What is a 'Constituent Assembly'?

In the People's Constition of 1987, there are three ways to conduct a charter change (Cha Cha) to the Constition, or to amend it under article XVII.

1. People's Initiative (PI): “Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered votes therein.”

2. Constitional Convention (Con Con): The congress can call by a vote of 2/3 in favor a constitional convenion, which would be made of a members selected by the President or elected by the people in a popular vote. If more than 1/2 of the members of congress in favor vote for a Con Con then the people must rafity such a proposal in a popular vote.

3. Constitional Assembly (Con A.S.S.): The congress can by a vote of 3/4 in favor amend the constition (charter change).

The PI needs congressional support to put the measure on the ballot in the first place, so having PI separate is a little misleading.

Best way to look at it is like this:

3/4 of more and congess makes the change (ConA.S.S);

2/3 or more and congress makes the change with the President (Con Con);

1/2 or more and congress a makes the change with the people (People's initiative).

The problem with ConA.S.S. is back when Marcos was in charge he put his cronies in thousands, tens of thousands of jobs, and in doing so got tremendous support and money for lackies to join his political party and vote as he wished. Back in 1973 Marcos achieved this using a referendum congress approved. Arroyo's party back in 2007 passed through the house a referendum to amend the constition so she and her party would hold office indefinetly. It passed by 2/3 (Con A.S.S.) but in the Senate 23 of the 24 senators refused to vote and objected to the vote. This sort of led to senatorial arrests and tanks inside Manila Hotel and a march of about 15,000 on EDSA shrine.

The bottom line is Arroyo's campaign in 2004 was for a charter change, since 2004 she's tried everyting from PI, to ConA.S.S. to Con Con, you name it. Right now the process is going forward to make her a dictator if the people let it. Those against Arroyo's change (officially to a partilmentary govt) complain about any method that let's Arroyo change the Constition whether it be to extend her term or even let Americans buy land....it doesn't matter if it's con con conA.S.S. of pi.

Constituent assembly or "con-***" is one of the three modes in which the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines could be amended or revised. The other two modes are via People's Initiative and Constitutional Convention. The bicameral Philippine Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives) is in a Constituent assembly mode when they formally convene to propose amendments or revisions to the 1987 constitution; and under Article XVII of the Constitution of the Philippines, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members. The process of amending or revising the 1987 constitution of the Philippines is popularly known to many Filipinos as Charter Change. Any proposed amendment or revision to the 1987 Constitution shall only be valid when ratified by the majority of Filipinos in a plebiscite.

To my knowledge, a ConAss or Constituent Assembly is an assembly of representatives or members of congress, who will vote on amendments to the constitution. In the old days, when the government planned to change the constitution, a plebiscite was called to do it. That meant that all registered voters voted whether to change the constitution or not. Unfortunately, our beloved congressmen do not trust us voters to deliver come voting day, so they decided to do a shorcut by empowering the "enlightened" voted representatives of the people already in congress today to do the deed, because they believe it would be better and more convenient. Better and convenient for whom and how? That's for you to decide.

It's a gathering of idiots and stupids who want the Philippine constitution changed for their own vested interest and advantage, and to keep Arroyo in power so that they can sustain their kickbacks and corruptive acts. Kick their ConAsses if you meet them. You want better Philippines? Gun them down.

They want to rewrite the constitution and make Arroyo Prime Minister for life along with many other changes.

Whether it is all for good or bad, I don't really know.

ASSEMBLY OF CON MEN TO FURTHER CHEAT THE PEOPLE....CONGRESS SHOULD BE DISSOLVED,...ALL THEIR PORK BARREL SHOULD BE UTILIZED FOR,EDUCATION,INDUSTRIALIZATION,SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,and UPGRADE OF OUR MILITARY CAPABILITY...