System of Government under 1987 Constitution
Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal
Executive President Elected by a direct vote Nominates the Cabinet and Upon the end of 6
other high officials year term
Cabinet Nominated by the President and Head of Government Upon resignation
confirmed by a commission on Ensures faithful execution of Upon impeachment
appointments the laws by the legislature
Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces
Contracts for foreign loans Upon removal by the
Declares martial law President
Upon resignation
Advises the President
Legislative Senate Elected by a direct vote Election monitoring Upon resignation
Introduces and passes Upon the end of a 6 -
House of legislation by a majority vote year term
Representatives
Elected by districts or a party-list Conductes inquiries in pursuit
system of passing legislation
Declares war with joint two- Upon resignation
thirds vote of Congress Upon the end of a 3-
year term
Election monitoring
Introduces and passes
legislation
Introduces and passes financial
legislation
Conduct inquiries in pursuit of
passing legislation
Declaring war with joint two-
thirds vote of Congress
Branch Hierarchy Appointment Powers Removal
Judicial Supreme Court Appointed by the President Administrative supervision Upon resignation
over other courts Upon reaching the
Jurisdiction over cases age of 70
involving ambassadors and
public officials
Constitutional review
Timeline
1542 Spanish claim the islands
1898 Spain cedes the Philippines to the US
1902 US establishes civil government to replace military rule
1935 The Commonwealth of the Philippines is established under President Manuel Quezon and the US promises independence in 10 years
1941 Japanese forces invade the islands
1944 The US retakes the islands
1946 The US grants the new Republic of the Philippines full independence
1965 Ferdinand Marcos becomes President
1969 Marcos is reelected despite allegations of elections fraud, Vietnam protests begin, Muslim separatists begin guerrilla war in the south
1972 Marcos declares martial law, suspends parliaments, arrests opposition leaders, and imposes censorship regulations
1973 New constitution adopted granting Marcos broad powers
1981 Marcos wins reelection, martial law lifted
1983 Oppoisiton leader Benigno Aquino killed as he returns to the Philippines from exile
1986 Marcos opposed in elections by Aquino’s widow Corazon, mass protests of election results in favour of Marcos forces him into exile
11 February 1987New Constitution passed
1992 Aquino replaced as President by defence minister Fidel Ramos
1996 Peace agreement signed with Muslim separatist group
1998 Joseph Estrada, former film star, elected President
January 2000 Impeachment trial against Estrada suspended, leading to mass protests which replace Estrada with Vice-President Gloria Arroyo
April 2001 Estrada found guilty of stealing more than 80 million dollars of state funds during Presidency, but later pardoned
June 2004 Arroyo elected to Presidency
2005 Arroyo resists attempt to impeach her under allegations of vote-rigging, declares a state of emergency in response to an alleged military coup
2007-2009 Ethnic tensions mount between Islamic separatist groups and Christian majority
June 2010 Beningo “Noynoy” Aquino, son of Corazon Aquino, elected President