Politics of the Philippines
Government Constitution of the Philippines Charter Change Laws Legal codes Taxation
Executive President of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos (PFP) Vice President of the Philippines Sara Duterte (HNP) Cabinet (lists) Executive departments Local government
Legislature Congress of the Philippines 19th Congress Senate President Migz Zubiri (Independent) House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez (Lakas) Districts Party-list representation Bangsamoro Parliament Provincial boards City councils Municipal councils Barangay councils
Judiciary Supreme Court of the Philippines Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo Court of Appeals Court of Tax Appeals Sandiganbayan Ombudsman Regional Trial Courts Barangay justice
Constitutional commissions Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karlo Nograles Commission on Audit Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia
Elections General 2016 2019 2022 Barangay 2013 2018 2023 Referendums
Political parties Akbayan Aksyon Lakas LDP Liberal Nacionalista NPC NUP PFP Reporma PDP–Laban UNA
Administrative divisions Capital Regions Autonomous regions Provinces Cities Municipalities Barangays Poblacions Sitios Puroks
Related topics Foreign relations Human rights
Philippines portal Other countries
v t e

A constitutional convention was called to change the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines, written to establish the Commonwealth of the Philippines. A special election was held on November 10, 1970 to elect the convention's delegates, which would convene in 1971.

Former Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia was sworn in as the President of the Constitutional Convention on June 1, 1971. However, he died thirteen days after taking oath. Former President Diosdado Macapagal replaced Garcia.^[1] Sotero H. Laurel served as the President Pro-Tempore of the convention.^[2]

Other prominent delegates were former Senators Raul Manglapus and Roseller T. Lim. Other delegates would become influential political figures, including Hilario Davide Jr., Marcelo Fernan, Sotero Laurel, Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Raul Roco, Edgardo Angara, Richard Gordon, Margarito Teves and Federico Dela Plana.

The work of the Convention was affected by the declaration of martial law in September 1972 by President Ferdinand Marcos. Eventually, on November 29, 1972, the Convention approved the new constitution. It was submitted to a vote in the 1973 constitutional plebiscite. The results of the plebiscite and the legality of the 1973 Constitution was questioned before the Philippine Supreme Court in the Ratification Cases. The constitution was upheld. Marcos' dictatorship would continue to rule until being ousted by the People Power Revolution in 1986.

Election

Delegates