Group 4.

PolSc14 THV-2

DeCastro.Ferraris.Franco.Panganiban.Tulud
September 6, 2012
The Electoral and Party System

Affect changes in the

representation, participation,

Introduction

Elections are such a key arena of

and even conflict management

Duvergers Law
1. Argues that certain

political action that many Filipinos

kinds of electoral

equate politics with electoral politics.

system tend to produce

- Resil Mojares. Historian.

Despite the central role of elections

certain types of party

systems that directly

in democratic governance,

impact on the structure

it is important to remember that

elections themselves are not

synonymous with democracy.

- United Nations Development Program

enforceable accountability.
- United Nations Development Program

o
o

(UNDP)
Elections are the paradigm of

(UNDP)
Three Main Functions
1. They are a means for people to
choose the members of a

Political Parties

Main vehicle for organizing groups

during elections
A mirror of the basic composition of
society

legislature and/or a single

occupant of an executive office

2.

such as the presidency.

They are a means of choosing

3.

governments.
They confer legitimacy on the

Electoral Administration

Electoral Management Bodies

o Public groups tasked with
o

political system.
Existing Structures and Key Players
1. The electoral system
2. Multiple government agencies

administering elections.
Powers to make rules,
regulations and determinations
(consistent with both the
constitution and electoral laws)

involved in the electoral

3.

of government.
Majoritarian Systems
1. Two-Round System
2. Alternative System
Proportional Representation
Mixed System

that are binding on all players

process
The electorate and organized

in the electoral process.

groups
The Philippine Electoral System
Elections and Electoral Systems

Elections
o Contested Term
o Play of powerful groups and
oligarchic politics
Electoral Systems
o Translates the votes into seats
won by parties and candidates.

The electoral system has set the

institutional frame for the development

of Philippine political parties

Anchor of the Electoral System lies in
the requirements set by the

Constitution
Philippine Electoral System is a mixed
system

Group 4.

PolSc14 THV-2

DeCastro.Ferraris.Franco.Panganiban.Tulud
September 6, 2012

Electoral Administration
o COMELEC

Separate agency of the

Shallow alliances among

parties,
Lack of clear-cut and stable

government
Has own permanent

policy decisions or positions on

bureaucracy
Civil Society
o Civil society = auxiliary
o

services
Working together with

COMELEC
Issues and Challenges Confronting
Elections
o Desynchronization
o Corruption and Campaign

issues,
Lack of accountability to the

public, and
Lack of accountability to their

fellow party mates

Attempts to set up political parties
representing the interests of the poor
majority of workers and peasants have

been suppressed
Consortium for Electoral Reform

Finance
Elitism and Personality

(CER), and the NAMFREL (National

Oriented Politics
Disenfranchisement

are campaigning for electoral reforms

Citizens Movement for Free Elections)

by limiting opportunities for cheating,
electoral reforms such as continuous

Innovations and Reform

Electoral Automation Law

The Party List Law and the Overseas

Absentee Voting Act

Continuing interest on the proposal for

registration, tamper-proof voters'

identification cards, and counting
machines that will significantly change
electoral behavior and, of necessity,

political party reform and campaign

finance

political parties
Other political reforms mandated by
the 1987 constitution and other laws
have also added pressure on political

Political Party Reform

Political parties capacity to carry out

their functions has changed over the

parties to change
Challenges
o Unifying the executive and

years such as:

o recruitment and fielding of

legislative branches through a

ruling party will force political

candidates for elective

o
o
o
o

positions,
issue structuring,
societal representation,
interest aggregation,
government formation and

stability, and
o social integration
Noted among Phil. political parties
are:
o

parties to take on a stronger

role, and develop greater
o

capability in policy-making.
If a shift to a parliamentary
system is accompanied by an
electoral system based on
proportional representation,
changes in electoral behavior

Lacking cohesion among party

mates,

will bring about even bigger

changes in political parties

Group 4.

PolSc14 THV-2

DeCastro.Ferraris.Franco.Panganiban.Tulud
September 6, 2012
treated as a fiesta-like event... It should
Elections and Democracy
o

Policy makers and electorate should

understand that elections are not to be

be seamlessly worked into the fabric of

our democracy...