Essential Elements of a State

Study Notes

Essential Elements of a State

A state requires four key components: population, territory, government, and sovereignty.
Sovereignty is the most important element and is further divided into internal and external sovereignty.
Internal sovereignty refers to the state's authority to govern its own people and territory.
External sovereignty means the state's independence from control by other states.

State Institutions

These are established to govern the state.
State institutions share these characteristics: a cluster of social usage, relative permanence, defined objectives, resistance to change, and a transmitter of social heritage.

Constitutional Commissions

These are independent bodies established to safeguard fundamental aspects of governance.
Examples include the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Commission on Audit (COA), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Agencies Under the Office of the President

The Office of the President oversees various agencies that perform specific functions.
Examples include the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), National Statistics Office (NSO)/Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Tariff Commission, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Security Council (NSC), Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Philippine News Agency, and Philippine Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).

Three Branches of Government

The government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Each branch has distinct responsibilities and powers.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is responsible for making laws.
The US Congress is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate has 100 members (2 per state) and the House has 435 members (based on state populations).

Executive Branch

The executive branch carries out the laws created by the legislative branch.
The US President is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for appointing cabinet members.
Cabinet members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch evaluates the laws made by the legislative branch.
The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the judicial branch and has 9 justices who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
There are also other federal courts below the Supreme Court.

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

IGOs are composed of governments from multiple countries.
They aim to promote cooperation and coordination among member states.
A well-known IGO is the United Nations.

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)

INGOs are non-governmental organizations operating on the international stage.
They often advocate for specific causes or issues.
An example is the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Main Types of International Organizations

There are two major types of international organizations: Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs).
IGOs are composed of governments, while INGOs are independent from government control.

Description

This quiz explores the fundamental components that constitute a state, including population, territory, government, and sovereignty. Additionally, it examines state institutions that govern and constitutional commissions responsible for safeguarding governance principles. Test your understanding of these core concepts.