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Legal Procedure
Legal Procedure
Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the three most important features of the
Philippine Legal System.
2. Differentiate the Common Law and Civil Law.
3. Explain the Separation of Powers.
4. Identify the Bill of Rights stated in the Philippine
Constitution.
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHILIPPINE LEGAL SYSTEM THAT
OTHERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND
Discussion:
and civil law principles. Its public law is substantially patterned after common
law doctrines, while its private law follows the civil law tradition of Spain. This
unusual mixture of common law and civil law in one legal system is the
inevitable result of its colonial history. The Philippines was a colony of Spain
for over three hundred years and was under the American colonial regime for
about half a century. From the beginning of the Spanish era up to 1898 when
the Americans defeated the Spaniards in the Spanish-American war, the civil
From December 10, 1898, when Spain ceded the Philippines under the
Treaty of Paris to the United States up to July 4, 1946 when the U.S. colonial
regime formally ended, common law or public law principles in the United
States were engrafted in the Philippine legal system. Thus, the Philippine
private law at present such as the law on persons and family relations,
patterned after the civil code of Spain. On the other hand, its public law,
notably constitutional law, administrative law, and the law on public offices,
Common law, in addition, is defined as a body of legal rules that have been made by
judges as they issue rulings on cases, as opposed to rules and laws made by the
case law) is the body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by
Philippines?
Discussion:
Let’s take for instance the difference between Common Law Marriage and Legal
Marriage.
Legal Marriage
In many jurisdictions, getting married requires being wed by an ordained minister or
other person who has recognized authority to carry out a legal marriage. This can be
as a city hall or courthouse. Here, a marriage license is issued and officially recorded.
exclusively with each other just like a husband and wife without the benefit of
marriage or when the marriage is void. Under the Family Code, the effects of
A common law marriage, on the other hand, will recognize a couple as equivalent to
legally married even if the pair never said their vows in a civil or religious ceremony
and don’t have a marriage license. While states don’t have official rules on the
books regarding common law marriage, there are certain conditions that have to be
must:
1. Be a heterosexual couple living together in a state that
husband” or “my wife” and even using the same last name.
Also, they must file a joint tax return and have joint bank accounts
4. Be of sound mind.
marriage or under a void marriage, their wages and salaries shall be owned by them
in equal shares and the property acquired by both of them through their work or
In the absence of proof to the contrary, properties acquired while they lived together
shall be presumed to have been obtained by their joint efforts, work or industry, and
shall be owned by them in equal shares. For purposes of this Article, a party who did
not participate in the acquisition by the other party of any property shall be deemed
consisted in the care and maintenance of the family and of the household.
Civil law is CODIFIED. Countries with civil
Civil law is a complete, systemize set of legal acts created by legislators. It defines the
cases that can be brought to court, the procedures for handling claims, and the
Civil law, in addition, is part of country’s set of laws which is concerned with the
private affairs of citizens, for example MARRIAGE and property ownership, rather
than with crime. A body of rules that delineate private rights and remedies, and
govern disputes between individuals in such areas as contracts, property and Family
private party, such as a corporation. Examples are defamation (including libel and
damage.
The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them
The Executive branch is composed of the President and the Vice President
who are elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The
The Judicial branch holds the power to settle controversies involving rights
that are legally demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether
or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess
of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the government. It is made
The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial
regulation unconstitutional.
“The intent of separation of powers is to prevent the concentration of unchecked power and to
provide for checks and balances, in which the powers of one branch of government is limited by
the powers of another branch—to prevent abuses of power and avoid autocracy.”
3. The Power of Judicial Review and the Bill of Rights in the
Constitution
article
4) Privacy of Communication
6) The right to Peaceably Assemble and Petition the government for Redress of
Grievances
10) The right to Form Unions, Associations or Societies for purposes not contrary
to law
11) The right to Counsel
References:
http://www.ialsnet.org/meetings/enriching/carlota.pdf
https://www.slideshare.net/MichelleDy/overview-of-the-philippine-legal-system