Philippine Politics and Governance
2nd Semester Exam Reviewer
Politics- in general, it means organizing human activities.
 Politics is all around.
 Politics happens because of the need to make
decisions in the complex world we live in.
 According to Aristotle, “Man by nature is a political
animal”. If it is true, then politics is not only
common in our lives – it is unavoidable.
 Politics was inseparable from life in the “Polis” or
place or state shared by certain group of people.
Elements of Politics:
 Power
 Rule
 Authority
 Influence
Governance- it refers to the way in which something is
governed to meet objectives such as protecting its people,
and acting in the country’s best interest.
State is a group of people living in a definite territory,
having a government of their own and enjoying their own
independence.
Elements of State
1.People – a mass of population or community of people
living within the territorial jurisdiction of state.
2. Territory- The space within which the government
exercise its supreme authority.
3. Government- agency through which the will of the state
are formulated, expressed carried out.
4. Sovereignty– the supreme power of the state to enforce
its will upon its citizen through laws. It also means
independence from the control of other states. It has two
aspects:
a. internal sovereignty- w/c means complete
authority to rule over the people inside the state
b. external sovereignty (often referred as
independence) – which means independence from
outside or foreign control.
Nation - any large group of people who are united by
common bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, or
religion.
State v Nation
State is a political concept while nation is an ethnic concept.
- Nation and state are two different but interlinked
concepts. Different in the sense that the nation is a
more cultural and identity-based term, whle state
mainly refers to a political entity bounded by
territory and headed by a government.
Modes of Acquiring a Territory
1. Discovery and Occupation- a state may acquire a
territory by discovering a continent, an island or
land with no inhabitants or occupied by uncivilized
inhabitants and thereafter, occupying it, by placing
it under its political administration.
2. Prescription- it is a mode of acquiring territory
through continuous and undisputed exercise of
sovereignty over it during such period as it is
necessary to create under the general conviction
that the present condition of things is in
conformity with international order.
3. Cession – it is the assignment, transfer or yielding
up of territory by one state or government to
another. It may be in a form of sale or donation.
4. Subjugation and annexation- it is a mode of
acquiring territory belonging to a state in the
course of war and by annexation at the end of the
war.
5. Accretion- mode of acquiring territory by addition
of portions of soil, either artificial or by gradual
disposition through the operation of natural causes.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO
ARISTOTLE
1. Monarchy (ruled by one person)
- where one person exercises sovereignty. It
is the form of government in which the
supreme and final authority is in the hands
of a single person.
2. Aristocracy- ( ruled by a few persons)
- where political power is exercised by a
privilege class known as the elite or
oligarchs.
3. Democracy ( ruled by many)
- is one in which supreme power is vested to the
people . It is classified into two:
a. direct democracy ( pure democracy)- is where
people directly govern themselves
b. indirect democracy (representative democracy)
– is where people elect representatives to act in
their behalf.
Demo – people / Kratos – power
Political Science- is a branch of social science that deals
with the key issue and concept in politics and state.
Nicco Machiavelli – is widely accepted as the father of
modern political science because of his discussion on
maintaining power in his book “The prince” and
“Discourses.”
Subfields of Political Science
1. National Politics - deals with the study of the
structure of the government, its branches, the
political system of the state, public opinon and
elections.
2. Comparative Politics – studies or compering
various political systems and defferent
constitutions among different countries.
3. International Relations – political cooperation
among states, diplomatic relationships,
international organizations and laws. Miaintenaing
relations among coutries.
4. Political Theory – defines what is good and what
is bad government.
Example: Machiavelli
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Philippine Politics and Governance
2nd Semester Exam Reviewer
5. Constitutional Law – studies the balance between
the powers of the government and the rights of the
people.
6. Public Policy – focuses on the programs of the
state to benefit the economy and the state as a
whole.
Political Science is a social science.
Social science is the study of society and the manner in
which people behave and influence the world around us.
The following are the Major branches of Social Science:
Psychology studies emotional and cognitive impacts of
environments and relationships, and the reactions of human
systems to emotional and cognitive changes.
Sociology – how we become members of groups, move
between groups, and how being in different groups affects
individuals and the groups in which they participate.
Political Science – how we identify ourselves as citizens of
a particular nation, how we participate in our political
structure, how it affects us, what motivates us to affiliate
ourselves with certain points of view or parties.
Anthropology deals with of what it means to be human,
through the understanding of modern cultures across the
globe, the cultures of the past, languages, the human body,
and our evolutionary history.
History – the interpretation of the past, how it affects our
views of the present, understanding trends or the lack
thereof in the past.
Economics – refers to the scientific study of human action,
particularly as it relates to human choice and the utilization
of scarce resources.
Political Phenomenon- any occurrence, events, or facts
relating to politics.
Ideology - refers to a system of beliefs about how society
should function, behave, and operate
Political Ideology is a set of related beliefs about political
theory and policy held by an individual, group of individuals
or a particular social class.
Major Political Ideologies
1. Anarchism - The belief that the best government is
absolutely no government. This ideology argues
that everything about governments is repressive
and therefore must be abolished entirely.
2. Absolutism - The belief that a single ruler should
have control over every aspect of the government
and of the people’s lives.
3. Liberalism - A set of political beliefs emphasizing
individual rights and liberties
4. Conservatism - A set of political beliefs based on
preservation of customs and traditions that define
the character of a society
5. Socialism - A set of political beliefs emphasizing
community and social equality
6. Marxism-the political and economic theories of
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed
by their followers to form the basis for the theory
and practice of communism.
Political Power is:
 The ability to shape and control the political
behavior of others and to lead and guide their
behavior in the direction desired by the person,
group, or institution exercising the political power.
 The capacity to influence, condition, mold, and
control human behavior for the accomplishment of
political objectives.
Major Forms of Political Power
1. Political Authority - is governmental power. It is the
legally established power of the government to make rules
and issue commands and to compel obedience to them,
making use of physical force and coercion when deemed
necessary. Political authority in short, is the legal right--the
legally established power--to govern society.
2. Political Influence - is the ability of private individuals
and groups to impact on the government's making and
implementation of official policy decisions. It is a form of
political power exercised by those who do not possess the
formal-legal authority, but have and utilize the ability to
condition, modify, and control the official decision-making
behavior of those in government office who do possess the
authority to make and implement the decisions.
Forms of Government
The form of government is essentially determined by the
number of rulers, the way power is exercised by these
rulers and the Ideologies that guide the government.
Monarchy – a counrty ruled by a king and hereditary.
Ex. Kingdom of England , Vatican City State, Brunei,
Soudi Arabia
Republic – ruled by a president chosen by the people
though election.
Ex. The Philippines is a Democratic and Republican State.
Sovereignty resides in the people and all government
authority emanates from them.
Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uganda
Autocracy – in autocracy, power is held by a single, self-
appointed ruler, its absolute form being the dictatorship.
Ex. Saudi Aribia, United Arab Emirates, Brunei
Democracy - power resides with the people as they have
the ability to select there leader and directly or indirectly
imvolve in politics and governance.
Ex. Philippines, Mexico, Republic of Ireland, USA
Unitatry state – Unitary state has a central government
holding power with the capability to delegate or take back
authority and fuction to and from lower levels or offices.
See Unitary State..
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Philippine Politics and Governance
2nd Semester Exam Reviewer
Federal state – federal states has a central government posterity the blessings of independence and democracy,
with the main fuction of uniting several self-governing under the rule of law, and a regime of truth, justice,
states or regions. The central government in a federal state freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
cannot duly interfere or immidietely alter the law of the promulgate this Constitution.”
member states.
Ex, USA – 50 States, Autralia – 9 States, Germany – 16 Articles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
States, United Arab Elirates – 7 Emirates, Brazil – 26
States Article I National Territory
Article II Declaration of Principles and State Policies
Theocracy is also another form of government that is Article III Bill of Rights
composed of the joint rule of the church and the state or the Article IV Citizenship
domination of the state by the church. Article V Suffrage
Ex. Vatican City, Iran Article VI Legislative Department
Article VII Executive Department
Form of government Leader Characteristics Article VIII Judicial Department
Article IX Constitutional Commissions
The church and
Theocracy Religious leader Article X Local Government
the states go
Article XI Accountability of Public Officers
hand and hand
Article XII National Economy and Patrimony
The people have Article XIII Social Justice and Human Rights
Republic Representative the rights to vote Article XIV Education, Science and Technology, Arts,
and decide for Culture and Sports
the welfare of the Article XV The Family
states Article XVI General Provisions
Article XVII Amendments or Revisions
Monarchy One leader The king has Article XVIII Transitory Provisions
authority over all
his constituents
Article I: National Territory
Revolutionary Military A type of
government that Section 1. The national territory comprises the Philippine
rulesd tru the use archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced
of arms therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines
has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial,
Democracy The People A group of people fluvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the
or an individual seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other
represents the submarine areas. The waters around, between and
people in the connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their
government breath and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of
the Philippines.
Decision-making
and ruling onli
Aristocracy A Group of People Article II: Declarations of Principles and State Policies
belong to a
Basic Principles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
certain group of
1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican
people
state. Sovereignty and government authority
belong to the people. ART II SEC 1
CONSTITUTION
 heart of the nation 2. The Philippines renounces war as an element of
 foundation of the government national policy ART II SEC 2
 blueprint of the government
3. Civilian authority is all times supreme over the
 fundamental law of the land military. ART II SEC 3
 highest law of the land
 basic law of the land 4. The prime duty of the government is to serve and
protect the people. ART II SEC 4
Constitution is a written instrument enacted by direct
action of the people by which the fundamental powers of 5. The separation of church and state shall be at all
the government are established, limited and defined, and by times be upheld. ART II SEC 6
which those powers are distributed among the several
departments for their safe and useful exercise for the 6. The government shall provide social justice. ART II
benefit of the body politic. SEC 10

The Republic of the Philippines is using the 1987 Philippine Article III: Bill of Rights
Constitution also known as the Freedom Constitution.
Basic rights that are recognized and protected by the
Preamble – introduction to the constitution Constitution:

“We, the sovereign Filipino,people, imploring the aid of 1. Right to due process of law (Art III Sec 1)
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society 2. Right against unreasonable search and seizure (Art
and establish a government that shall embody our ideals III Sec 2)
and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and 3. Right to privacy of communication and
develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
correspondence (Art III Sec 3)
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Philippine Politics and Governance
2nd Semester Exam Reviewer
4. Right to travel and Liberty of abode (Art III Sec 6) Article XII: National Economy and Patrimony
5. Right to Assembly and Petition/ Right to form  Distribution of income, wealth and opportunities
association (Art III Sec 8)  Economy of the nation
 Sustainable development
Article IV: Citizenship  Industrialization and full employment
It encapsulates the provisions that will answer the question:
 Agricultural Development
Who are the citizens of the Philippines?
 Agrarian Reform
Article V: Suffrage  Natural Resources
Right to vote/Election
Article XII: Social Justice and Human Rights
Article VI: Legislative Department  Human dignity
Philippine Congress is bicameral legislature which consists  Reduce social, economic, and political inequalities
of :  Remove cultural inequities
Upper house: Senate
 Social Justice – commitment to create economic
Lower house: House of Representatives
opportunities based on freedom of initiative and
Article VII: Executive Department self-reliance
President of the Philippines (qualifications, manner of
voting, term of office, powers and limitations) Article XIV: Education, Science and Technology, Arts,
Culture and Sports

Article VIII: Judicial Department  Quality education

1. The Supreme Court  System of education
 The study of constitution shall be part of the
2. Intermediate Appellate Court (Court of Appeals)
curricula of all educational institutions
3. Regional Trial Court (RTC)  Language: Filipino is the official language
 Research and Development
4. Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Municipal Circuit Trial  Invention
Court  Innovation
 Preservation of arts and culture
In addition to these regular courts, there are two special
courts, namely:  Physical education
 Sports Program
1. Court of Tax Appeals  League competitions
 Amateur sports
2. Sandiganbayan  Regular sports activities in all educational
The Constitution also provides for two special legal bodies, institutions
namely:
Article XV: The Family
1. Judicial and Bar Council  Family is the foundation of the nation
 Marriage
2. Ombudsman (Tanodbayan)  Family Rights and Duties

Article XVI: General Provision

Article IX: Constitutional Commissions  Flag
1. Commission on Elections  Name of the country
2. Commission on Audit  National anthem
3. Civil Service Commission  National seal
 Armed Forces of the Philippines
Article X: Local Government
 The State may not be sued without its consent
Political Subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines:  Ownership of mass media is limited to citizens of
1. Provinces the Philippines
2. Cities
3. Municipalities Article XVII: Amendments or Revisions
4. Barangays -Changing the constitution.
Article XVIII: Transitory Provisions:
*** Autonomous Regions: ARMM and CAR
- Provision about the first election of Philippine congress/
first local election
Article XI: Accountability of Public Officers -Provisions about the revolutionary powers, legislative
power of President (Cory Aquino)
 Impeachment
 Sandiganbayan – anti-graft court Ignorantia Legis Neminem Excusat
 Ombudsman/Tanodbayan – investigates on its own “Ignorace of the law excuses no one”
any act or omission of any public official, employee,
office or agency.