QuestionsQuestions (Acts No. 4125)
The Convention shall be composed of two hundred and two (202) elective delegates. They are distributed at the ratio of two delegates for each representative district, except that the special provinces of Mindanao and Sulu shall each have two delegates, and the Mountain Province shall have two delegates for each subprovince and two delegates for the City of Baguio.
No. Under Section 2, the office of delegate is honorary and is compatible with any other public office not subject to the civil service rules.
Under Section 3, no person is eligible unless he has the qualifications required by existing law for eligibility for representative.
The election is scheduled on June 26, 1934 (Section 4). The Governor-General may postpone for good reasons to a date not later than July 16, 1934.
If the election is postponed (not later than July 16, 1934), the Convention shall meet on July 30, 1934 at eleven o’clock in the morning (Section 4).
For the elective representative districts and for Nueva Vizcaya, Baguio, Agusan, Davao, and Zamboanga, delegates are elected by plurality of the votes of qualified electors registered in the list of voters of the 1934 general election in the respective districts/provinces (Section 5).
Certain voters in Ilocos Sur (Tagudin, Cervantes, Angaki, San Emilio, Concepcion, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon) vote at the election of delegates of the second district of Ilocos Sur; voters in La Union (Pugo, Burgos, San Gabriel, Santol, Sodipen) vote at the election of delegates of the first district of La Union (Section 5).
No. Section 5 explicitly provides that no new voters shall be admitted at this election.
They are elected by secret ballot and by a plurality of the votes of members present at a meeting held at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the delegate election, by the presidents, vice-presidents, and councilors of the municipalities and municipal districts; the municipal secretary certifies the result and the provincial board acts as provincial board of canvassers (Section 5).
Under Section 6, certificates of candidacy must be filed at least ten (10) days before the election. They may be filed by the candidates themselves or by ten (10) or more electors of the district/province where the candidate is to be elected.
No. Section 6 provides that certificates of candidacy need not contain any statement regarding the candidate’s political affiliation.
Under Section 7, election inspectors and poll clerks are paid a per diem of three pesos (₱3) for each day of service in carrying out the election.
Section 8 directs the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe official ballot forms numbered (without any coupons and without printing on the back). It also requires types of ballot boxes that use not more than two padlocks, with keys during the election kept by inspectors of opposing parties, and surrendered after election to the Clerk of the Court of First Instance and the provincial commander of the Constabulary. It also mandates that statements and official telegrams of results be received and transmitted by the Bureau of Posts without delay and free of charge, with preference over other matter.
Under Section 9, it must meet in the Session Hall of the House of Representatives on July 4, 1934 at 11:00 a.m. A majority of its members constitutes a quorum. However, a smaller number may meet, adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members.
Section 9 provides that the Convention is the sole judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members. It may organize and adopt rules, punish members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel them.
Section 10 states that laws relative to parliamentary immunity of members of the Legislature and the protection of sessions and committees against disturbance/molestation, plus penalties for violations, are applicable to Constitutional Convention members and its sessions/committees.
Section 12 appropriates five hundred thousand pesos (₱500,000) or so much as necessary from general funds. It is for (a) expenses of the election subject to approval of the Secretary of the Interior; (b) fitting the House session hall and necessary rooms; and (c) per diems for Convention members not receiving government salary (₱5 per day of session actually attended), their travel expenses to and from sessions to the extent allowed to House members, and other incidental expenses subject to approval by the chairman or acting chairman.
Under Section 13, it takes effect on its approval.