MIDTERM NOTES COVERAGE

Lesson 1 Concept of Politics and Governance

Politics is the science of Government, the making of collective decisions and the allocations of
scarce resources.

Politics is the understanding of basic knowledge of the state and the principles and ideals
which underlie its organization and activities.

Political Science- is defined as the systematic study of political and governmental institutions
and processes. It is a discipline that seeks to understand the relationship between individual
and political institutions.

Political Institutions is a collection of relevant rules and routines that determine appropriate
actions regarding relations between roles and situations involving the determination of what
situation is, what role is being fulfilled and what obligation is entitled therein.

Stages in the study of Political Science

1. Religious stage- the government in its creation, its leaders and laws was
considered divine.
2. Metaphysical Stage- the state was considered as a human institution and it is
therefore absolute.
3. Modern Stage- the state was deemed capable of being improved by rulers and
subjects according to certain principles and laws.

Approaches to Politics

 Politics is an arena or location.

 Politics is the process of political behaviour the science of running a political
institution.

Governance- was defined as the process of decision-making and the process by which
decisions are implemented.

Good Governance- refers to the assurance that corruption is minimized, the views of the
minority are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in the society are
heard.

Characteristics of Good Governance

 Rule of Law- manifested through the impartiality of fair legal framework such as the
protection of human rights and dignity.
  Transparency- decisions were taken and enforcement is done in a manner that follows
rules and regulation. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is
provided in easily understandable forms and media.
 Responsiveness- good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve
all stakeholders within a reasonable time frame.
 Consensus-oriented- good governance requires mediation of the different interest in
society to reach a broad consensus on what is best interest of the whole community and
how this can be achieved.
 Effectiveness and Efficiency- good governance means that process and institutions
produce better results that meet the needs of the whole community or the state while
making the best use of resources at their disposal.
 Accountability- refers to the underlying responsibility of any governmental institutions
and stakeholders.

Lesson 2 Political ideologies

Ideologies are the sets of basic beliefs about the political, economic, social and cultural
affairs held by the majority of people within as society.
Absolutism- is the system where the rulers have unlimited control.
Anarchism- refers to the society without government, laws, police or other authority. It is a
system of self-control.
Autocracy- refers to the Supreme political power is in the hands of one person whose
decision are unregulated.
Aristocracy- The privilege of social class whose members possess disproportionately
large percentage of society's wealth, prestige and political influence.
Capitalism- refers to the Right-wing political system where the principle means of
production and distribution are in private hands.
Communism- refers to the Extreme left-wing ideology based on the revolutionary socialist
teachings of Marx. Each should work to their capability and receive according to their
needs.
Democracy- refers to the Government by the people usually through elected
representatives.
Dictatorship- refers to the Government by a single person with absolute control over the
resources of the state.
Egalitarianism- refers to the Belief where all citizens have equal rights and privileges.
Fascism- refers to the Extreme right-wing ideology where the existing social order is
protected by the forcible suppression of the working class.
Imperialism is the extension of power and rule beyond established geographical
boundaries.
Liberalism- refers to the Representative Government, free-speech, abolition of class
privilege and state protection of the individual.
Marxism- refers to the idea Developed by Marx and Engles, it proposes that all is subject
to change and resistance to change necessitates the overthrow of the system through class
struggle.
Maoism refers to the Interpretation of Marxist communism emphasizing the development of
agriculture.
Monarchy- refers to a form of rule in which the head of state is a King or Queen.
Nationalism refers to The unification of the state and release from foreign rule.
Oligarchy- is a system of government in which virtually all power is held a small number of
wealthy people who shape policy to benefit themselves.
Populism is a Collective noun for the ideologies which demand the redistribution of
political power and economic leadership to the 'common people'.
Socialism - Left-wing political system where the principle means of production, distribution
and exchange are in common ownership.
Theocracy- refers to the Rule by the church.
Totalitarianism- refers to the Government control of all activities.
Trotskyism- refers to the Form of Marxism incorporating the concept of permanent
revolution.
THE LEFT
Liberty - refers to the freedom of speech and the right to dissent.
Equality is a classless society with the redistribution of wealth through a welfare state.
Fraternity is the communal brotherhood, working and living as one.
THE RIGHT
Authority is the preservation of order through an evolved authority.
Hierarchy is the continuation of the existing social order.
Property is the right to private ownership.

Liberalism (the left)

The term liberalism derived from the Latin word “ liber” which means “ free men “ in short, Men
who were neither serfs nor slaves. A view that sees more need for change and improvement in
social relations requiring governmental involvement ( Schrems, 2011 ) and that society must be
free, if it is possible, free from govermment intervention ( Moten and Islam, 2011 )

Set of values and beliefs of liberalism (Heywood, 2012)

 Individualism. it is the belief in the supreme importance of the individual over any
social group or collective body.
 Freedom. The ability to think or act as one wishes, a capacity that can be associated
with the individual, a social group or nation
 Reason. The power of reason gives human beings the capacity to take charge of their
own lives and fashion their own destinies
 Justice. It is a moral standard of fairness and impartiality. It is as well denotes giving
what is due to each person
  Toleration. It is forbearance. Willingness to accept views or action which one is in
disagreement.

Conservatism

It is derived from the term conservation. It is a political philosophy that tends to support the
status quo and advocates change only in moderation upholding the value of tradition and seeks
to preserve all that is good about the past.

Socialism

The term socialism derived from the latin word “socialist” social meaning to combine or to share.
Socialism is an economic and political doctrine advocating governmental ownership and
direction of production and services but which would retain existing institutions as the means of
regulating them.

Social Democracy
It is a moderate or reformist brand of socialism that favours a balance between the market and
the state rather than the abolition of capitalism. It is an ideological stance that supports a full
balance between market capitalism, on the one hand, and state intervention, on the other side.

Communism

It is an economic, social, and political system seeking a government ownership of the means
production and services directed by a process of scientific administration and universal assent.
It is characterized by by collective ownership and a planned economy.

Fascism

It is derived from fasces, an Italian word, which means a bundle of rods with an axe-blade
protruding that signified the authority of magistrates in Imperial Rome.

Religious Fundamentalism

Religious Fundamentalism is an unusual political ideology. The word fundamentalism is taken

from the latin word fundamental meaning base. It is associated with inflexibility, dogmatism,
authoritarianism, or worst violence.

Feminism

Feminism is, derive from a latin word Femina meaning women or female, concerned with the
attainment of gender equality in the political, economic and social spheres of life. Its primary
focus is the position of women in the society.

Environmentalism
It is an ideology focusing on the idea that environment is endangered and must be preserved
through regulation and lifestyle changes.

Lesson 3: The Concept of Power

Power and Authority

Power The personal capacity of an individual to influence others to do or not to do an act. It is

independent and informal in nature derived from charisma and status. It is an acquired
ability that comes from knowledge and expertise. It is the right to control other’s actions,
decisions and performances

Authority Legal and formal right to a person, who can take decisions, give orders and
commands to others to perform a particular task. It is conferred to high officials, to
accomplish organisation’s objectives. It is hierarchical in nature; it flows downward, i.e.
delegated from superior to the subordinate.

Sources of Power

1. Organizational Power. Is a power derived from a person’s position in an organization and

from control over valuable resources afforded by that position?.
 Reward power. Arises from the ability of a person to influence the allocation of
incentives in an organization
 Coercive power. Derived from a person's ability to influence others via threats,
punishments or sanctions. A junior staff member may work late to meet a deadline
to avoid disciplinary action from his boss.
 Legitimate power. Also known as positional power. It's derived from the position a
person holds in an organization's hierarchy. Job descriptions, for example, require
junior workers to report to managers and give managers the power to assign duties
to their juniors.
 Information power. The leader has the access to and control of information. This
could be granted to specialist and managers in the middle of the information
system. The people may protect information in order to increase power.
 Process power. The leader has full control over the methods of production and
analysis. Thereby, placing an individual in the position of influencing how inputs are
transformed in outputs as well as managing the analytical process used to make
choice
 Representative power. The legal right conferred to speak by the firm as a
representative of a potentially significant group.
2. Individual Power or personal power. is a power derived from personal characteristics that
are of value to organization
  Expert power. The ability to control another person’s behaviour through possession
of knowledge, experience, or judgement that the other person needs but do not
have
 Rational persuasion. The ability to control another person’s behaviour by convincing
the other person of the desirability of a goal and reasonable way of achieving it.
 Referent power. The ability to control another’s behaviour because the person wants
to identify with the power source.

Types of Authority

1. Charismatic Authority. It is an influence possessed by person by virtue of their personal

magnetism.

2. Rational-Legal Authority. It is a leadership based on established law.

3. Traditional Authority. The leadership is based from the culture that is people often give
allegiance to
the one who occupy the institutional positions.
4. Coercive Authority. The power to use force such as police or military force to demand
obedience
from the subordinate.

Lesson 4 States, Nations, and Globalization

Elements of the State

1. People. Also known as population or inhabitants

2. Territory. Refers to the portion of the earth which composed of aerial, fluvial, and terrestrial
domains.
 Territorial Sea- Coastal states have sovereignty,
including, including excluding fishing
rights.
 Contiguous Zone- Coastal state can enforce its
customs, immigration, and sanitation laws and
exercise “hot pursuit’ out of its territorial waters.
 Exclusive Economic Zone- State has recognized
rights to explore, exploit, conserve and
manage the natural resources.
 Continental Shelf – Countries have exclusive rights to natural resources up to 350 nm.
  Sovereignty – Refers to supreme and absolute power within its territorial boundaries.

3. Sovereignty. Refers to supreme and absolute power within its territorial boundaries
 Internal Sovereignty. The power of the state to rule within its territory
 External Sovereignty. The freedom of the state to carry out its activities without
subjection to or control by other states.
4. Government. Refers to the institution or agency or instrumentalities through which the state
maintains social order, provide public services, and enforces binding decisions.
Forms of Government
1. Distribution of power.

a. Unitary Government power. Held by one central authority

b. Confederation. Voluntary association of independent states that often only delegate a
few powers to the central government.
c. Federal Government power. Divided between on central and several regional
authorities.
2. Citizen Participation
a. Autocracy. A system of government by one person with absolute power.
b. Oligarchy. A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution
c. Democracy. A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members
of a state, typically through elected representatives
3. Legitimacy
 a. De jure. Is one which has been created in respect of constitutional law and is in all ways
legitimate
b. De facto. Is one which has seized power by force or in any other unconstitutional method
and governs in spite of the existence.
4. Executive and Legislative Relationship.
a. Presidential. Form of government in which executive branch exists separately from the
legislature.
b. Parliamentary. A system of government having the real executive power vested in a
cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively
responsible to the legislature

State and Nation

Origins of the State.

1. Evolution Theory. This theory is formed on the principle that the state was an evolution of
the family, becoming more and more complex as the family grew.
2. The Force Theory. This theory is based upon the idea that a government arose when the
people of an area were brought under the authority of one person or group.
3. The Divine Right Theory. This theory is based on the notion that a god or multiple gods
chose certain people to rule a civilization or group of people.
4. Social Contract Theory. This theory was created in the 1600s when the Europeans
challenged sovereign rulers. Those people were backed up by philosophers that
believed the origin of the state was in a social contract.

Lesson 5 Historical Development of the Philippine Politics

The Political history of the Philippines

1. The pre- Spanish government

The early Filipinos had a government which they called “balangay.” The head or the
leader was called datu or rajah who was assisted by the elders in the community. All the
powers of the government were exercised by the datu or rajah. He was the chief
executive, law giver, chief judge, and the military head.
Three Social Classes:
 Maharlika (Nobles)
 Alipin (Slaves)
 Datu (Upper classes)
2. Government in the Philippines in the Spanish Rule
The Philippines was governed indirectly by the king of Spain through the viceroy of
mexico. When Mexico, also a former colony of spain gained her freedom in 1821, the
Philippines was ruled directly by Spain until 1898.

The government established in the Philippines was centralized. The national

government headed by the Governor-General, who was appointed by the king of Spain.
In theory, he was the highest governmental official in the country, in practice though
frailocracy “rule of the friars” existed thus overpowering the Governor-General.

Alcaldia(Provinces) is headed by an Alcalde- Mayor( Governor). The Pueblos( Towns)

headed by a Gobernadorcillo( Mayor) and the barangays which were led by the Cabeza
de Barangay(Barangay Captain).

3. The government during the American Regime

The Americans started the military rule in the Philippines on August 14, 1898. The
president of the United States delegated his authority to the military governor who
exercised all powers of the government executive, legislative and judiciary. The Spooner
Amendment ended the military regime in the Philippines. It was changed into civil
government headed by a Civil Governor on July 4, 1901. The title was later changed to
Governor-General on February 6, 1905.
The Philippine Commission was the sole law-making body of the government. Eventually
this became the upper house of the legislative department of the Philippine Assembly as
the lower chamber. The Jones law of 1916 which became the fundamental law for the
 Philippines vested the legislative power in an all- Filipino law-making body composed of
the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives.
4. The Commonwealth
The Tydings-Mcduffie Law in 1934 established the commonwealth Government. It was a
form of government in transition towards independence. It provided for a ten- year
transition period after which the Philippine Independence would be proclaimed and
established. The first president of the Commonwealth government was Manuel L.
Quezon and his Vice- President was Serge Osmena.

5. The government under the Japanese Occupation

The Japanese military administration was established in Manila on January 3. 1942. A
civil government which was called the Philippine Executive Commission was established
with Jorge Vargas as Chairman. On October 1943, the Japanese sponsored Philippine
Republic with Jose P. Laurel as President. It was a Puppet Government as the ultimate
source was coming from the Japanese Administration.

The Philippine Presidents

1. Emilio Aguinaldo (1898-1901)

The first president of the Philippines, he led the Filipinos in fighting against the
Spaniards and the Americans.
2. Manuel L. Quezon(1935-1944)
The first senate president elected as President of the Philippines, he was first elected in
a national election. He made tagalog/ Filipino the national language of the Philippines.
3. Jose P. Laurel(1943-1945)
He was the President of the Japanese- Sponsored government during the Japanese
Occupation in World War II.
4. Sergio Osmeña(1944-1946)
He was the oldest president at 65 to hold office. He rehabilitated the Philippine National
Bank, and the Philippines joined the International Monetary Fund.
5. Manuel A. Roxas(1946-1948)
The first president of the Third Republic and during his administration the Philippines
stared reconstructing war damages. A military assistance pact was signed in 1947
granting the United States a 99-year lease on designated military bases in the
Philippines.
6. Elpidio Quirino(1948-1953)
Vice President Quirino ascended to the Presidency when Roxas died in 1948. He ran for
President in his own right in 1949 winning a four-year term. He served as the 2nd
president of the Third Republic. He was noted as two objectives of his administration
were Economic Reconstruction and restoration of People’s trust.
7. Ramon Magsaysay(1953-1957)
Ramon Magsaysay succeeded Quirino but was not able to finish his term as he died in a
plane crash on March 17, 1957. He was immensely popular with the ordinary people.
8. Carlos P. Garcia(1957-1961)
 Carlos P. Garcia, 4th President of the Third Republic, was known for his “Filipino First
Policy.” He also implemented cultural revival and Economic nationalism.
9. Diosdado Macapagal(1961-1965)
His administration was known for its socio-economic programs, the abolition of tenancy
and the establishment of land bank. He sought closer relations with the neighboring
Asian Countries. He changed the celebration of Independence Day from July 4 to June
12.
10. Ferdinand Marcos(1965-1986)
Ferdinand M. Marcos became the President in 1965 and was reelected in 1969. Marcos
declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972, by proclamation No.1081. Marcos by
virtue of Presidential decrees curtailed press freedom, closed down congress and media
establishments. Opposition leaders and militant activists were arrested including his
critic Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
11. Corazon Aquino, (1986-1992)
Corazon Aquino succeeded Marcos and became the first woman president. Aquino
lacked Political experience, but she survived seven coup attempts. She was responsible
for the restoration of democratic processes and institutions in the Philippines. The
members of the Philippine Senate in 1991 rejected the treaty that would have allowed a
10-year extension of the US Military bases in the Philippines.
12. Fidel V. Ramos(1992-1998)
Fidel V. Ramos became the President in 1992 and declared national reconciliation. He
was known for his program “Philippines 2000” where he attempted to make the
Philippines a “tiger Economy” of Asia. During his administration capital punishment was
re-imposed.
13. Joseph Estrada(1998-2001)
A famous movie actor became the president by a landslide victory in 1998. His election
campaign “Erap para sa Mahirap” won him the votes of the masses. He was removed
from office though on Jan. 20, 2001, by Edsa Revolution 2.
14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo(2001-2009)
Daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, she had this vision which she
called “sugpuin ang kahirapan.” Her nine-year administration was marred with issues like
cheating in the Presidential Election, poverty, expanded E-VAT, fertilizer scam, jueteng,
and zte scandal.
15. Benigno Aquino III, (2010-2016)
Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, the son of former President Cory Aquino and National Hero
Ninoy Aquino ascended to the Office of the Presidency in 2010 elections.
16. Rodrigo Roa Duterte(2016-2022)
Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte, also known as Digong, is a Filipino politician and lawyer
who is the 16th and current President of the Philippines. He is the first Mindanaoan to
hold the office, and the fourth of Visayan descent.
 Lesson 6 Legislative Department

SECTION 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which
shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the
people by the provision on initiative and referendum.

SECTION 2. The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four senators.

SECTION 3. No person shall be a Senator unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines,

and, on the day of the election, is at least thirty-five years of age, able to read and write, a
registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately
preceding the day of the election.

SECTION 4. The term of office of the Senators shall be six years and shall commence, unless
otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election.
No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office
for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service
for the full term for which he was elected.

SECTION 5.

(1) The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty
members.

(2) The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of
representatives including those under the party list.

 District Representatives
 Party-List Representatives

SECTION 6. No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a

natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five
years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list representatives, a registered
voter in the district in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less
than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
SECTION 7. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three
years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June
next following their election.

No member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms.

SECTION 11. A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses
punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the
Congress is in session. No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for
any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.

SECTION 12. All Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall, upon
assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests. They shall
notify the House concerned of a potential conflict of interest that may arise from the filing of a
proposed legislation of which they are authors.

SECTION 13. No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other
office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof,
including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, during his term
without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have been
created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which he was elected.

SECTION 15. The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its
regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be in session for
such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the opening of its next regular
session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The President may call a special
session at any time.

SECTION 16. (1) The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its
Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members.

(2) A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number
may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent Members in such
manner, and under such penalties, as such House may provide.

(3) Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly
behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a
Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.

(4) Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same,
excepting such parts as may, in its judgment, affect national security; and the yeas and nays on
any question shall, at the request of one-fifth of the Members present, be entered in the Journal.

SECTION 17. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral
Tribunal which shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and
qualifications of their respective Members.
SECTION 18. There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the
Senate, as ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve Members of the House of
Representatives.

SECTION 21. The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees
may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of
procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.

SECTION 26. (2) No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three
readings on separate days, and printed copies thereof in its final form have been distributed to
its Members three days before its passage, except when the President certifies to the necessity
of its immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency.

SECTION 27. (1) Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be
presented to the President. If he approves the same, he shall sign it; otherwise, he shall veto it
and return the same with his objections to the House where it originated, which shall enter the
objections at large in its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-
thirds of all the Members of such House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together
with the objections, to the other House by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
approved by two-thirds of all the Members of that House, it shall become a law.

LESSON 7 THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.

Section 2. No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the

Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of
the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such
election.

Section 3. There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and term of
office and be elected with, and in the same manner, as the President. He may be removed from
office in the same manner as the President.

Section 4. The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for
a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day
of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter. The President shall
not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served
as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.

Section 8. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the
President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term. In case
of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the President and
Vice-President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, shall then act as President until the President or Vice-President shall have
been elected and qualified.

Section 9. Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice-President during the term for
which he was elected, the President shall nominate a Vice-President from among the Members
of the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall assume office upon confirmation by
a majority vote of all the Members of both Houses of the Congress, voting separately.

SECTION 10. The congress shall… after the vacancy in the offices of the President and VP
occurs, convene … and enact a law calling for a special election to elect a President and VP.

Section 13. The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or
assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or
employment during their tenure. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly, practice
any other profession, participate in any business, or be financially interested in any contract
with, or in any franchise, or special privilege granted by the Government or any subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or
their subsidiaries. They shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their office.

Section 16. The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain,
and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this Constitution. He shall also
appoint all other officers of the Government whose appointments are not otherwise provided for
by law, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint. The Congress may, by law,
vest the appointment of other officers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the
heads of departments, agencies, commissions, or boards.

Appointments refer to the act of designation by the executive officer of the individual who is to
exercise the functions of a given office.

Section 17. The President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and
offices. He shall ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.

Control Power- President may alter or modify or set aside actions of subordinate officers. He
also has the authority to supervise, investigate, suspend, or remove erring officers.

Section 18. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the
Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent
or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the
public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of
the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law

The Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the
sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or the extension thereof, and must promulgate its decision
thereon within thirty days from its filing.
Section 19. Except in cases of impeachment, or as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the
President may grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures,
after conviction by final judgment.

1. Reprieve- is the postponement of the execution of a death sentence.

2. Commutation- is reduction of the sentence imposed for a lesser punishment
3. Pardon-is an act grace which exempts the individual from the punishment of the law
inflicts for a crime he has committed.
4. Remission- is a condonation of the financial obligation and the return of properties
confiscated by a reason of the commission of the offense and conviction of the offender.
5. Amnesty- is an act of a sovereign power granting a general pardon for a past offense
usually granted in favour of a certain class of persons which have committed a crime of
political character.

Section 20. The President may contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the Republic of
the Philippines with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board, and subject to such limitations
as may be provided by law. The Monetary Board shall, within thirty days from the end of every
quarter of the calendar year, submit to the Congress a complete report of its decision on
applications for loans to be contracted or guaranteed by the Government or government-owned
and controlled corporations which would have the effect of increasing the foreign debt, and
containing other matters as may be provided by law.

Section 21. No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in
by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.

Section 22. The President shall submit to the Congress, within thirty days from the opening of
every regular session as the basis of the general appropriations bill, a budget of expenditures
and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.

Section 23. The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He
may also appear before it at any other time.

Lesson 8 the Judicial Department

SECTION 1

Judicial Power will be vested in the Supreme Court and all lower courts.

 Supreme Court – is the highest court in the land. The final arbiter of controversities and
disputes brought about by the parties to the courts of Law.
 Judicial Power- the power to apply the laws to contests or disputes concerning legally
recognised rights and duties between the state and private persons, or to individual
litigants in cases properly brought before judicial tribunals

Scope of Judicial Power

Adjudicating power- the power to settle legal disputes

Power of Judicial Review- refers to the power of the Supreme Court to interpret and make
judgment with respect to the law.

Incidental Powers- refers to powers necessary for the discharge of the judicial function.

Three Kinds of Supreme Court in the Country

Supreme Court- It is the highest court of the Land.

Regular Court- refers to Appellate Court, Regional Trial Court, etc.

Quasi-Judicial Bodies- NLRC, SEC, etc.

The Supreme Court is consisting of:

 Chief Justice
 Fourteen Associate Justices
A. Justices of the Supreme court
 Must be a natural born citizen
 At least 40 years old
 15 years or more as a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice law
in the Philippines.
 Must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and
independence.
B. Judges of the lower courts
 A citizen of the Philippines
 A member of the Philippine Bar
 Must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and
independence.

Powers of the Supreme Court

1. Certiorari- individual action; a writ issued by a superior court requiring a lower court or
board of officer exercising judicial function to transmit the records of a case to the higher
tribunal for purposes of review.
2. Prohibition- Written order by which a superior court commands a lower court or a
corporation, board, or per a person to desist from further proceedings in action or matter.
3. Mandamus- an order issued by a high court commanding a lower court or a corporation
board, or a person to perform a certain act, which is its duty to do. It orders a compliance
or performance of an act.
4. Quo Warranto- an action by the government to recover an office or franchise from an
individual or corporation usurping or unlawfully holding it.
 FINALS NOTES COVERAGE

LESSON 9 DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Local Autonomy- It refers to “self-governing”. It is also the granting of more powers,

authority, responsibilities and resources by the national government to local government
units in order to be self-reliant and active partners.

Decentralization- It is transfer of power and authority from central institution to lower or

local levels of a government system.

 Forms of Decentralization
1. Devolution- it is the transfer of power and authority from the national
government to local government units (LGU’s). It is seen as political and
territorial.
2. Deconcentration- It is the transfer of power, authority or responsibility or the
discretion to plan, decide and manage from central to local levels;
administrative and sectoral.
3. Debureaucratization- It is the transfer of some public functions and
responsibilities, which government may perform, to private entities or non-
government organizations.

Aims of the local government code 1991

1. To transform LGU’s into self-reliant communities and active partners in nation- building
by giving them more powers, authority, responsibilities and resources.
2. Hopes to achieve economic development at the regional and local levels by giving more
freedom in carrying out their programs that are suitable for their areas.

Composition of local government

1. Province- intermediate unit is providing supervision to the municipalities and component

cities and under it performing services for the national government.
2. Cities and Municipalities- basic units of the local government delivering services for
the people who live together in a community.
3. Barangay- sub-municipal unit, which provides for face to face interaction among the
people.

Lesson 10 Suffrage, Election, and Political Parties

Suffrage

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.
Views on Suffrage

1. A privilege- suffrage is not a natural right but merely a privilege to be given or withheld
by law.
2. A political right- suffrage enables a citizen to participate in the process of government.

Theories on Suffrage

1. 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. The ethical theory considers the right to vote as means of self-
expression of the individual in political affairs. Suffrage provides for the development of
the human personality.
4. The Tribal theory. In early greek and roman states, suffrage was extended only to the
citizen class. Only people who were accorded citizenship status could vote. Nowadays,
citizenship is essential for writing.
5. The Feudal theory. The feudal theory claims that the right to vote depends on a
particular social status. The simplest form of social status was ownership of the land.
Even now in some states, the emphasis is on a property qualification. This is a legacy of
the old theory.

Types of Vote

1. One man one vote. Under this provision every other is entitled to one and only one
vote.
2. Single transferable vote. In this system, which is designed for the multimember
constituency, the voter possesses only one vote. But he can make his priority like 1,2,3,
etc. According to his requirement.
3. Plural Voting. Several qualifications are prescribed for the right to vote such as
payment of property tax and education. A person who owns property or is a taxpayer or
is educated is eligible for a vote because he possesses all of these qualifications. At the
same time, a person is educated, owns a property and is a taxpayer, is entitled to three
votes.
4. Open Ballot. The voters raise their hands to support a candidate.
5. Secret Ballot. In this system the voter casts his vote for a candidate, without the
knowledge of another person. A citizen can exercise his franchise without fear. In polling
station, an enclosure is provided for him to mark his vote and put the ballot in the box.

Scope of Suffrage

1. Elections- 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 the legislative body to the people for
their ratification or rejection
4. Initiative- is a method by which an elective official may be removed from office during
his tenure.
5. Recall- a method by which an elective local official may be removed from office during
his tenure.

Persons who are disqualified to vote

 Those who have been sentenced to suffer imprisonment for not less than a year.
 Those who committed a crime involving disloyalty to the government such as
rebellion and sedition.
 Those declared as insane or incompetent person.

Section 2. The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and
sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos
abroad. The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the
illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall be
allowed to vote under existing laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections
may promulgate to protect the secrecy of the ballot.

Absentee Voting System

Filipinos who work abroad but maintain their love and loyalty to their native
land are still affected by the policies of the government.

Party System

Classification of a Party System

1. The two-party system

 This is the system wherein the major political parties alternates with each other in
the exercise of political power.
2. The multi-party system
 More than two political parties fight in an election, and no single party gets the
majority control of power.
 Leftist Party- is the reform-minded party which seeks to change the existing
conditions of the country
 Rightist Party- is a conservative group which aims to maintain the status quo in
the country
 Center Party- adopted policies which are a mixture of both left and right
tendencies
3. The one-party system
  Only one political party holds power either because it towers above the others

Political Parties list of functions:

1. Representation-the capacity to respond and to articulate the views of both members

and voters.
2. Elite formation and recruitment- the ability to mold the political elite tasked to govern
the body politic.
3. Goal Formulation- the development of programs of government with a view of attracting
popular support.
4. Interest Articulation and Aggregation- the task of combining and harmonizing
different demands and expressing them into coherent policy formulation.
5. Socialization and Mobilization- the formation of a national agenda and the creation of
public discourse to raise political awareness and build the necessary values nad
attitudes that would constitute a larger political culture.

Lesson 11 Civil Society and Social Movement

Concept of Civil Society

Civil Society is the third sector of society, along with government and business. It comprises civil
society organizations and non- governmental organizations. The UN recognizes the importance
of partnering with civil society.

Functions and Contribution of Civil Organization

-Protection

-Monitoring

-Advocacy and Public Communication

-Social Cohesion

-Intermediation and facilitation

-Service Delivery

Concept of Social Movements

Social Movements can be thought of as organized yet informal social entities that are engaged
in an extra-institutional conflict that is oriented towards a goal which can be concrete and narrow
policy or aimed at cultural change.

 Emergence. Within this stage, social movements are very preliminary, and there
is little to no organization.
 Coalescence. At this stage, social movements have overcome obstacles which
many never overcome. It is characterized by a more clearly defined sense of
 discontent, a sense of what the unease is all about and who or what is
responsible.
 Bureaucratization. This stage is characterized by higher levels of the
organization and coalition-based strategies. In this stage, social movements can
no longer just rely on mass rallies or inspirational leaders; they must rely on
trained staff to carry out the functions of an organization.

Lesson 12 Citizenship

 Citizen
A member of a democratic community who enjoys full civil and political rights and is
accorded protection inside and outside the territory of the state.
 Citizenship
It denotes membership of a citizen in a political society which membership implies,
reciprocally, a duty of diligence on the part of the members and duty of protection on the
part of the state.

Acquisition of Citizenship

 Involuntary method
-By Birth because of blood relations (Jus sanguinis) or place of birth (jus soli)
 Voluntary method
-by naturalization

Obligations of Citizens

1. Loyalty or have a sense of patriotism

2. Obeys Laws
3. Participation in political processes

The following are citizens of the Philippines

1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of adoption of this
constitution;
2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
3. Those born on January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of Majority;
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Two-ways of losing Citizenship

1. Voluntarily
 By naturalization in a foreign country
  By express renunciation of citizenship
 By supporting the constitution and laws of a foreign country
 By rendering service on the armed forces of a foreign country

2. Involuntarily
a. By the cancellation of his certificate of naturalization by the court
b. By having been declared as a deserter in the Philippine Armed forces in
time of war.

Ways of reacquiring Citizenship

a. By the repatriation of deserters of the Philippine Armed forces

b. By a direct act of the congress
c. By naturalization