Why the 1987 Constitution has Endured for 32 Years Without Amendment

Abstract

Initiatives to change a constitution is part and parcel of being a constitutional democracy. Resisting such an initiative, provided it is supported by a rational public consensus-building process, is an integral component of constitutional democracy as well. As a constitutional democracy, the Philippines finds itself perfectly within this constitutional reform context. As such, this paper will analyze the long history of charter change initiatives in the country and attempt to draw out the reasons why the 1987 Philippine Constitution continues to remain immune from reform and amendment. This paper also examines how these reasons will affect the Duterte administration’s efforts to change the constitution that will support a federal form of government.

Keywords: constitutional analysis, constitutional reform, constitutionalism, charter change, federalism

JEL Classification: K00