Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF BATANGAS

POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Week 1
Duration: 4 hours

LESSON:
Politics, Governance, and Other Key Concepts

Prepared by:

JULIET J. SILANG
Teacher III
Laiya National High School

PHILIPPINE

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 1

 POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
Name of Learner: ____________________________________
Grade Level: ____________________________________
Strand/Track: ____________________________________
Section: ____________________________________
Date: ____________________________________

LESSON: POLITICS, GOVERNANCE, AND OTHER KEY CONCEPTS

A .INTRODUCTION

This lesson is the introduction on the basic concepts of political science,

which are essential in the study of politics and governance of the country.

Man, by nature, is a political

animal.”

-Aristotle

Political science deals with the study of power in society, politics, and

government. The dynamic character of human society and the differences in

contexts of different states have resulted in different views, theories, and definitions

on the concepts of politics and governance.

The Greeks formulated the word politics during the 4 th and 5th century. Politics

was inseparable from life in the polis or a place or state shared by a certain group of

people. This concept of politics may be as old as the first organization created by

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 2

man. According to Aristotle and Plato, humans are not self-sufficing so they find

the need to come together as a community. From this union comes the need for

politics and governance to maintain order within a society.

Political science is the academic discipline that deals with key issues and

concepts in politics. Niccolo Machiavelli is widely accepted as the father of modern

political science because of his discussion on maintaining power in his books The

Prince and Discourses.

While politics deals with power in society in general, governance specifically

deals with power in government and how this institution exerts power for the benefit

of the society. Today, the discussion of politics and governance in political science

has been divided in different fields of interests, namely:

1. Political Theory- deals with the different perspectives and ideas regarding

politics and governance of different political philosophers

2. Political Methodology- is more concerned upon the application of political

concepts into research and policy making

3. Comparative Politics- is about comparing various political systems and

different constitutions among different countries through time

4. International Relations- bear resemblance to comparative politics; but

instead of comparing, it concentrates on establishing and maintaining

relations among countries (Roskin et al. 2007)

5. Law- is another central concept in politics and governance. It is basically

any written statement that limits or guides the behavior of a certain group.

The knowledge of politics and governance therefore is a critical attribute of a

citizen belonging to a certain state. Today, the knowledge of politics and governance

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 3

not only helps in the participation of an individual in the state but it also helps in

safeguarding an individual against bad practices and abuse.

Meaning of Governance
Understanding Politics as about governing requires us to differentiate between

the concepts of “governing” and “government”. The notion of governing is broader

and has a wider applicability than government.

Government: is term generally used to describe the formal institutions through

which a group of people is ruled or governance.

Governing: on the other hand, includes institutions other than those of the

government that are involved in governing, at least in the broadest sense. These

other institutions can include labor and trade unions, corporations, universities,

church organizations, social movement organizations (Leftwitch 2011, 10).

Governance: does not only refer to the rules, procedures, and formal organizations

of government. They also include informal institutions loosely understood as “the

customs, norms of behavior, unwritten rules, or generally agreed ways of doing

things within a society and …conventions within the culture covering social

interaction, marriage customs and burial ceremonies” (Ibid.,11)

B. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY (MELC):

Explain the concept, relationship and importance of politics, governance and

government.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES

The learners…

1. articulate definitions of politics (HUMSS_PG12-Ia-1)

2. differentiate the various views on politics (HUMSS_PG12-Ia-2)

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 4

 3. explore the connection between the phenomenon (politics) and the

method of inquiry (HUMSS_PG12-Ia-3)

4. recognize the value of politics (HUMSS_PG12-Ia-3)

5. differentiate governance from government (HUMSS_PG12-Ia-3)

C. INSTRUCTIONS:

This Learning Activity Sheets was prepared based on the Most Essential

Learning Competencies (MELC) and Learning Competencies presented by

Department of Education. Included here are activities to be answered for week 1.

Carefully answer each activities and provide another paper if it is necessary.

START OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Examine the titles of the headline stories or articles of a

newspaper. Then answer the following questions. (Materials: Broadsheet

newspapers or online headline articles of newspapers e.g., Philippine Daily

Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times)

1. Write the title of the headline stories which do you think depicts politics.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Write the title of the headline stories which do you think does not depict

politics.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 5

3. Focusing on one news story identified as depicting politics, what is the issue

or problem identified?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think it is an issue/problem?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Is it important to solve or address this problem? Why or Why not?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
6. Whose responsibility is it to solve the problem? Why?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
7. Who are likely to benefit once the problem is solved? Why?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Activity 2. Write five words or phrases on the box that comes into your mind

whenever you hear the words politics and political science.

POLITICS

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 6

 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Activity 3. Which of the following actions do you think are political or are not

political? Explain why or why not. Please put a check mark / if the action is political

and a cross mark X if it is not.

Please indicate your

Please write reasons why you think
/ or X these actions are
political or are not
political.
Running for an elective
post

Joining a protest rally or

demonstration

Having a hair cut

Driving along Roxas

Boulevard in Manila

Swimming at the beach

Campaigning for a
candidate or a political
party

Dressing up for a
friend’s birthday party

Voting in a national
election

A fight between two

drivers over a public
parking slot

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 7

A traffic enforcer issuing
a traffic violation ticket

The Philippine Chair of

the ASEAN in 2017

The Philippine
government filing an
arbitration case against
China

Watching Game of
Thrones

The Philippine Congress

passing a law
Relief operations during
a state of calamity

Indigenous peoples
protesting against
mining activities

ASEAN Summits

Signing up for a
Facebook account

Sending #aldub-
tamangpanahon Twitter
posts

Activity 4. Aristotle is considered as the father of political science, while

Niccolo Machiavelli as the father of modern political science. Research on

their respective views on political science. In the table below, compare their

views regarding the concepts of power, politics, justice and governance. On

the third box, write your own views regarding their concepts.

ARISTOTLE NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 8

Activity 5.

Answer the following questions on the space provided.

1. Why should we study the basic concepts of political science?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. Which of the fields of interest in political science enumerated above (i.e.,

comparative politics) should leaders and aspiring politicians focus on?

Defend your answer.

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 9

 ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Which aspects of political science are you most interested in? Why or why

not?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Activity 6: Identify the following pictures if it is Government, Governance or Not.

Draw a smiling face if it is Government or Governance and draw a

sad face if it is not.

1. ___________ 4.____________

2. ____________ 5.___________

3. _____________ 6.____________

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 10

 7._____________ 9._____________

8._______________ 10.______________

Activity 7: Identify the meaning of each editorial cartoon below and write an

explanation of the possible causes of condition depicted in the photos below.

1.

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 11

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2.

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 12

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Activity 8: HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

Write a “Position Statement” on any pressing issues or problems in Philippine

politics. You must make both a “diagnosis” and “prognosis of the issue/problem

selected, as well as clear stand on the issue or problem.

You must first make a diagnosis of the problem by describing its nature and

causes or by addressing the questions, “What is wrong? Or What went wrong?”

Then, you will make a prognosis of the problem by identifying ways or means to

address the problem. It can be done by addressing the questions, “What can be

done to address the problem? How can the problem be resolved”

Lastly, you must take a clear position on the issue by specifying a course of

action that can be undertaken. Your position must be derived from your critical

analysis

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 13

of the causes of the problem and your proposed response to the problem. Be guided

with the given rubrics in evaluating your work.

Use this format in writing your position paper in short bond paper/s.

Name: _____________________________________________

Section:____________________________________________

(Title of Position Statement)

Problem Identified in Philippine Politics:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Proposed Resolution to Address the Problem:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Action Plans in Resolving the Problem:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 14

Activity 9. Cite three things that made him a notable person in history and politics.

1. __________________________

__________________________

RAMON MAGSAYSAY __________________________

2. __________________________

__________________________

__________________________

3. __________________________
RAMON MAGSAYSAY
__________________________

___________________________

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 15

 Activity 10.

A. Write T on the blank if the statement is true. Write F if the statement is

false and underline the word or phrase that makes the statement false.

1. Political science is the study of power and government systems. ______

2. Power is not a central concept in political science. ______

3. The study of politics involves a complex process of quantitative and

qualitative interpretations based on available data.______

4. Aristotle defined political science as the study of people._____

5. Politics is generally defined as the activity that influences an individual or a

group of people._____

6. Only government officials have the right to study politics.______

Activity 11. Define each of the following in not more than five words.

1. Political science-

________________________________________________________

2. Polis-

________________________________________________________

3. Justice-

________________________________________________________

4. Law-

________________________________________________________

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 16

 5. Governance-

________________________________________________________

Activity 12.

Summarize what you have learned in this lesson in three to five sentences. Provide two or

three sentences for your opinion regarding politics and governance.

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

REFLECTION:

I understand that

______________________________________________________

_____________________________________.

I realize that

______________________________________________________

______________________________________.

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 17

 References:

Pawilen, R.A. 2017 and Pawilen, Reidan M. 2017. Philippine Politics and

Governance (First Edition).

Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Sulit, Ferdinand A. DepEd ADM- SDO Cavite Province

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVRNANCE I JULIET SILANG 18