Summary of the 1943 Constitution

THE 1943 CONSTITUTION (During the Japanese Occupation)

The Preamble of the 1943 Constitution

A preamble and twelve articles make up the Republic of the Philippines' 1943 Constitution, which establishes a Republican state with a strong executive branch and subordinate legislative and judicial branches. The executive power is vested in the President, who is to be elected by the members of the National Assembly from among themselves. The President serves as both the head of state and the supreme commander of the armed forces. The powers of the President are: to veto any bill of the Assembly, to promulgate regulations when the Assembly is not in session and in times of war or national emergency, to declare martial law, to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, and to appoint the members of the Council of State and officials of the local government.

Jose P. Laurel, the President of the Japanese sponsored Second Philippine Republic

Limited legislative power is exercised by the unicameral National Assembly whose members, like the President, are not directly elected by the people. Instead, representatives from each province are to be elected at Kalibapi conventions across the nation, with appointed governors and mayors serving as ex-officio members. The Supreme Court, whose justices, along with the judges of lower courts, are to be appointed by the President, exercises judicial power. The 1943 Constitution enumerates the duties and rights of the citizens, requires the government to develop Tagalog as the national language, and stipulates that one year after the termination of the Great East Asia War or World War II; a new constitution shall be formulated and adopted to replace this Constitution.