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Constitutional reform in the Philippines, colloquially known as charter change (cha-cha),[1] refers to the political and legal processes needed to amend the current 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Under the common interpretation of the Constitution, amendments can be proposed by one of three methods: a people's initiative, a constituent assembly or a constitutional convention.[2][3][4]
A fourth method, by both houses passing a joint concurrent resolution with a supermajority of at least 75%, has been proposed by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. who subsequently submitted to the House of Representatives "Resolution of Both Houses No. 1".[5] This "simple legislation as the means to amend" would only require approval by both Houses voting separately.[6] All proposed amendment methods must be ratified by a majority vote in a national referendum.[6]
While no amendment to the 1987 Constitution has succeeded, there have been several high-profile attempts since the Ramos administration. None reached the ratification by referendum stage.
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