Political Activities & Participation

• Political activities involve active participation in government affairs that affect individual or collective well-being, within a democratic and republican state where power resides in the people.

Types of Political Participation

• Traditional or Conservative Participation: This emphasizes democratic participation as stated in the Constitution, including voting, working in government agencies, corresponding with representatives, and joining cause-oriented groups.
• Alternative Participation: Though legal, it may be seen as unproductive or undemocratic, involving the youth, students, and those directly affected by political issues, such as signing petitions, protesting, and supporting boycotts.
• Illegal Participation: This encompasses activities against the law, such as assassinating political opponents, terrorism, sabotaging campaigns, vote buying, and influencing voters.

Reasons for Political Participation:

• Personal Gain: Benefit for oneself, family, or supported group.
• Idealism: Strong belief in advocated causes or candidates.
• Responsibility: Viewing political participation as a form of accountability.

Reasons for Non-Participation:

• Contentment: Belief that there is no need to change the existing political system.
• Freedom: Non-participation is seen as a right or privilege in a democratic state.
• Alienation: Feeling that no one listens to their grievances and that the government is indifferent.

Ways to Participate in Politics

• Free Expression: Ensuring the voices of the poor and needy are heard by the government, and their views are incorporated into policy decisions.
• Advocating solutions in the public sector.
• Providing social services in calamity-stricken areas.
• According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), media freedom is crucial for public governance, serving roles such as providing a voice for all members of society, especially the poor via civic forums.
• Mobilizing Agents enhance civic engagement and public involvement on important issues.
• Watchdogs monitor governmental activities to reduce abuse of power and improve accountability and transparency in public administration.

Voting

• Voting is one of the most important duties, where it is used to elect the leaders of the government. It is framed in the constitution under article 5 section 1. It is a responsibility of each citizen to elect candidates to fulfill positions. When there is a plebiscite votes must be cast to decide on questions. The act of voting is a both an obligation of the voter and is their political right.
• Those who can vote are citizens of the philippines, 18+ years of age
• Must have lived in the country up to a year and lived in the area they wish to vote an upwards of 6 months prior to the election
• Not denied the right to vote

Disqualified Voters:

• Individuals sentenced to imprisonment for no less than one year, eligible to vote again 5 years after the sentence.
• Those convicted of rebellion, sedition, anti-subversion, firearms law violations, or crimes against national security, eligible to vote again 5 years after the sentence.
• The Mentally challenged
• Those who are fed up with the government
• Voting allows citizens to choose officials who they believe can faithfully serve. Through voting, people determine the future of their country.
• The basis for casting your vote:
  • Platforms of the candidates
  • Candidates should not be from political dynasty
  • Credentials of the candidates
  • If the candidate has a degree
  • Consideration of what needs to be done
  • Clean record
  • No corruption
• Vote based on popularity, endorsement, character, and the party program.
• Vote based on the benefits you can receive from the candidate
• Pertaining to joining Party list, under sections 60-62, describe what are political parties.

Political Party Involvement

• Participation involves joining and supporting political organizations like the Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Bayan Muna, and Anak Pawis.

• Political parties are organized groups united by shared ideologies, political ideas, or governmental platforms. To gain official recognition, rights, and privileges, a political party must register with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Characteristics of Political Parties:

• Aims to gain control through winning elections.

• Has ideologies, formal structures, and supporting members.

• Grouped by objectives, ideologies, and principles.

• Has a broad agenda, issues, and recognition of key government policies.

• Large membership near elections, diminishing afterward.

• The House of Representatives recorded 290 political parties in the country in 2013.

• Party-List representatives are from different sectors of society, giving them representation at congress to have their voices heard. The beginning of the party list was written in 1987.

• The basic qualities of of party list are from RA 7941 and the 1987 constitutional.

  • Twenty percent Allocation is the representatives of the Party list make up 20% of the total representatives

Two Percent Threshold

• Two Percent Threshold requires that parties must secure at least 2% of votes to have a seat.
• Three-Seat Limit is from section 11, parties will be awarded three seats for the party.
• Proportional Representation is where voters signify their votes to parties. Representatives of parties will be given the same rights, responsibilities, salary and emoluments of the house of congress.
• Payment of taxes are the largest contribution to the government.
• When there is not enough funds, the country becomes impoverished

Types of taxes

• Direct taxes are imposed directly. Income and corporate taxes where the taxes are from either 5-10% whether the taxes are open or closed. Indirect taxes are where there are imposed on taxes of exported goods with local taxes.
• Ad valorem are based on the value of that product.
• Examples of this are Excise Tax. The taxes consumed on imported goods. The examples would be patrol. Specific tax of how much something weighs. Sin tax is on bad items. Real property is on properties based on ownership. There are estate taxes based on being a heir. Percentage Taxes at 30% and value added taxes.

Issues in the Country

• Tax evasion where people fail to properly pay their taxes.
• Corruption leads to taxes not going to the proper use, instead it lines the pockets of the corrupt. This leading to not enough funds to build hospitals, roads etc.
• Violence where a candidate can be killed. One case being Maguindanao Massacre.
• Election Fraud leading to vote buying.
  • Voter registration goes missing
  • Names being added that are registered
  • Error occurring in the PCOS machine
  • Candidates breaking the rules set by COMELEC, who will campaign before elections.

Wrong doing during the election:

• Vote buying
• Flying voters
• Intimidating Voters
• Bribing local personalities in COMELEC
• Ballot Snatching
• Hacking the ballots
• Killing candidates
• terrorism