Election Laws: Chapter 1 — General Principles
Election Law Chapter 1 — General Principles Theory of popular sovereignty. Section 1, Article II of the Constitution says: "The Philippines is a democratic and republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people and all goverment authority emanates from them." Theoretically but fundamentally, the people combined represent the sovereign power of the State. In practice, however, sovereignty is exercised by the electorate and those chosen by them, directly or indirectly, the elective and the appointive officials. Moya v. Del Fierro, 69 Phil. 199 (1930) : Republicanism , in so far as it implies the adoption of a representative type of government necessarily points to the enfranchised citizens as the ultimate source of established authority . So, a democratic and republican government derives all its powers, directly or indirectly, from the people at large. Its essence is indirect rule. Actual sovereignty is exercised by the people by means of suffrage through th...