Text of the provision
Art. 7. Laws are repealed only by subsequent ones, and their violation or non-observance shall not be excused by disuse, or custom or practice to the contrary.
When the courts declared a law to be inconsistent with the Constitution, the former shall be void and the latter shall govern.
Administrative or executive acts, orders and regulations shall be valid only when they are not contrary to the laws or the Constitution.
(5a)
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings. (LawPhil renders "declared" for "declare"; the two sources are otherwise word-identical and the provision is in force.)
What this article means
This article states the hierarchy of legal norms. A statute can only be repealed by another statute — never by mere disuse, custom, or practice; a law long ignored is still binding until Congress repeals it. Above statutes stands the Constitution: a law found inconsistent with the Constitution is void, and the Constitution governs. Below statutes stand administrative and executive issuances, which are valid only when they conform to the laws and the Constitution.
Questions about this provision
Related provisions
- Article 8 — judicial decisions form part of the legal system.
- Article 5 — acts against the law are void.
Cases citing this article
- Bayan Muna, as represented by Rep. Satur Ocampo, et al. vs. Alberto Romulo, in his capacity as Executive Secretary, et al, G.R. No. 159618, February 1, 2011 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Justo Q. Sinag, et al. vs. the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ng Batangas, G.R. No. 234228, February 25, 2025 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- People of the Philippines vs. Mark Paul Ildefonso, G.R. No. 249858, February 19, 2025 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Patrick Alex M. Hagedorn, et al. vs. Commission on Audit, G.R. No. 260458, June 4, 2024 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas Ng Bayan(Pdp-Laban) vs. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 225152, October 5, 2021 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Compiled automatically from Supreme Court decisions published on LawPhil that expressly cite this article, most frequently cited first. A listing means the decision cites the provision — it is not a statement that the case is the leading authority, and it does not show whether a ruling has since been modified or abandoned. Always read the decision itself.