Handouts in PPG Q2
Handouts in PPG Q2
Pangasinan Division II
BENIGNO V. ALDANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHS
Handouts in Philippine Politics and Government
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Lessons from the past
1. Effective checks and balances are needed over the electoral system
2. Elections are used to lend legitimacy to a regime
3. There are very few distinguishing characteristics between political parties in the
Philippines
4. Parties have generally been ineffective as political institutions that lend predictability
to politics in the Philippines
5. Personalities overpower parties as political entities
Contemporary issues
a. Party-list – a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of
representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral
parties or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission on
Elections (COMELEC).
b. Absentee Voting - electoral process that enables persons who cannot appear at their
designated polling places to vote from another location
c. Election Fraud – a form of cheating during election
d. Political Dynasties – generally refer to traditional political families or the practices by
these political families of monopolizing political power and public offices from
generation to generation and treating the public elective office almost as their personal
property.
e. Nuisance Candidates – someone who files a certificate of candidacy (CoC) with the
intention of mocking the electoral process or putting it in disrepute; whose name is
similar to that of other registered candidates and whom the electorate can therefore
mistake for him or her; or who has no real intention to run for the office for which he
or she filed a CoC.
Direct disqualification
1. not citizen of the Republic of the Philippines
2. below 18 years old
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3. failure to qualify with the residency requirement set by law
4. not registered voter in the place he proposes to vote
Other disqualification/disabilities
1. Citizens who have been sentenced by the court for at least 1 year and have not been
granted a pardon by the President.
2. Those who have been adjudged of final judgment by competent tribunal of having
committed any crime involving disloyalty to the government.
3. Those who are declared insane or incompetent persons as declard by competent authority.
Kinds of election
1. General election. Elections are held simultaneously on the same day for all national and
local offices.
2. National election. Elections for national officials like President, Vice President, and
members of Congress.
3. Local election. Elections for the offices in the provinces, cities, and municipalities.
Types of Suffrage
1. Plebiscite. This refers to the process by which a certain question, like the proposed
amendment to, or revision of the Constitution is put to a popular vote for approval or
election.
2. Elections. It is the means through which the electorate chooses the leaders in whom they
entrust the functions and powers of the government for a fixed period of time.
3. Initiative. It is a process by which the electorate directly proposes by the people through
initiative upon a petition of at least 12 per cent of the total numbers of registered voters.
4. Referendum. It refers to when a question or law or part of it is submitted to the electoral
body for its approval or rejection.
5. Recall. It is a process of removing an incumbent officer from active duty or before the
expiration of his term of office by a vote of the people.
Political parties – group of people organized for the purpose of winning government power,
by electoral or other means
interest holders united by a definite set of party programs and attempt to advance a
consistent line of policy
main goal is to gain control of the levers of government so that they can realize their
policies or programs
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Types of Political Parties
1. Based on membership
Mass
Cadre
devotee
2. Based on arena of activities
Constitutional
revolutionary
3. Based on ideological orientation
Left parties (Far-left) - goal is the eventual destruction of existing class
hierarchies in society, by violence if necessary; call for comprehensive
government intervention in the economy to redistribute wealth & guarantee
welfare security to the most vulnerable
Center-Left parties - differ from left by their disavowal of violence and
coercion; believe that equitable distribution of wealth is still a societal goal
that should be realized by proper state intervention (with concurrence from the
people).
Center parties - believe in the value of self- initiative & a minimal state role on
economy
Center-Right parties - believe that the task of the government is to provide
peace and order and to ensure the proper enforcement of laws and legal
contracts
Right parties (Far-Right) - parties of ultra conservatism& exclusionism;
believe in „natural‟ differences among humans and that there are some
persons, races, religions, classes that are more fit to rule than others.
Electoral Politics
vital connections between state authority and society, linking the structure of
government to other social groupings • political action – seeking power to achieve
policy objectives
Elections
a device for filling an office through choices made by a designated body of people -
the electorate.
for the ordinary citizen - elections are seen as the clearest instance of politics entering
their lives.
Functions:
1. “Bottom-Up” functions (People Government View)
provide the citizenry with a meaningful way of participating in government
mechanism for leadership selection
An instrument for evaluating and changing governments
forum for interest articulation and political socialization
2. “Top-Down” functions (Government- People View)
instrument of rule legitimization
guide to political strategy
agent of political socialization and integration
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The Voting System in the Philippines:
Party-List System – Art. VI Sec. 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
party-list representatives will be elected to constitute 20 per centum of the total
number of the seats in the House of the Representative
provides opportunity for under-represented sectors and parties in Philippine society to
have a legitimate chance of winning representation in Congress
Party Membership means formal attachment to a political party, usually involving the
assumption of obligations to the party and receiving privileges from the party.
1. For patronage
2. To get special treatment from the government
3. To enhance their own career
4. Economic benefit
5. Personal gratification
6. To have and to use an influence on the others
7. Ideological fulfillment
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3. Mobilize voters – get out the vote drives -President, Congress, local party cooperation to
win elections. -Leaders stress party loyalty to proposed policies.
4. Provide accountability- unintended side effect Used by voters to hold elected official
accountable
5. nominate candidates - by most common method today.
6. contest election- “wage war” in the general election 7. form governments- organized along
party lines government appointments in executive
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, forged and shaped in the aftermath of the
1986 People Power Revolution, clearly recognizes participation and empowerment,
including the important role of CSOs. This may be seen in several provisions of the
Constitution. For instance, Article II, Section 23: “The State shall encourage non-
governmental, community-based, or sector organizations that promote the welfare of the
nation.”
The basis for civil society in the Philippines comes from the Filipino concepts of
pakikipagkapwa (holistic interaction withothers) and kapwa (shared inner self). Voluntary
assistance or charity connotes for Filipinos an equal status between the provider of
assistance and the recipient.
There are many types of CSOs in the country, but the more important types are
people’s organizations, development NGOs, and cooperatives. People’s organizations are
membership organizations representing marginalized groups and often organized based on
sector, issue, or geographical area.
Civil Society
Civil Society is the aggregate of non- governmental organizations and institutions that
manifest interest and will of citizens.
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Non-Governmental Aid Organization (NGO's) provide assistance to people for a little
or no fee. NGO's fall into the category of civil society because they are not operated
by the government.
Social Movement
Social Movements are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations which
focus on specific political or social issues.
Social Movements are deigned to either bring about or prevent societal changes.
DJANGOs (Development, Justice and Advocacy NGOs)
commonly called development NGOs
perform direct and indirect support service functionswith POs
FUNDANGOs (Funding agency NGOs or Philanthropic Foundations)
grant-giving organizations linked to grassroots organizations through
providing financial and other forms of support
MUNGOs (Mutant NGOs)
largely composed of government-run NGOs that are essentially extensions
of the state or personal interests of state actors
COME N’GOs (Fly-by-Night or paper NGOs)
fly-by-night organizations that package proposals to attract outside
funding and promptly disappear with the funds.
As organizers: forming community &popular grassroots organization
As advocates: mobilizing, articulating people’s interests, political demands, and institutional
reforms
As mediators: linking the powerful and disempowered strata of the society
As deliverers: alternative mechanism for delivery of social services
Types of Movements
1. Reactionary – These people desire to turn back changes that have occurred and
return to an earlier time. Example might be the KKK – they oppose the rights that
minorities have been given
2. Conservative – These people work to prevent changes from taking place. Example:
the movement to ensure that marriage remains legal between one man and one
woman only
3. Reformist (Revisionist) – Also known as liberal, these people desire moderate
changes. Example: Movement to legalize the use of marijuana
4. Pluralist – Rather than seeking assimilation, Pluralists seek acceptance without
claiming to be the same as the majority. For example, the Gay Rights movement.
Members of a pluralist movement say there is more than one way to live (plural).
They might say, “Yes we are different. Why should you care?”
5. Expressive – Rather than be specific about their goals, an expressive movement tries
to influence how people think and then let them decide how to act. Example: Commit
a random act of kindness
6. Alternative – Seek to get people to change their lifestyle. An example is the 10,000
man movement or the Million Man March.
7. Redemptive – Attempt to get people to make life- altering changes. Example: AA
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8. Revolutionary – This type of movement is designed to bring about major change,
such as a coup or the movement to legalize the use of all illegal substances. Example:
Communists
9. Escapist (Retreatist) – People who belong to this type of movement “dropout” of
society by isolating themselves. Such groups could be religious cults or
survivalist militias.
10. Assimilationist – This movement is designed to help minority groups become
assimilated or accepted into society. The Civil Rights movement or Women’s Lib are
examples. People in these movements ask: “Why do you treat us differently. We are
the same as you”.
Citizenship
Pertains to an individual’s membership in a political community. It indicates a person’s
belongingness to a larger community, which is the nation. The Philippine nationality law
is based upon the principles of jus sanguinis and therefore descent from a parent who is a
citizen or national of the Republic of the Philippines is the primary method of acquiring
Philippine citizenship. This is contrasted with the legal principle of jus soli where being
born on the soil of a country, even to foreign parents, grants one citizenship.
It is indispensable as it is considered as one of the elements of the state. They have both
rights and responsibilities and that their rights are distinct from those provided by the
Philippine Constitution.
Nationality - encompasses all those who render allegiance to the State, be it a citizen or
otherwise.
Alien is a foreigner who temporarily resides in another country or one who passes through
another border. It receives limited protection over his person and property.
Classification of Aliens
1. Resident alien. A foreigner residing in the jurisdiction of another State, and to some
extent, his rights and property are protected.
2. Non-resident alien. Refers to the citizen of the State as provided in Art IV, Sec 1.
Refugees are stateless persons who have fled their home State for shelter and asylum in
another State. They deliberately withdraw their citizenship and denounce allegiance to the
State and laws.
Doctrines of citizenship
a. Jus sanguinis- the citizenship of a child is determined by blood relationship. This is
the doctrine the Philippines apply in determining one’s membership to the political
society.
b. Jus soli/jus loci- the citizenship of a child is determined by the place of birth.
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2. Those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority
2. By naturalization. This is called the voluntary method of acquiring citizenship through
naturalization process.
Naturalization, it means the act of formally adopting a foreigner into the political
body of the State, and clothing him with the rights and privewleges of citizenship.
Three ways of acquiring naturalization process
a. Act of court. This suggests that citizenship may be granted to an applicant pursuant
to the judgment of the court. Regional Trial Ocurt has the jurisdiction
b. Direct act of Congress. The legislative normally promulgates an act directly
bestowing citizenship on an alien applicant.
c. Derivative method. Citizenship is conferred on the wife of naturalized husband,
minor children of naturalized person, and alien woman upon marriage to a national.
3. By marriage
Effects of Naturalization :
1. ON THE WIFE. It vests citizenship on wife who might herself be lawfully naturalized;
She need not prove her qualifications but only that she is not disqualified. (Moy Ya Lim
Yao v. Comm. of Immigration, 41 SCRA 292).
2. ON THE MINOR CHILDREN
(i) If born in the Philippines – automatically becomes a citizen;
If born abroad
If born before the naturalization of the father
(ia) residing in RP at the time of naturalization – automatically becomes citizen;
(ib) if not residing in RP at the time of naturalization – considered citizen only
during minority, unless begins to reside permanently in the Philippines;
(ii) If born born outside the Philippines after parents’ naturalization considered
Filipino, provided registered as such before any Philippines consulate within 1
year after attaining majority age and takes oath of allegiance.
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LOSS OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP:
1. Naturalization in a foreign country;
2. Express renunciation of citizenship (expatriation);
– The mere application or possession of an alien certificate of registration does not
amount to renunciation (Mercado vs. Manzano, G.R. No. 135083, May 26, 1999)
3. Subscribing to an oath of allegiance to constitution or laws of foreign upon attaining of 21
years of age;
Citizens may not divest citizenship when Philippines is at war.
4. Rendering service to or accepting commission in the armed forces of a foreign country;
5. Cancellation of certificate of naturalization;
6. Having been declared by final judgment a deserter of Philippines Armed Forces in times
of war.
REACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP
1. By naturalization;
2. By repatriation;
RA 8171 is an act providing for the repatriation of:
a. Filipino women who have lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens
and;
b. Natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship on account or
political or economic necessity.
3. By direct act of Congress.
RA 9225 also known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003,"
approved on August 29, 2003 provides that, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the
Republic:
a. Natural born citizens of the Philippines who have lost their Philippine citizenship by
reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are deemed to have re-
acquired Philippine citizenship; and
b. Natural born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity of the said RA
become citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship.
Dual Allegiance
Refers to the situation where person simultaneously owes, by some positive act,
loyalty to two or more states.
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7. Study well and become a productive individual.
8. Obey the laws and maintain peace and order in the community.
9. Preserve the Filipino culture and identity.
10. Participate actively in various government programs.
11. Vote wisely and chose candidates who can serve the people and our country.
12. Respect the rights of others.
The more important duties and obligations of every citizen in a democratic society are
the following:
1. To be loyal to the Republic.
2. To defend the State
3. To contribute to the development of welfare of the State
4. To uphold the Constitution and obey laws
5. To cooperate with duly constituted authorities.
6. To exercise rights responsibility and with due regard for the rights of others.
7. To engage in gainful work.
8. To register and vote
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