
1. Know the meaning and
kinds of territory
2. Pinpoint the extent of
Philippine territory
3. Analyze the issues
confronting the Philippine territory
4. Value the importance of
Philippine territory by means of
issue advocacies pertinent to it.
1. Know and comprehend the
meaning of state principles and
policies
2. Explain the principles and
policies of the state and
government in relation to the
dignity of the unborn human
person, family life, health,
education, labor, and
environment, among others
3. Appreciate the state
principles and policies by
promoting their importance and
practicality in Philippine society
1. Know and understand the
meaning of the bill of rights
2. Enumerate and define the
kinds of rights
3. Compare and contrast the
various classes of rights
4. Appreciate the value of
human rights
5. Safeguard their
basic/fundamentals rights and
others, especially when deemed
necessary.
viewing
4 hours
UNIT VI – DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES • Lecture
AND STATE POLICIES • Cases analyses
• Section 1 50 26 of the Philippine • Film/documentary
Constitution viewing
12 hours
UNIT VII – BILL OF RIGHTS
1. Concept of a bill of rights
2. Classes of rights
3. Classification of constitutional rights • Lecture
4. State authority and individual freedom • Cases analyses
5. Bill of rights • Film/documentary
5.1 Due process of law viewing
5.2 Rights against reasonable search
• Class discussion
and arrest
5.3 Privacy of communication and
correspondence
5.4 Freedom of speech, expression and
press
5.5 Freedom of religion
5.6 Liberty of abode and travel
5.7 Right of information
5.8 Right to form unions and associate
5.9 Power of eminent domain
5.10 Obligation of contracts
5.11 Free access to court
5.12 Right of person under custodial
interrogation
5.13 Right to bail
5.14 Due process in criminal offenses
5.15 Privilege of writ of habeas corpus
5.16 Right to speedy trial
5.17 Right to political belief
5.18 Right against self-incrimination
5.19 Right against excessive fines and

1. Grasp the meaning of
citizenship and how it is to be a
citizen of a country
2. Distimguished nationality
and alien
3. Illustrate how citizenship is
acquired and/or lost
4. Show the loss of citizenship
is reaquired
5. Compare and contrast the
principles of citizenship
6. Identify who are Filipino
citizens
7. Analyze the effects of
citizenship
8. Value dearly their citizenship
by promoting the welfare of the
country by whatever capacity they
can
9. Promote the good image of
the country locally and globally by
being good Filipino citizens locally
and globally
1. Know and understand the
meaning of suffrage
2. Grasp the importance of the
right of suffrage
3. Value the right of suffrage by
actively participating in every
election q whether collegiate
local, or national
4. Advocate for and/or involve
in honest and free elections
management
5.20 Non-imprisonment for no-payment
of debts and poll tax
5.21 Right against double jeopardy
5.22 Ex post facto law and bill of
attainder 3 hours
UNIT VIII – CITIZENSHIP
1. Meaning of citizenship and citizen • Lecture
2. Distinction of citizenship and • Class discussion
nationals
3. Meaning of subjects and alien
4. General ways of airing citizenship
5. Citizenship by birth
6. Citenship by blood relationship
7. Citizenship by place of birth
8. Citizenship by naturalization
9. Filipino citizens identified
10. Effects of citizenship
3 hours
• Lecture
UNIT IX- SUFFRAGE • Class discussion
1. Meaning of suffrage
2. Nature of suffrage
3. Scope of suffrage
4. Qualifications of voters
5. Age qualification
6. Residence qualification
7. Person disqualified to vote
8. Argu7ments justifying the lowering
of voting age from 21 to 18
9. Arguments justifying removal of
literacy requirements
10. Prohibition of property requirement
11. Other substantative requirements
prohibited
12. Compulsory suffrage
13. System for securing the secrecy
and sanctity of the ballot
14. System for absentee voting 9 hours
• Lecture
UNIT X – LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
• Class discussion
 • Section 1 to 32 of the 1987 • Panel discussion
Constitution

1. Know and comprehend the

meaning if legislative department
of the government
2. Analyze how the legislative
department functions
3. Compare and contrast
unicameral and bicameralism
4. Show and illustrate the
powers and functions of the 6 hours
Philippine legislative branch
• Lecture
5. Illustrate how status are
made • Class discussion
UNIT XI – EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
• Exposure trip
6. Appreciate the importance of • Section 1 to 23 of the 1987
the legislative branch of the Constitution
government

1. Grasp the connotation of the

executive branch of the
government
2. Illustrate how the executive
branch of the government
operates
3. Show and explain the
powers of the president
4. Appreciate how the
executive branch of the
government functions
5. Respect the office og the
chief executive by keeping an
objective mind and considerate
heart for whatever perceived 4 hours
limitations the chief executive has • Lecture
6. Work actively in curbing
• Class discussion
graft and corrupt practices in the
branches of government UNIT XII – JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT • Film viewing
especially in the executive branch • Section 1 to 16 of the 1987
Constitution

1. Know and understand the

meaning and functions of the 3 hours
judicial branch of the government
2. Appreciate the importance of
the judicial branch of the
government
3. Advocate for speedy and UNIT XIII – COPNSTITUTIONAL
just trails in the judicial branch of COMMISSION
 the government
1. Common provisions of the constitutional
commissions
1. Familiarize with the 2. Civil service commission (CSC) 3 hours
functions of the constitutional 3. Commission on audit (COA)
commissions 4. Commission on election (COMELEC)
2. Compare and contrast the 3 hours
constitutional commissions
3. Show the importance of the OPTIONMAL PORTIONS IN THE STUDY OF
constitutional commissions PGC
4. Appreciate the functions of 3 hours
the constitutional commission UNIT XIV-LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Sections 1 to 21 of the 1987
Constitution
3 hours
UNIT XV-ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC
OFFICERS
• Sections 1 to 18
3 hours
UNIT XVI-NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
PATRIMONY
• SECTIONS 1 TO 22

UNIT XVII – SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN 3 hours

RIGHTS
• Sections 1 to 19

UNIT XVIII- EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, CULTURE AND 3 hours
SPORTS
• Sections 1 to 19

UNIT XIV-THE FAMILY

• Sections 1 to 4

Textbook:
• De Leon, Hector , S. (2005). Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Manila: Rex Book Store
References
• Aruego, J. (1978). Principles of Political Science. Manila: University Book Su0pply, Inc.
• Cruz, I. (1996). Constitutional Law. Manila: Rex Book Store
• Nolledo, J. (1998). Students Manual on the New Constitution. Manila: National Book Store