Ask AI: give the brief summary of the 1899 Constitution of the philippines

The 1899 Constitution of the Philippines, also known as the Malolos Constitution, was the first constitution of the Philippines. It was drafted by a revolutionary congress, convened by Emilio Aguinaldo, during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The constitution was enacted on January 21, 1899, and established the First Philippine Republic, with Aguinaldo as its president. The Malolos Constitution was heavily influenced by the constitutions of Mexico, France, Belgium, and Costa Rica. It consisted of a preamble and 93 articles divided into 13 titles. Some of its main features were the establishment of a democratic, secular, and independent Philippines, with a separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Key provisions of the constitution included: 1. A unicameral National Assembly as the legislative body, with the power to make laws, approve treaties, and impeach government officials. 2. A strong executive branch headed by the President, elected for a term of four years and allowed to have one re-election. The President would have control over the administrative departments and would serve as the commander-in-chief of the military. 3. An independent judiciary, with the Supreme Court as the highest court of the land. 4. An extensive Bill of Rights, which guaranteed civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as protection of individual rights such as due process and property rights. 5. A provision for the establishment of local governments, which would act under the supervision of the central government. Although the 1899 Constitution was an important milestone in Philippine history and a source of national pride, it was short-lived, as the Philippine-American War began shortly after its enactment. The United States emerged victorious and subsequently established a military government that led to the replacement of the Malolos Constitution with the 1902 Philippine Organic Act, a law passed by the U.S. Congress to govern the Philippines.