Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

College of Political Science and Public
Administration

(GEED20023) PHILIPPINE POLITICS,

GOVERNANCE, and Citizenship

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL

Prepared by:

THERESE MARIE A. OLIVER, MPA, JD

Faculty Member

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

Lesson 1 Understanding Politics and Political Science 1

Basic Concepts 1
Study of Political Science, its relation to 3
Other Discipline

Lesson 2 Fundamentals of State 8

National territory of the Philippines
9
State defined 11

Lesson 3 Understanding the Fundamental Law 15

Constitution defined 16
Brief History of the Philippine Constitution 17
Essential Parts of a Good Written Constitution 19

Lesson 4 The Philippine Government 20

Legislative Branch 21
Executive Branch 32
Judicial Branch 43
Constitutional Commission 50
A. Civil Service Commission 51
B. Commission On Election 52

C. Commission On Audit 52
Local Government 55

Lesson 5 Citizenship, and the exercise of Suffrage

Citizenship
58 Suffrage
62
PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE, and Citizenship
(GEED20023)

Lesson 1 Understanding Politics and Political Science

Learning Objectives:

When you finish this lesson, you will be able to do the following:
1. Define Political Science and Politics as well as its key concepts.
2. Internalize the importance in the study of Political Science.
3. Discuss the approaches and fields in the study of Political Science

Introduction
The origin of the words "politics" and “science” The Latin word Politicus
comes “from Greek politikos” of citizens, pertaining to the state and its administration; pertaining
to public life, from polites citizen, from polis, which means the city state. This term originated
from the book of Aristotle, Politiká on governing and governments as modeled his view ‘’äffairs
of the city”. For the Greeks, polis signified the people who lived in the city-state. It named a
community rather than a place. Politics (from Greek politikos) as a term is generally applied to
the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil
governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the
corporate, academic, and religious segments of society. It consists of social relations involving
authority or power and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Modern
political discourse focuses on democracy and the relationship between people and politics. It is
thought of as the way we choose government officials and make decisions about public policy.

Whereas, the word science comes from the Latin word scientia meaning “knowledge”; from
scire which means to”know”. As man’s knowledge of the physical and social environment
developed after years of study, observation and reflection, the word science has come to mean
anybody of systematic knowledge about a well-defined area of inquiry.

Basic Concepts
Politics defined Aristotle’s philosophy immensely influenced classical and contemporary
definition of politics. He once said, “men by nature are political animals.” In The Politics, he
defined politics as the study of the affairs of the city-state (polis). Aristotle puts upon men the
task of acquiring and exercising power and influence with the purest of motives and with respect
for responsibility since men inevitably and naturally possess them.

Bernard Crick, in his In Defense of Politics, defines politics as a struggle for power among
groups whose aim is to control the state. He explained that politics is simply the activity by
which differing interests within a given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in
power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and survival of the community

Politics as conflict resolution In Comparative Politics: A Global Introduction, Michael

Sodaro describes politics as the process by which communities pursue collective goals and deal
with their conflicts authoritatively by means of government.

Politics as compromise Former Senator Ernesto Maceda identifies politics as the study of
compromise. It is the art of deciding who gets what, when and how as characterized by Harold
Lasswell

Politics as a pursuit for the greater good Aristotle termed the art of good government as
politics. This disposition is echoed by Former Senate President Jovito Salonga when he said
that politics is saying No to what is bad for the society.

Key Concepts in Politics

Power Refers to the ability or the right to do something; the ability to exercise authority
over others. The term implies a hierarchy of control of stronger over weaker.
The word “power” comes from the Latin verb potere meaning “to be able”. In its broader sense,
power is being able, physically, intellectually, or a combination of both, to achieve what one
wants. Power may be implicit or manifest. In implicit power, A wants B to do something and B
does it simply because he or she realizes that A wants it done, and for whatever reasons
wants to accommodate those wishes. When power is manifest, on the other hand, it is directly
observable; A acts in an evident way to make B do what A wants. We can define power then, as
the ability to cause others to do what one desire, using means ranging from influence to
coercion.

Bases of Social Power

Expert Power – based on the perception that the leader possesses some special knowledge or
expertise;

Referent Power – based on the follower’s liking, admiring, or identifying with the leader;
Reward Power – based on the leader’s capacity to mediate rewards for the follower;
Legitimate Power – based on the follower’s perception that the leader has the legitimate right
or authority to exercise influence over him or her; and
Coercive Power – based on the follower’s fear that non-compliance with leader’s wishes will
lead to punishment.

Sources of Power

If power is not intrinsic to the power-holder, it follows that it must have outside sources
said Gene Sharp of the center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA. In his
internationally acclaimed book: The Politics of Non-Violent Action – power and Struggle, Sharp
maintains that power appears to emerge from the interaction of all or several of the following
sources:

 Authority – the extent and intensity of the ruler’s authority among the subject is crucial
factor affecting the ruler’s power.” The right to command and direct, to be heard or
obeyed by others,” voluntarily accepted by the people and therefore existing without the
imposition of sanctions is authority; a government power to make binding decisions and
issue obligatory commands. Such power must be perceived by citizens as rightful or
acceptable and therefore to be obeyed.
 Human resources – a ruler’s power is affected by the number of persons who obey
him, cooperate with him, or provide him with special assistance, as well as by the
proposition of such persons in the general population, and the extent and forms of their
organizations.
 Skills and knowledge – the ruler’s power is also affected by the skill, knowledge and
abilities of such person, and the relation of their skills, knowledge and abilities to his
need
 Intangible factors – psychological and ideological factors, such as habits and
attitudes toward obedience and submission, and the presence or absence of a common
faith, ideology, or sense of mission, all affect the power of the ruler in relation to the
people.
 Material resources – the degree to which the ruler controls property, natural
resources, financial resources, the economic system, means of communication and
transportation helps to determine the limits of his power.
 Sanctions - the final source of a ruler’s power is the type and extent of sanctions at his
disposal, both for use against his own subjects and in conflicts with other rulers. John
Austin said sanctions are an enforcement of obedience used by rulers against their
subject to supplement voluntary acceptance of their authority and to increase the degree
of obedience to their commands.
 Legitimacy -denotes a general belief that the state’s powers to make and enforce
rules are justified and proper. Legitimacy is a moral or ethical concept that involves
perceptions of what is right.

STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Science defined It is generally understood to encompass the systematic study
of the state and its government.

Political Science began as early as the 14th century B.C. when Aristotle (384-322 BC) wrote
Politics, the first systematic work on political affairs. The book written about 335-332 B.C., won
for him the title of “Father of Political Science.”

As a branch of modern learning, political science has undergone three

chronological and overlapping stages of development as follows:
Religious Stage – the government with its leaders and laws was considered as divine or divinely-
spirited. This stage began during the prehistoric era and continued as long as the divine right of kings
was supported (18th century)
Metaphysical Stage – during this stage, the state was considered as a human institution, but it
was almost worshipped as a perfect institution. This stage began with the ancient Greeks.
Aristotle and Plato thought that the state was the means to develop the highest potential of the
individual. Indeed, Aristotle claimed that “man is by nature a political animal,” and the state was
established for the greatest good of the greatest number of citizens.
Modern stage – finally in this stage, the state was still considered as a human institution but it
was deemed capable of being improved by rulers and subjects according to certain principles
and laws. This stage was ushered in by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), a renaissance writer
of The Prince, a handbook for rulers in the art of government. Thus Machiavelli is often credited
as the “Father of Modern Politics.”
Political Science first attained recognition as a separate field of study in 1856. The significant
innovation was done upon the request of Prof. Francis Lieber, a German-born American scholar
who wrote Manual of Political Ethics (1838), the first systematic treatise in political science
published in the united States. Thus it was the Americans who first made the study of politics as
a separate course of study.

Importance in Studying Political Science:

First, we are part of the government. The moment we were born up to the day we die our
records formed part of our state’s public documents.
Second, the study of political science enables us to know more about our rights and duties as
citizens, the structure and functions of the different branches of government, and our relations
with other states.
Third, the study of political science broadens man’s cultural background by knowing the
function of the state, law, diplomacy, public finance, and etc.
Finally, political science provides the needed background for those who intend to enter the
profession of law, foreign service, public administration, business, education and journalism.
The activities of these professions are intimately lin ked with the affairs of government.

Approaches in the Study of Political Science

Robert J. Jackson, in A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, enumerates the

following approaches in studying politics:

Traditional/Historical Approach Studying politics concentrates on an essentially

legal/formal description of government. It contemplates the use of history, chronology and
development of government structures and institutions as basis of study

Scientific/Behavioral Approach Muses on how individuals behave within political

institutions and how behavior influences policy-making. This approach concerns mainly on the
scientific method through the use of methodology, variables and hypotheses in theorizing
political phenomena.

General Theory Approach Contemplates the identification of all critical structures and
processes of society, explaining their interrelationships with politics, and predict a wide array of
governmental outcomes. It regards the study of politics as a commitment to explore and attempt
to understand a given segment of empirical reality.
Systems Approach Espouses David Easton’s comprehensive systems model depicted by
the interaction between the societal environment and an abstract political system which
processes and converts demands and supports into outputs, producing an overall stability.The
approach entails the search for cyclical processes that govern political structures.
Structural-Functional Approach The essence of this approach is that it specifies the
activities of a viable political system and explains how these functions must be performed to
maintain the stability of the political system.
Political Economy Approach It focuses with the relationship between government and
economics. It highlights the role of government concerning regulation, support or intervention in
economic and social affairs.

Fields of Modern Political Science

Political Theory/Political Philosophy – are terms which are often used interchangeably.
Scholars in this field are concerned with questions about value judgements and the history and
development of the ideas of great political thinkers.
Political Philosophy is sometimes called value or normative theory because it is concerned
primarily with values, norms, and morality. It attempts to examine the connections among facts,
values, and judgements.
Theory is an important part of all political science fields because it is used in the explanation
and prediction of political phenomena.
Governments – make up an entire branch of political science. The structure and functions of
federal, provincial or state and local governments, usually within the context of a single country
are examined in this field.
Public Administration – is concerned more with how policies are formulated and
implemented within the large bureaucratic infrastructure of government.
Public Policy – analyzes and evaluates policies in areas such as defense, health, education
and resource development.
International Relations – focus on the foreign policies of countries, international
organizations, and international law in order to learn more about the interactions among states.
– is a very wide field with many subdivisions. To a large extent it is the study of the macro-
politics of states. It is primarily concerned with comparing the politics and government of
different states.

POLITICAL SCIENCE, ITS RELATION TO OTHER DISCIPLINES

As one of the social sciences, political science has close relationships to other
disciplines. Political Science, especially in its investigations of political phenomena and
problems, is dependent upon other studies which are generally spoken of as the auxiliaries of
political science.

1. Political Science and History – is a record of past events and movements, their causes
and inter-relations. Much of the raw material of political science is supplied by history. From the
data of history, political scientist selects and coordinates facts with a view to their special
significance in explaining the nature of the state. The study of political science and history are
mutually contributory and supplementary. Professor Seeley says: “Political science without
history is hollow and baseless: or to put in in a rhyme: history without political science has no
fruit and political science without history has no root”.

2. Political Science and Economics - Political Science is related to economics obviously by

the fact that economic policies often require state action for their fulfillment and less obviously,
because political action is affected to an important, though undetermined, degrees by economic
factor. Some political scientists observed that Political stability of a state depends upon its
economy. Economics, as a widened field of knowledge, provides informational data that
significantly affect the organization, development and activities of the state. Conformably to
these data as a result, the state may enact laws that would modify or improve economic
conditions. (Gettell, Political Science, p. 12)

3. Political Science and Psychology – The development of the study of psychology has been
going on along with its increasing usefulness in the solution of many problems of the state.
Psychology has been rendering invaluable aid to the government in the management of the
affairs of the stage. Psychologist have been employed in courts in the trial of criminal cases;
they have been employed in the examination and diagnosis of criminals and in the classification
of the feeble-minded for treatment. Studies in psychology have traced the formation of many of
our cherished political notions to the results of custom, tradition and imitation. (Aruego and
Aruego-Torres, Principles of political science, p. 8)

4. Political Science and Sociology – Political science is a specialized social science dealing
with man as a political animal, which is one part of his total social life. (Gettell, Political Science,
p.12) Whereas, sociology as a general science deals with the social aggregate and attempts to
discover the facts and laws of social life as a whole. Since political science is concerned with
the most inclusive human associations it may be thought of as a subdivision of sociology, which
is the study of the phenomenon of association in general. Sociology attempts to explains how
end why man became a political animal and how his political life is affected by his membership
in other forms of association. (Ibid. p. 11)

5. Political Science and Anthropology – Anthropology, dealing with the study of the physical
character of man, his historical and geographical distribution, his racial division, his
environmental and social relations and his cultural development, contributes valuable material to
the study of political science. (Gettell, p. 11)

The data given by anthropology on the ideas, customs and organizations of the primitive man
shed light on the theories on the origin of the state and how political thoughts and institutions
have been developed.

6. Political Science and Philosophy and Ethics – The concepts and doctrines about the
state are important to the specialist in academic philosophy and political scientist. The concepts
are the underlying forces in the framing of constitutions and laws. The political scientist
considers ethic too, when he contemplates the normal background in proposed changes in
special legislations. (Jacobsen and Lippmann Political Science, p. 4)
7. Political Science and Geography – strategic frontiers, population pressure, colonial
expression, sphere of influence and source of raw materials are fundamentals concern of
political scientist and geographers. Geographers (a science concern with the study geography,
etc. upon domestic and foreign policies) indicate one approach which a political scientist
frequently must adopt to help explain such problems as early growth or retardation of
democracy or the rise of authoritarianism in some countries (Ibid. p. 4)

8. Political Science And Law And Jurisprudence - To maintain a full understanding of the
facts of political life, the political scientist has to combine legal with the extra legal viewpoints. A
Comprehension of the nature of law (and of statutes, enacted by the legislature) is
indispensable to the political theorist. Law and state are inseparable. (Ibid.)

9. Political Science and Statistics and Logic – The political theories must possess a broad
scientific background and a knowledge of current political problems, and he must employ
scientific method in gathering and evaluating data in drawing conclusions. This involves the
proper application of statistical phenomena and of logical procedures for the analysis of
reasoning.(Ibid.p.5)

POLITICAL SCIENCE, A Separate Discipline

Until about a century ago that is now called political science was a part of “moral philosophy”
and thus not very far removed from theology. Political science is integrated with other disciplines
such as history and Political Economy. Its appropriation of the term “science” result from the
optimism which followed the early successes of the natural and physical science.

Political science however, declared its independence as a distinct/ and separate discipline when
in 1856 Columbia Collage change its Professional Chair of History and Political Economy into
Chair of History and Political Science. This was made upon the request of Professor Francis
Lieber, a German-American scholar who wrote Manual of Political Ethics in 1836. (Zaide and
Zaide, p. 2-3) The claim of political science to be an independent discipline is justified by the
demands of specialization, as well as the unique importance of the state.

Function Of Political Science

To discover the principle that should be adhered to in public affairs and to study
operations of government in order to demonstrate what is good, to criticize what is bad or
inefficient, and to suggest improvements. (Ibid. p.1)

Exercises
1. Define Political Science

2. Discuss the Importance in Studying Political Science

3. Discuss how other social sciences are related with the study of political science

4. Function of Political science and discuss the approaches in studying politics.