Concept and Meaning of Citizenship

Concept and Meaning of Citizenship

• Citizenship refers to the status of being a member of a community or state
• The concept originated in ancient Greece, with the city-states known as polis
• Polis refers to a society of people with a shared identity and goals
• Citizens in Greece were limited to men and enjoyed certain rights and responsibilities
• Citizens were expected to participate in public assemblies and trials
• Citizens held positions such as politicians, administrators, judges, and soldiers
• Over time, the concept of citizenship evolved
• Citizenship is viewed as a legal status of an individual in a nation-state
• Citizenship is the relationship between an individual and the state
• Rights and responsibilities are provided to individuals by the state
• The government outlines the responsibilities and rights of citizens in the Constitution

Legal and Expanded Concept of Citizenship

• The highest law of a country is the Constitution
• The Constitution contains essential laws that every citizen must follow
• Citizens of the Philippines are:
  • Those who were citizens during the adoption of the Constitution
  • Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines
  • Those born before January 17, 1973, whose mothers are Filipinos and chose Filipino citizenship when they came of age
  • Those who became citizens through legal means
• Natural-born citizens are citizens of the Philippines from birth who do not need to perform any further actions to acquire or perfect their Filipino citizenship.
• Filipino citizenship may be lost or reacquired as provided by law
• Filipinos who marry foreigners retain their citizenship unless their actions or omissions cause them to be considered to have renounced it under the law
• Dual allegiance is contrary to national interest and should be penalized by law

Two Types of Citizens

• Natural-born - children with at least one Filipino parent.
• Naturalized - former foreigners who became Filipino citizens through naturalization
• These are the Principles of Filipino Citizenship
  • Jus sanguinis states citizenship based on the citizenship of one's parents
  • Jus soli states citizenship is based on the place of birth

Naturalization

• Naturalization is a legal process for a foreigner to become a citizen of a country
• Citizenship can be lost if an individual undergoes naturalization in another country
• Reasons for losing citizenship:
  • Taking an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of another country
  • Deserting the armed forces of the Philippines during wartime
  • Losing naturalization

Expanded View of Citizenship

• It is a state of being in society, not just a status within a state
• Citizenship relies on responding to one's social duties and using one's rights for the common good
• It is a relationship and part of a community with other people
• Citizens are expected to be active participants in addressing social issues and improving situations

Traits of a Good Citizen

According to Yeban (2004), a responsible citizen is expected to be:

• Patriotic
• Loving of others
• respectful of human rights
• Heroic in their actions
• Fulfilling rights and responsibilities as a citizen
• Self-disciplined
• Critically and creatively minded
• Follow traffic rules and regulations
• Request official receipts for every transaction
• Avoid buying smuggled goods and prioritize local products
• Positively promote the country
• Respect enforcers, police, and other public servants
• Dispose of waste properly by segregating and recycling
• Support their church
• Fulfill duties honestly during elections
• Serve well in their respective workplaces
• Pay taxes
• Help a scholar or underprivileged child
• Be good parents and teach the children to love their country
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Bill of Rights

Human Rights

• Everyone possesses human rights
• Human rights are based on the principle of respect for the individual
• All individuals have rights because each person deserves to be treated with dignity

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

• UDHR is a historic document stating the human rights of every individual with respect to all aspects of human life
• UDHR is among those rights are civil, political, economic, social, and cultural
• The United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945; the member countries emphasized a concrete framework to ensure people globally share and realize human rights.
• This became part of the agenda of the UN General Assembly in 1946
• Eleanor Roosevelt appointed as chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations
• The said commission drafted the list of fundamental human rights and called the list Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• The UN General Assembly approved the UDHR on December 10, 1948 and called it the International Magna Carta for all Mankind.
• The Preamble and Article 1 of the UDHR declare the inherent rights of all people, such as equality and freedom.
• Civil and political rights are composed of Articles 3 to 21.
• Articles 22 to 27 detail the economic, social, and cultural rights
• The last three articles (Articles 28 to 30) concern the duty of individuals to uphold the rights of others
• Human rights within the UDHR are interconnected
• The UDHR has become the foundation for many countries to maintain peace, promote dignity, and respect for the individual
• The Philippine government joined many countries in emphasizing great importance to the dignity and rights of people in different parts of the world
• The Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the country lists the combined rights of every person from the old constitution and added rights of individuals that are in Sections 8, 11, 12, 13, 18 (1), and 19.
• According to the book of De Leon, et.al (2014), a democratic country has 3 types of rights

Levels of Awareness

• Citizens have varying degrees of awareness and implementation of human rights
• These levels can be seen in the following table based on the Facilitator's Manual on Human Rights Education (2003):
  • Level 1 - Tolerance and Denial is where unconditional tolerance for the violation of human rights exists;
  • Level 2 - Inaction and Interest, there is limited knowledge of human rights but refusal or disinterest in asserting these rights due to fear, danger, or lack of understanding of social, economic, and political conditions of the country
  • Level 3 - Limited Initiative shows the advocacy of human rights by finding solutions using common methods such as filing a complaint
  • Level 4 - Militance, Independence, and Initiative show awareness, active and free defense of human rights through stable and collective efforts.

Human Rights Advocate

• M.S. Diokno (1997) states that, apart from being free, expanding the perspective to be active citizens
• It is important to have the knowledge with human rights, and actually assert and fulfill the rights
• Participating in politics offers participation for citizens to serve as members of the country

Political Participation

• People are the key to changing the community
• citizens should exercise their right to vote
• The government is not the only one with functions in community problems

Election

• Election is the easiest political participation by the citizen as one means of participation
• Voting is a political obligation and right guaranteed by the Constitution
• Voters must be:
  • citizens of the Philippines
  • not disqualified by law
  • 18 years old or older
  • residents of the Philippines for at least one year and in the place where they intend to vote for at least six months before the election
• Voter goal should not simply give public mandate, but the need to provide power to those that improve the State and win against the oppressors in the country
• The disqualified to vote are those:
  • Imprisoned for at least 1 year. They can vote again 5 years after serving their term
  • Sentenced by court for rebellion, sedition, anti-subversion, firearms or any form of threats against the nation’s security. Can vote after 5 years of serving their terms
  • Declared by experts as insane or not in their right mind.

Civil Society

• Civil society the general public sector that’s separated from State
• Encompasses citizens who participate in protests, social movements, and NGOs or People’s Organization
• Does not encompass homes, businesses, political parties, and armed forces intending to invade government.

Goals of Civil Society

• Collaborate in changing policies and emphasizing accountability and transparency with Government

Participation of Citizens and Civil Society

• The participation of citizens and civil society ensures Government officials have accountability with their responsibilities (Bello, 2000)

Civil Society Explained

• Constantino-David (1998) explained the components of a civil society including
  • Protests, social movements, and voluntary organizations. The latter is categorized as:
    • Grassroot organizations or people’s organizations (POs)
    • Grassroot support organizations or Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Types of NGOs and POs

• NGOs provide support for the programs of People’s Organizations.
• The local Government Code of 1991 gives proof to the role of NGOs

Types of NGOs and POs in the Philippines

• TANGOS (Traditional NGOs) which is making means for the poor;
• FUNDANGOS (Funding agency NGOs) or providing financial aid to POs;
• DJANGOS (Development, justice, and advocacy NGOs) or providing support through legal means;
• PACO (Professional, academic, and civic organizations) forming the professionals and academe;
• GRIPO (Groups run and initiated by government) forming the NGOs of the government
• GUAPO (Genuine, autonomous POs) which is made by people by own initiative, not by the government

Benefits from joining NGOs

• Participation in organizations is a good way to experience democracy
• The three important functions of NGOs and POs include
  • Creating projects that will increase the economy that is not being provided by the Government
  • Provide seminars on their advocacies to awaken people; and communicate with Government and give the voices for the common good

Government

• Democracy Index studies the Democracy of 167 countries in the world
• Five categories in the index include electoral process, civil liberties, effective government, participation, and political culture

PH Democracy Index

• Philippines has had a rank of 50 out of 167 countries.
• Is a flawed democracy which means there is a bad political involvement from a citizen
• Filipinos face problems most commonly with corruption.

Corruption

• Corruption is where Government workers use their position to spread self-benefit.
• The Global Corruption Barometer survey asks people their opinion of corruption in their country.
• In 2013, a survey revealed the corruption in the Philippines getting even worse

Participatory Governance

• Is an important way for citizens to accomplish their means for change in the Governments
• It is a way for common citizens to partner with Government in creating a means to make for community benefits. Provides the foundation for social capital and builds trust from Government, civil society, and citizens.
• Key concepts for achieving Good Governance include;
• Consensus oriented
• Effectiveness at efficiency
• Resource prudence
• Ecological soundness
• Responsiveness
• Accountability
• Strategic vision
• Legitimacy
• Partnership
• Empowering
• Equity
• Participation
• Rule of Law
• Transparency
• Accountability and integrity of public officials of Government is being provided by and from the 1987 Constitution.