2009 Constituent Assembly of the Republic of the Philippines
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Constituent Assembly of the Republic of the Philippines will be the joint meeting of both houses of the Congress of the Philippines
which consists of the House of Representatives
and the Senate
that will propose amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines
following the passage by the House of Representatives of House Resolution No. 1109 on June 2, 2009 by viva voce
in a move to shift the government from the current presidential
to parliamentary
. All amendments would need the approval of three-fourths of Congress.
, refers to the political and other related processes involved in amending or revising the current 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
. Under the current constitution there are three modes of which it could be amended: people's initiative
(PI), constituent assembly
and constitutional convention
. All three would lead to a referendum wherein the proposed amendment/s or revision/s has to be approved by the majority of Filipinos in order to be adopted. After winning the 2004 elections, President Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 453, created the Consultative Commission headed by Dr. Jose V. Abueva. The task of the Consultative Commission was to propose the "necessary" revisions on the 1987 constitution after various consultation with different sectors of society. After about a year of consultations, the Consultative Commission came up with proposals that included: a shift to a unicameral parliamentary
form of government; economic liberalization
; further decentralization
of national government and more empowerment
of local governments via transition to a parliamentary-federal government
system. While Charter change and "opening up" of the Philippine economy are generally supported by small to mid size businesses in the country such as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), however it is opposed by the powerful Makati Business Club
(MBC).
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
which consists of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
and the Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
that will propose amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
following the passage by the House of Representatives of House Resolution No. 1109 on June 2, 2009 by viva voce
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
in a move to shift the government from the current presidential
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
to parliamentary
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
. All amendments would need the approval of three-fourths of Congress.
Background
Charter Change, also known as Cha-Cha in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, refers to the political and other related processes involved in amending or revising the current 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
. Under the current constitution there are three modes of which it could be amended: people's initiative
People's Initiative
People’s Initiative or "PI" is one of the modes in which the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines could be amended. The other two modes are via Constituent Assembly or "Con-Ass" and Constitutional Convention or "Con-Con"; which also allow revisions....
(PI), constituent assembly
Constituent Assembly (Philippines)
Constituent assembly or "con-ass" is one of the three modes in which the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines could be amended or revised. The other two modes are via People's Initiative and Constitutional Convention...
and constitutional convention
Constitutional Convention (Philippines)
Constitutional convention or “con-con” is one of the three modes in which the "Constitution of the Philippines could be amended or revised. The other two modes are via a People's Initiative or "PI" and Constituent Assembly or "Con-Ass"....
. All three would lead to a referendum wherein the proposed amendment/s or revision/s has to be approved by the majority of Filipinos in order to be adopted. After winning the 2004 elections, President Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 453, created the Consultative Commission headed by Dr. Jose V. Abueva. The task of the Consultative Commission was to propose the "necessary" revisions on the 1987 constitution after various consultation with different sectors of society. After about a year of consultations, the Consultative Commission came up with proposals that included: a shift to a unicameral parliamentary
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
form of government; economic liberalization
Economic liberalization
Economic liberalization is a very broad term that usually refers to fewer government regulations and restrictions in the economy in exchange for greater participation of private entities; the doctrine is associated with classical liberalism...
; further decentralization
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
of national government and more empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
of local governments via transition to a parliamentary-federal government
Federal government
The federal government is the common government of a federation. The structure of federal governments varies from institution to institution. Based on a broad definition of a basic federal political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and...
system. While Charter change and "opening up" of the Philippine economy are generally supported by small to mid size businesses in the country such as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), however it is opposed by the powerful Makati Business Club
Makati Business Club
The Makati Business Club or MBC is a private non-stock, non-profit business association organized in the Philippines as a Forum for Constructive Ideas. As a forum, the MBC is dedicated to addressing economic and social policy issues which affect the development of the Philippines...
(MBC).