Philippine Politics

and Governance

ILLUT, Manuel
ESCOTE, Ericka
LIEGO, Roliema
VELLEZAS, Ella Marie
 It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens
in the election of public officers.

• Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise

disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have
resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they
propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election.
1. A mere privilege- suffrage is not a natural right but merely
a privilege to be given or withheld by the law.

2. A political right- suffrage enables the citizens to

participate in the process of the government.
1. The Natural Right Theory: This theory claims that the right
to vote is a natural and inherited right to every citizen. The
state was created by the people deliberately and hence all
the people have a natural right to take part in the affairs of
the government.

2. The Legal Theory: According to this theory, suffrage

is not a natural right but a political right granted by
the law of the state. Voting is a public function.
3. The Ethical Theory: This theory considers the right to vote as a mean
of self-expression of the individual in political affairs. Suffrage
provides for the development of the human personality.

4. The Tribal Theory: According In early Greek and Roman States, suffrage
was only extended to the citizen class. Only people who were accorded
citizenship status could vote. Nowadays, citizenship is essential for
voting. This practice is based on the Tribal Theory.

5. The Feudal Theory: This theory claims that the right to vote depends
on a particular social status. The simplest form of
social status was ownership of land. Even now in some
states, the emphasis is on a property qualification.
This is a legacy of the old theory.
1. One Man, One Vote
2. Single Transferable Vote
3. Plural Voting
4. Open Ballot
5. Secret Ballot
1. One Man, One Vote: Under this provision, every other is entitled to one
and only one vote. The voter can cast his vote for any candidate.

2. Single Transferable Vote: In this system, which is designed for the

multi-member constituency, the voter possesses only one vote. But he
can make his priority like 1, 2, 3, etc., according to his requirement. If a
candidate fails to secure the majority, the voters polled for him will be re-
allocated to the second choice, and then the third option, until a clear
majority is obtained by the candidate.
Example: Election in India
3. Plural Voting: According to this system, several qualifications are
prescribed for the right to vote such as payment of property tax and
education. A person who owns a property or is a taxpayer or is educated
is eligible for a vote because he possesses all of this qualifications. At the
same time, a person who is educated, owns the property, and is a
taxpayer is entitled to three votes. A voter is entitled to one vote for every
qualification he possesses.
Example: Election in Belgium during early times

4. Open Ballot: Under this system, the voters raise their hands to support
the candidate.

5. Secret Ballot: In this system, the voter casts his vote for
a candidate without the knowledge of another person.
1. Election- means by which people choose their officials.
2. Plebiscite- is the vote of the people expressing their choice for or
against a proposed law submitted to them.
3. Referendum- is the submission of a law passed by a legislative body to
the people for their ratification or rejection.
4. Initiative- is a method in which people directly
propose and enact laws.
5. Recall- a method by which an elective local official may be removed
from office during his tenure.
 This is based on the assumption that based on a certain
age, human beings have the maturity, experience,
education and sense of judgement that will enable them to
vote with a reasonable degree of intelligence.
 This is to give reasonable period within which a person
can familiarize himself with the needs and condition and
the personalities of the nation and locality.
 Those who have been sentenced to suffer imprisonment for not less
than one year.

Those who committed any crime involving disloyalty to the

government such as rebellion and sedition.

Those declared as insane or incompetent person.

1. It is the means by which people choose their officials.
a. Suffrage
b. Election
c. One man, One vote
d. A mere privelege
2. These are the views on suffrage.
a. The Natural Right Theory and The Legal Theory
b. One man, One vote and Single Tranferrable vote.
c. A mere privelege and A political right
d. Election and Plebiscite
3. It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the
election of public officials.
a. Suffrage
b. Election
c. A political right
d. A mere privilege

4. Below are the theories on suffrage, EXCEPT:

a. The Natural Right Theory
b. The Legal Theory
c. The Ethical Theory
d. The Right Theory
5. Below are the types of votes, EXCEPT:
a. Secret Ballot
b. Open Ballot
c. Close Ballot
d. One man, One vote

6. Below are the scope of suffrage, EXCEPT:

a. Recall
b. Referendum
c. Initiative
d. Voting
7. “ Citizens who are at least 18 years of age are qualified to vote.” The
statement is:
a. True
b. False
c. Maybe
d. Sometimes true

8-9 Give two kins of person disqualified to vote.

10. Do you want to make a difference? Just yes or no.

1. B

2. C

3. A

4. D

5. C

6. D

7. A

8-9 Those who have been sentenced to suffer imprisonment for not less than one year.

Those who committed any crime involving disloyalty to the government such as rebellion and sedition.

Those declared as insane or incompetent person.

10. Bonus
ADD A FOOTER 18