Gonzales vs COMELEC

G.R. No. L-28196 21 SCRA 774 November 9, 1967 Petitione ! Ramon A. Gonzalez / Philippine Constitution Association P!"#C$N%A& Res"on#ent! Commission on 'lections C$('#'C& $AC%S! )his case is compose* o+ consoli*ate* cases +ile* separatel, b, Petitioner Gonzalez an* P!"#C$N%A assailin- +or the *eclaration o+ nullit, o+ RA. No. .91/ an* R.0.!. No. 1 an* /. $n (arch 16, 1967, the %enate an* the !ouse o+ Representatives passe* the +ollo1in- resolutions Resolution o+ 0oth !ouses/R.0.!.&2 1. R.B.H No. 12 Proposes that %ec 3, Art 4" o+ Constitution be amen*e* so as to increase the membership o+ the !ouse o+ Representatives +rom a ma5imum o+ 167 in accor*ance 1ith the present Constitution, to a ma5imum o+ 187, to be apportione* amon- several provinces an* that each province shall have at least one 1& member. 6. R.B.H. No. 22 Calls +or a convention to propose amen*ments to the Constitution, 1hich 1ill be compose* o+ t1o 6& elective *ele-ates +rom each representative *istrict, to be 9electe* in the -eneral elections to be hel* on the secon* )ues*a, o+ November 1971. /. R.B.H. No. 32 Proposes that %ec 16, Art 4" o+ the Constitution be amen*e* so as to authorize %enators an* (embers o+ the !ouse o+ Representatives to become *ele-ates to the a+orementione* constitutional convention, 1ithout the nee* to +or+eit their respective seats in Con-ress. %ubse:uentl,, Con-ress passe* a bill, 1hich became RA No. .91/, provi*in- that the amen*ments to the Constitution propose* in the a+orementione* Resolutions No. 1 an* / be submitte*, +or approval b, the people at the -eneral elections on November 1., 1967. )his act +i5es the *ate an* manner o+ elevtion +or the propose* amen*ments to be vote* upon b, the people, an* appropriates +un*s +or sai* election. Petitioners assail the vali*it,/constitutionalit, o+ RA No. .91/ an* +or the prohibition 1ith preliminar, in;unction to restrain C$('#'C +rom implementin- or compl,in- 1ith the sai* la1. P!"#C$N%A also assails R.0.! No. 1 an* /. &SS'E! 1.& <hether or not RA No. .91/ is unconstitutional. 6.& <hether or not the issue involves a political :uestion. (EL)! 1.& Pursuant to Article =4 o+ the 19/3 Constitution, %C hel* that there is nothin- in this provision that states that the election re+erre* to is special, *i++erent +rom the -eneral election. )he Con-ress *eeme* it best to submit the amen*ments +or rati+ication in accor*ance 1ith the provisions o+ the Constitution. "t *oes not ne-ate its authorit, to submit propose* amen*ments +or rati+ication in -eneral elections. Petition is there+ore )EN&E).

6.& %C also note* that the issue is a political :uestion because it attac>s the *is#o+ o+ the action ta>en b, Con-ress an* not the authorit, to ta>e it. A political :uestion is not sub;ect to revie1 b, the Court.