Next CSE-PPT: 14 March 2027 · Professional & Subprofessional
Civil Service Exam reviewer on Article IX (common provisions and the Commission on Audit) and Article XI (impeachment, SALN disclosure and other rules on the accountability of public officers).
Article IX of the 1987 Constitution creates three independent Constitutional Commissions: the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Elections and the Commission on Audit. Article IX-A sets the rules common to all three, such as fiscal autonomy and the period for deciding cases, while Article IX-D covers the Commission on Audit. Article XI then sets out how public officers are held accountable, including impeachment.
This set focuses on the provisions not covered in our other Constitution topics. Questions quote or closely follow the text of the Constitution, so you can check every answer against the official text on the Official Gazette website.
Correct answer: A. Their approved annual appropriations are automatically and regularly released
Article IX-A, Section 5 grants the Commissions fiscal autonomy: their approved annual appropriations shall be automatically and regularly released. This protects their independence from pressure through the budget.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 60 days
Article IX-A, Section 7 requires each Commission to decide, by a majority vote of all its Members, any case or matter within sixty days from its submission for decision or resolution. Its decisions may then be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari within thirty days.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. None of these: holding another office, practising a profession and actively managing a business are all prohibited
Article IX-A, Section 2 provides that no Member shall, during tenure, hold any other office or employment, engage in the practice of any profession or in the active management or control of any business that may be affected by the functions of the office.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Shall not be decreased during their tenure
Article IX-A, Section 3 states that their salaries shall be fixed by law and shall not be decreased during their tenure. Protecting salaries from reduction helps keep the Commissioners independent of the political branches.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Commission on Appointments
The Chairmen and Commissioners of the CSC, COMELEC and COA are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The Judicial and Bar Council nominates members of the judiciary and the Ombudsman, not the Commissions.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. A Chairman and two Commissioners
Article IX-D, Section 1 provides for a Chairman and two Commissioners, the same size as the Civil Service Commission. The COMELEC is larger, with a Chairman and six Commissioners.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. At no time shall all Members belong to the same profession
Article IX-D, Section 1(1) adds that "at no time shall all Members of the Commission belong to the same profession." Mixing accountants and lawyers gives the Commission both auditing and legal expertise.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Seven years without reappointment
Like the other Constitutional Commissions, COA Members serve seven-year terms without reappointment. Of those first appointed, the terms were staggered at seven, five and three years so that vacancies would not all occur at once.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. Irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable
Section 2(2) lets COA define the scope of its audit and issue accounting and auditing rules, including rules against irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable expenditures, or uses of government funds and property.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. Exempting any entity of the Government from the jurisdiction of the Commission on Audit
Section 3 states that no law shall be passed exempting any entity of the Government or its subsidiary in any guise whatever, or any investment of public funds, from COA jurisdiction. Every peso of public money remains subject to audit.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. The President and the Congress
Article IX-D, Section 4 requires COA to submit to the President and the Congress, within the time fixed by law, an annual report covering the financial condition and operation of the Government and its subdivisions and agencies.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases, while the Senate has the sole power to try and decide them. This division mirrors the roles of an accuser and a court.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. At least one-third of all its Members
Article XI, Section 3(3) requires a vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House to affirm a favourable resolution or to override a contrary one. Conviction in the Senate needs a much higher vote: two-thirds of all senators.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. One year
This one-year bar protects officials from harassment through repeated impeachment complaints and lets the House focus on its legislative work. The Supreme Court has applied this rule in several cases.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who shall not vote
Article XI, Section 3(6) provides that when the President is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote. The Senate President would otherwise preside, but the rule avoids any conflict of interest.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Gross inefficiency in managing an agency
The grounds are culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. "Gross inefficiency" is not listed as a separate ground.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Removal from office and disqualification to hold any office under the Republic
The Senate can only remove and disqualify. However, the party convicted remains liable to prosecution, trial and punishment in the courts according to law, so criminal penalties come through regular cases.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Shall not be barred by prescription, laches or estoppel
Section 15 ensures that the passage of time does not let ill-gotten wealth escape recovery: the State's right is not barred by prescription, laches or estoppel. The provision reflects lessons from efforts to recover ill-gotten wealth after 1986.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. The President, Vice-President, Cabinet members, members of Congress and the Supreme Court, and other high officials named
Section 16 bars loans, guaranties or other financial accommodation for any business purpose to the President, the Vice-President, Cabinet members, members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman, or to firms in which they have a controlling interest, during their tenure.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Shall be dealt with by law
Section 18 states that public officers and employees owe the State and the Constitution allegiance at all times, and that any of them who seeks to change citizenship or acquire immigrant status in another country during tenure shall be dealt with by law.
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