Political Law
15% of the Bar.
The Constitution, the structure of government, and the limits on state power.
Study material, not legal advice. Written and checked by the PhilippineLaws team to the best of our knowledge; not reviewed by a lawyer. Check every provision and case against its full text before you rely on it or cite it.
Examined in Political and Public International Law· 15% of the exam
28syllabus topics25curated cases7statutes4lessons
The syllabus
28Tap a topic to drill only that topic.
National Territory and State PrinciplesBill of Rights — Due ProcessBill of Rights — Equal ProtectionBill of Rights — Freedom of ExpressionBill of Rights — Search and SeizureBill of Rights — Rights of AccusedLegislative DepartmentExecutive DepartmentJudicial DepartmentConstitutional CommissionsLocal Government CodeAdministrative LawLaw on Public OfficersElection LawSeparation of Powers and Checks and BalancesJudicial Review and Political Question DoctrineCitizenship and NaturalizationSocial Justice and Human RightsNational Economy and PatrimonyAccountability of Public OfficersPublic International Law — Sources and SubjectsPublic International Law — State ResponsibilityPublic International Law — Treaties and the VCLTPublic International Law — Jurisdiction and ImmunitiesPublic International Law — Law of the Sea and UNCLOSPublic International Law — International Human Rights LawPublic International Law — International Humanitarian LawPublic International Law — Dispute Settlement
Lessons
4Worked through one problem at a time.
Year 1 · Week 8When an arrest without a warrant holdsPwede ba nila akong arestuhin nang walang warrant?Year 3 · Week 2Where international law comes fromWalang pinirmahang treaty. Obligado pa rin ba tayo?Year 1 · Week 8Warrantless searches: stop-and-frisk vs. search incident to lawful arrestPinatigil sa daan, binuksan ang backpack. Legal ba ang search?Year 1 · Week 5Separation of powers & the pork barrel systemPinasa na ang General Appropriations Act. Pwede pa bang pumili ang kongresista kung aling kalsada ang popondohan?
The cases
25Each one's doctrine, and the ruling behind it when the citation checks out.
Docket confirmed against the ruling
23- G.R. No. L-450811936· DigestAngara v. Electoral CommissionSeparation of powers and judicial review; the Electoral Commission, as sole judge of legislative election contests, has the implied power to fix the period for filing protests
- G.R. No. L-483211946· DigestOh Cho v. Director of LandsRegalian doctrine: land not acquired from the State belongs to the public domain unless possessed since time immemorial; an alien cannot obtain registration under the Public Land Act
- G.R. No. L-639151986· DigestTañada v. TuveraPublication of Laws / Due Process
- G.R. No. 765391990· DigestPit-og v. PeopleGood-faith belief of ownership negates criminal intent in theft; courts must weigh customary ownership claims carefully
- G.R. No. 1353852000· DigestCruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural ResourcesConstitutionality of IPRA (Tie Vote)
- G.R. Nos. 146710-15 & 1467382001· DigestEstrada v. DesiertoA President's resignation may be inferred from the totality of his prior, contemporaneous and posterior acts; a non-sitting President has no immunity from criminal suit; prejudicial publicity requires proof of actual prejudice
- G.R. No. 1680562005· DigestAbakada Guro v. ErmitaDelegation of Legislative Power
- G.R. No. 1713962006· DigestDavid v. ArroyoCalling-out power vs. emergency powers: the President may declare a state of national emergency, but cannot take over private businesses without a law from Congress
- G.R. No. 1683382008· DigestChavez v. GonzalesFreedom of Expression / Prior Restraint
- G.R. No. 1228462009· DigestWhite Light Corp. v. ManilaPolice power and substantive due process: a legitimate aim does not save an ordinance whose means are unduly oppressive when less intrusive means are available
- G.R. No. 2085662013· DigestBelgica v. OchoaLegislators may not take part in budget execution after the budget is enacted; the PDAF and similar pork barrel laws are unconstitutional
- G.R. No. 2033352014· DigestDisini v. Sec. of JusticeCybercrime Prevention Act — Online Libel, Real-Time Traffic Data and Takedown
- G.R. No. 2092872014· DigestAraullo v. AquinoTransfer of Appropriations and Savings — Section 25(5), Article VI (DAP)
- G.R. No. 1812842015· DigestUnduran v. AberasturiNCIP jurisdiction under IPRA Sec. 66 covers only disputes between members of the same ICC/IP; the regular courts otherwise have jurisdiction, subject to exceptions under Secs. 52, 54 and 62
- G.R. No. 1939642015· DigestLim v. GamosaLimits of NCIP's Administrative Jurisdiction
- G.R. No. 2216972016· DigestPoe-Llamanzares v. COMELECCOMELEC cannot decide a candidate's qualifications in a COC-cancellation case; foundlings are presumed natural-born; residence may be counted from actual return
- G.R. No. 1898522016· DigestBegnaen v. Sps. CaligtanNCIP jurisdiction is concurrent with regular courts, but the body that first takes cognizance excludes the others
- G.R. No. 1998022018· DigestMandanas v. OchoaThe LGUs' just share under Art. X, Sec. 6 is computed on all national taxes, not only national internal revenue taxes
- G.R. No. 2211392019· DigestHa Datu Tawahig v. Cebu City ProsecutorPrimacy of State Criminal Law Over Tribal Resolutions
- G.R. No. 2635902023· DigestMacalintal v. COMELECPostponement of Elections and the Right of Suffrage (R.A. 11935)
- G.R. No. 2547532023· DigestDeduro v. VinoyaRed-Tagging / Writ of Amparo
- G.R. No. 2685462024· DigestAn Waray Partylist v. COMELECCOMELEC, not HRET, Jurisdiction to Cancel Party-List Registration
- G.R. No. 2691592024· DigestCity of Caloocan v. MalabonBoundary disputes between highly urbanized cities must first be jointly referred to their sanggunians (LGC Secs. 118-119); declaratory relief is improper
Docket not confirmed · 2On the list for this subject, but the G.R. number on file doesn't match any decision in the library. Find the correct citation before you use one of these.
Governing statutes
7The Republic Acts filed under this subject, in full text.
Also filed here
Why these sit under this subject.
Customary Law
Reaches the regular Bar through the IPRA and the constitutional provisions on indigenous cultural communities, so it is shown under Political Law.
Other subjects
The rest of the exam.