State, Government, and Constitution

Question 1

What is a State?

Answer 1

A community of persons living in a definite territory, possessing a government, and free from external control.

Basic elements include people, territory, government, and sovereignty.

Question 2

What are the two aspects of sovereignty?

Answer 2

• Internal sovereignty
• External sovereignty

Question 3

Define Internal sovereignty

Answer 3

The state is supreme over all its citizens and associations.

Question 4

Define External sovereignty

Answer 4

The state is independent and free from foreign or outside control.

Question 5

List the characteristics of sovereignty.

Answer 5

• Absolute
• Permanent
• Indivisible
• Exclusiveness
• Inalienable

Question 6

What are the three inherent powers of the state?

Answer 6

• Police power
• Taxation power
• Power of Eminent domain

Question 7

What is police power?

Answer 7

The power to enact laws for the promotion of public safety, health, morals, education, and general welfare.

Question 8

What is taxation power?

Answer 8

The power to exact proportional contributions from the people to defray governmental expenditures.

Question 9

What is the power of Eminent domain?

Answer 9

The power to take private property for public use upon payment of just compensation.

Question 10

What is government?

Answer 10

The organization that people set up to protect their community and enforce its rules.

Question 11

What are the roles of government?

Answer 11

• Protect lives, liberties, and property of community members
• Provide services individuals cannot provide on their own

Question 12

List the six purposes of government.

Answer 12

• Form a more perfect union
• Establish justice
• Insure domestic tranquility
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general welfare
• Secure the blessing of liberty

Question 13

What are constituent functions of government?

Answer 13

Functions that constitute the bond of society and are compulsory in nature.

Question 14

What are ministrant functions of government?

Answer 14

Functions undertaken to advance the general interest of society and are optional.

Question 15

List the types of government.

Answer 15

• Democracy
• Oligarchy
• Dictatorship
• Monarchy
• Anarchy

Question 16

What is a limited monarchy?

Answer 16

A form of monarchy where the common people have a voice, influenced by the Magna Carta.

Question 17

What characterizes an absolute monarchy?

Answer 17

Often results in abuse of the people due to its control.

Question 18

What is a dictatorship?

Answer 18

A government where people have no freedoms or powers.

Question 19

What is a parliamentary democracy?

Answer 19

• Joining of powers
• Executive members are also legislative members
• Parliament elects head of government, who can be voted out

Question 20

What is a presidential system?

Answer 20

• Separation of powers
• Clear separation between executive and legislative branches
• Executive (the president) is separate from Congress

Question 21

Define de jure.

Answer 21

By right, according to law.

Question 22

Define de facto.

Answer 22

In reality, as a matter.

Question 23

What is a constitution?

Answer 23

A set of laws/principles governing a country, may be written or unwritten.

Question 24

List the purposes and functions of a constitution.

Answer 24

• Defines and limits government’s powers
• Lists the rights of the people
• Establishes the structure of government
• Provides rules & operating procedures
• Serves as the supreme law of the land

Question 25

Classify constitutions based on origin and history.

Answer 25

* Conventional or enacted * Cumulative or evolved

Question 26

Classify constitutions based on form.

Answer 26

* Written * Unwritten

Question 27

Classify constitutions based on the manner of amending.

Answer 27

* Rigid or inelastic * Flexible or elastic

Question 28

What are the requisites of a good constitution as to form?

Answer 28

* Brief * Broad * Definite

Question 29

What are the requisites of a good constitution as to contents?

Answer 29

* Constitution of government * Constitution of Liberty * Constitution of Sovereignty

Question 30

What is the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines also called?

Answer 30

Biak-na-bato constitution.

Question 31

Who wrote the Malolos Constitution?

Answer 31

Felipe Calderon.

Question 32

What was the 1935 Constitution written in accordance with?

Answer 32

Commonwealth Republic, caused by Tyding McDuffie Law.

Question 33

What characterized the 1943 Constitution?

Answer 33

Established the Second Philippine Republic.

Question 34

What is the Freedom Constitution of 1987?

Answer 34

The constitution that restored democratic governance in the Philippines.

Question 35

List the basic principles outlined in the Philippine Constitution.

Answer 35

* Recognition of the Aid of Almighty God * Sovereignty of the People * Renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy * Supremacy of civilian authority over the military * Separation of Church and State * Recognition of the importance of the family * Guarantee of human rights * Government through suffrage * Separation of Power * Independence of Judiciary * Guarantee of local autonomy * High sense of public service morality and accountability * Nationalization of natural resources * Non-suability of the state * Rule of the Majority * Government of laws and not men.