Philippine Politics and Governance PDF

The Executive  ThePhilippines has a presidential, unitary and republican system of government  Under the Presidential system of government, the executive, legislative and judiciary branches are separate and distinct from each other. This means that each of the branches...

The Executive  ThePhilippines has a presidential, unitary and republican system of government  Under the Presidential system of government, the executive, legislative and judiciary branches are separate and distinct from each other. This means that each of the branches has its own powers and responsibilities  Thisset up is guided by the separation of powers and each branch is granted powers on the other’s exercise of privileges. This constitutional guarantee which assures that one branch does not abuse its powers is known as the doctrine of checks and balances EXECUTIVE POWER  Executive power is defined as the power to implement laws in one country, this branch is vested the power to execute these laws and make sure that they are properly implemented  Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines. Public Qualifications Manner of Term of Office official election President 1. Natural born citizen The President and vice president shall Six years The term begins at noon 2. A register voter 3. Able to read and be elected by a on June 30 direct vote of the The president shall not be write people. eligible for reelection 4. At least 40 years of (section 4. paragraph 1) Vice age on the day of The person having election President 5. A resident of the the highest number of votes Six years Philippine for at The vice president shall least 10 years not serve for more than immediately two successive terms (Section 4 paragraph 1 preceeding his election  Section 7. The President-elect and the Vice President-elect shall assume office at the beginning of their terms.  If the President-elect fails to qualify, the Vice President-elect shall act as President until the President-elect shall have qualified.   If at the beginning of the term of the President, the President- elect shall have died or shall have become permanently disabled, the Vice President-elect shall become President.  Where no President and Vice-President shall have been chosen or shall have qualified, or where both shall have died or become permanently disabled, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall act as President until a President or a Vice-President shall have been chosen and qualified.   The Congress shall, by law, provide for the manner in which one who is to act as President shall be selected until a President or a Vice-President shall have qualified, in case of death, permanent disability, or inability of the officials mentioned in the next preceding paragraph.   Section 8. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall then act as President until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified.  The Congress shall, by law, provide who shall serve as President in case of death, permanent disability, or resignation of the Acting President. He shall serve until the President or the Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting President  Section 9. Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice-President during the term for which he was elected, the President shall nominate a Vice-President from among the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall assume office upon confirmation by a majority vote of all the Members of both Houses of the Congress, voting separately.  Section 10. The Congress shall, at ten o’clock in the morning of the third day after the vacancy in the offices of the President and Vice-President occurs, convene in accordance with its rules without need of a call and within seven days, enact a law calling for a special election to elect a President and a Vice-President to be held not earlier than forty-five days nor later than sixty days from the time of such call.  Section 11. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.  The bill calling such special election shall be deemed certified under paragraph 2, Section 26, Article VI of this Constitution and shall become law upon its approval on third reading by the Congress. Appropriations for the special election shall be charged against any current appropriations and shall be exempt from the requirements of paragraph 4, Section 25, Article VI of this Constitution. The convening of the Congress cannot be suspended nor the special election postponed. No special election shall be called if the vacancy occurs within eighteen months before the date of the next presidential election.  Whenever a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice- President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President  Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall reassume the powers and duties of his office. Meanwhile, should a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit within five days to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Congress shall decide the issue. For that purpose, the Congress shall convene, if it is not in session, within forty-eight hours, in accordance with its rules and without need of call.  If the Congress, within ten days after receipt of the last written declaration, or, if not in session, within twelve days after it is required to assemble, determines by a two-thirds vote of both Houses, voting separately, that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice- President shall act as President; otherwise, the President shall continue exercising the powers and duties of his office.  Section 12. In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the President during such illness.  Powers of the President  1.Control over all executive departments, bureaus and offices.  2.Power of general supervision over local government and autonomous regions  Power to nominate, appoint and remove officials  Budgetary and fiscal power  Military power (being the commander-in Chief of the AFP)  Power to contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the country  Pardoning power  Power to check other branches of the government.  CABINET SECRETARIES  FUNCTIONS OF A CABINET SECRETARY  Cabinet secretaries act as the alter ego of the President  executing, with his authority, the power of the Office of  the President in their respective departments.  The number of cabinet secretaries varies from time to time  depending on the need of an administration. According to  the Administrative Code of 1987, the President of the  Philippines may create or dissolve any department as he  sees fit.  APPOINTMENT OF CABINET SECRETARIES  According to the Article 7, Section 16, the President may appoint anyone to executive departments with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Names of individuals nominated to cabinet posts are submitted to the Commission on Appointments for their consideration.An individual may not assume his post in a given department unless confirmed by the Commission on Appointments  Not all cabinet members, however, are subject to confirmation of the Commission on Appointments. According to the Commission of Appointments website, the following need confirmation in order to assume their posts:  Executive Secretary  Secretary of Agrarian Reform  Secretary of Agriculture  Secretary of Budget and Management  Secretary of Education  Secretary of Energy  Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources  Secretary of Finance  Secretary of Foreign Affairs  Secretary of Health  Secretary of Justice  Secretary of Labor and Employment  Secretary of National Defense  Secretary of Public Works and Highways  Secretary of Science and Technology  Secretary of Social Welfare and Development  Secretary of the Interior and Local Government  Secretary of Trade and Industry  Secretary of Transportation and Communications  Secretary of Tourism  Commission on Higher Education  Director General of the National Economic and  Development Authority  POWERS OF A CABINET SECRETARY  As stated above, a cabinet secretary is the alter ego of the President in their respective departments. Thus, they posses the power to issue directives relative to their departments, such as department orders. These orders only apply to offices under a specific department under the cabinet secretary’s jurisdiction. Cabinet secretaries also act as advisors to the President of the Philippines for their areas.  THE LEGISLATIVE (Article VI of The 1987 Philippine Constitution) Engagement Activity  Tell whether the following statement is Fake or Fact The legislative branch is under the supervision of the president 2. The legislative branch has the power to amend ( change or modify) existing law. 3. There are 24 lawmakers that make up the Lower House. 4. All proposed bills must have the signature of the President to become law.  5. The legislative branch of the government proposes bill that can become law.  Legislative  The Legislative branch of the government creates the law of the country  Article VI. Section 1  The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.  The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law; the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 (unless otherwise fixed by law), 20 percent of whom must be Party-list representatives  The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector  The qualifications to become a senator, as stipulated in the constitution, are: 1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; 2. at least thirty-five years old; 3. is able to read and write 4. a registered voter; and 5. a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before election day.   Meanwhile, the constitution provides for the following criteria to become a member of the House of Representatives: 1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; 2. at least twenty-five years old; 3. is able to read and write; and 4. except the party-list representatives, a registered voter and a resident for at least one year in the district where s/he shall be elected.  Section 9. In case of vacancy in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, a special election may be called to fill such vacancy in the manner prescribed by law, but the Senator or Member of the House of Representatives thus elected shall serve only for the unexpired term.  Section 11. A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof  Section 12. All Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall, upon assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests. They shall notify the House concerned of a potential conflict of interest that may arise from the filing of a proposed legislation of which they are authors.  Section 13. No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, during his term without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have been created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which he was elected.  SECTION 17. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral Tribunal, which shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of their respective Members. Each Electoral Tribunal shall be composed of nine Members, three of whom shall be Justices of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice, and the remaining six shall be Members of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, who shall be chosen on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and the parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall be its Chairman.  SeniorAssociate Justice Marvic Leonen- chairperson of Senate Electoral Tribunal  Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa- chairman of House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal  SECTION 18. There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the Senate, as ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve Members of the House of Representatives, elected by each House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The Chairman of the Commission shall not vote, except in case of a tie. The Commission shall act on all appointments submitted to it within thirty session days of the Congress from their submission. The Commission shall rule by a majority vote of all the Members.  Legislative process  Congress is responsible for making enabling laws to make sure the spirit of the constitution is upheld in the country and, at times, amend or change the constitution itself. In order to craft laws, the legislative body comes out with two main documents: bills and resolutions.  Resolutions convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of Representatives. These resolutions can further be divided into three different elements:  joint resolutions — require the approval of both chambers of Congress and the signature of the President, and have the force and effect of a law if approved. concurrent resolutions — used for matters affecting the operations of both chambers of Congress and must be approved in the same form by both houses, but are not transmitted to the President for his signature and therefore have no force and effect of a law. This is used to fix the time of adjournment and to express the “sense of Congress” on an issue. simple resolutions — deal with matters entirely within the prerogative of one chamber of Congress, are not referred to the President for his signature, and therefore have no force and effect of a law.  Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are approved by both houses and the President of the Philippines. A bill may be vetoed by the President, but the House of Representatives may overturn a presidential veto by garnering a 2/3rds vote. If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt  Powers of the Congress’.  1, Check the president powers to appropriate money for government use  2. Provide consent on appointment made by the president  3. Request heads of the executive to appear before the Congress  4. Checks the president power as the Commander in chief in the suspension of Habeas Corpus or the declaration of Martial Law  The privilege of the writ of Habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.  5. Concur with president in granting amnesty to individuals.  Non-Legislative Functions of Congress  1.Constituent- The Power to propose amendments to the Constitution is a constituent function.  2.Electoral- The Senate elects its President and the House of Representatives elects its speaker.  Executive- Congress exercises certain powers of an executive nature through the supervision which it exercises over administrative officials. By means of law, it can create administrative offices and agencies and may alter or abolish.  Judicial-The Congress holds the power to impeach the President, Vice Pres, the members of Supreme Court and the members of the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman  Investigative-As a necessary adjunct to the exercise of its power and the discharge of its functions. Congress has full power to investigate, to summon witnesses and to compel the presentation of books, records and correspondence Principles of Checks and Balances 1. Check by the President. The President may veto or disapprove bills enacted by the Congress and through the pardoning, he may modify or set aside the judgments of courts. 2. Check by Congress. Congress may override the veto of the President: reject certain appointments of the President. Revoke the proclamation of Martial Law or suspension of the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus by the President 3. Check by the Judiciary. The Judiciary, in turn, with the Supreme Court as the Final Arbiter, may declare legislative measures or executive acts unconstitutional.  Give 24 Names of Senators in the Country Committee  After the referral of the Consideration/ bill the committee where the bill was referred to Action will determine If there is a need to conduct public hearings or not   The Committee Report with its approved bill version is submitted to the Committee on Rules Calendaring for for Calendaring for second reading Second Reading JUDICIARY  Judicial branch is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. It provides mechanisms for resolution and disputes. The branch of government which administers justice according to law. This term is used to refer broadly to the courts, the judges magistrates , adjudicators and other support personnel who run the system.  The power to decide on legal disputes is known as judicial power. In the 1987 Philippine Constitution of the Article VIII , Section 1 state that” judicial power shall be vested in one supreme court and in such other lower courts as may be established by law.  Itincludes the duty of the court of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch of the government. Hence , the central function of the judges is to adjudicate and interpret the law.  The judicial branch is one of the three independent, coequal and coordinate branches of the government. The independence of the Philippine judiciary is manifested in the following: * Creation of the judicial and bar council  *. Expanded power of judicial review  * Fiscal Autonomy of the judiciary  *Power to review proclamation of Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus * Security of Tenure of the Judges  *The Supreme Court as judge in presidential elections.  Structure, Organization and Composition of Judiciary  The present judiciary is comprised of regular courts tasked to administer justice. These are organized into four, the first two being review courts and the last two being trial courts Supreme Court Court of Appeals Regional Trial Courts Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. Judicial Branch- rest with the Supreme Court and the Lower courts. Supreme Court – the highest court, consist of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice Function 1 Judicial – has something to do with the interpretation of law 2. administrative- manages all lower court under judicial branch.  Court of Appeals –second highest judicial court  consist of 68 Associate Justices and one presiding judge. (presidential appointee)  Sandigan bayan is a special court that has jurisdiction over civil cases ( including graft, corruption and other offenses) committed by public officers and employees and those in government owned or government controlled corporations.  Another is the Court of Tax Appeals, which retains exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal not only civil tax cases but also those that are criminal in nature.  There are also special courts, which are tribunals that have limited jurisdiction over certain cases or controversies. One is the Shari ‘a Court which has the power similar to the regular courts but the subjects over whom judicial powers are exercised are limited to Muslim Filipinos(Pangalangan 2011).  ChiefJustice – appointed by the President based on the nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council  Retirement age : 70, no term limit.  The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:  (1) Exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.  (2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts in:  (a) All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question.  (b) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in relation thereto.  (c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue.  (d) All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.  (e) All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.  (3) Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such temporary assignment shall not exceed six months without the consent of the judge concerned.  (4) Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.  5. Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the integrated bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged.  (6) Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law. The Supreme Court shall have administrative supervision over all courts and the personnel thereof.  Section 7. (1) No person shall be appointed Member of the Supreme Court or any lower collegiate court unless he is a natural- born citizen of the Philippines. A Member of the Supreme Court must be at least forty years of age, and must have been for fifteen years or more, a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines.  (2) The Congress shall prescribe the qualifications of judges of lower courts, but no person may be appointed judge thereof unless he is a citizen of the Philippines and a member of the Philippine Bar.  (3) A Member of the Judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.  Essay. In a one whole sheet of paper, write an essay of not less than 30 words based on the following questions: 1. Do you agree that “Justice delayed is justice denied”? 2. Explain your answer (you can answer by sharing an example of a person you know who has experienced delay in the administration of justice.  Fill in the Blanks. Complete each statement with an appropriate term on the space provided. 1. The _______________ protects the people from someone else’s exercise of abusive power, violence or force. 2. One of the manifestations of the independence of the Philippine Judiciary is the Fiscal ____________of judiciary 3. _________________ is a special courts that has jurisdiction over civil cases committed by public officers and employees. 4. The Court of ___________________ retains exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal not only civil taxes cases but also those that are criminal in nature. 5. In the Supreme Court the central function of the ________ is to adjudicate and interpret the law.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS  In unitary systems, the National or the central government is given substantial control and power over the affairs or directions of the country. In this system, the national government decide for the country. All laws or policies are expected to come from the central government and are trickled down to the local level.  Local government is responsible for the function of and delivery of complete range of services and infrastructure required by their individual communities, parks and garden roads streets, bridges, libraries and swimming pool maintenance. Each local government is given the task to provide local public services and implement national welfare policies(Atienza 2006) They are important in delivering welfare and implementing policies from the national level.  Decentralization is the process that involves the transfer of planning, decision-making, or administrative authority from the central government to its field organizations, local government or non-governmental organizations(Rondinelli and Cheema, n.d. in Atienza 2006). There are four major forms of decentralization: 1.Deconcentration. It involves the redistribution of administrative responsibilities within the central government. 2.Parastatal organizations – It involves the delegations of decision-making and management authority for specific functions to the bodies that are not under the direct control of the central government.  Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) 3. Devolution- It involves the process by which central government relinguishes certain functions to local government units(Giving local Govt more autonomy in managing their resources) (Transfer of power from central govt to subnational;) 4. Transfer of functions from government to nongovernment institutions.- It involves the transfer of planning and administrative powers or functions to voluntary, private or nongovernmental institutions. Example of NGO  Philippine Red Cross  Philippine Animal Welfare Society  Haribon Foundation  KARAPATAN  FreeLEgal Assistance Group.  Philippine Alliance of HumanRights Advocate  Decentralization and democratization reinforce each other. Decentralization enhances local participation and therefore strengthen democracy. Decentralization can only take place within democratic processes and it requires for local government systems to have good management and democratic accountability  Major Roles of Local Government Unit  1. Management of the environment  2.. Economic development  3...Educational development  Local Government Units in the Philippines  In the Philippines, devolution is not new. Even before the Spaniards came in our country, almost everything was localized. During that time barangay which is the most basic unit was comprised of about 30 to 100 households. The ruler of the barangay was the datu who exercised governmental powers. The barangays would later on be incorporated into the Spanish Colonial regime .  Itwas during the time of the Spaniards that a centralized system of governance was introduced. The barangay or the barrio was retained as the most basic administrative unit. which was then created pueblos (municipalities), cabildos/ayuntamiento (cities) and provincias (provinces).The governor general was supreme over all affairs including local ones. While Maura Law of 1893 gave greater autonomy to towns and provinces in Luzon and Visayas. Its effects were not felt because of the revolution that broke in 1896  Highly Urbanized Cities in the Phils.  Cebu City ILigan  Makati Naga  Davao City Antipolo  San Juan  Cagayan De Oro  Taguig  Caloocan  Quezon City  Baguio  Mandaluyong  Zamboanga  Marikina  Highly Urbanized Cities has a minimum population of 200, 000 inhabitants as certified by NSO and with the latest annual income of 50 million pesos based on 1991 constant prices  Local government units create their own sources of revenues?  1.Thru levying taxes  2. Thru charges from acquiring business permits  3. Thru collection from franchising related programs The expanded powers of the Local Government unit are 1. Power to levy taxes 2. Improve budgeting system 3. Tax exemption privileges Nature of Election and Political Parties  Elections are a device for filling a governmental office through choices made by the electorate, a designated body of qualified people. It was in 2010. when automated election system was first used in the national election. While elections are by themselves not a sufficient condition for the existence of political representation, they are a necessary condition because the representative process is intrinsically linked to elections and voting (Heywood 2013). Elections have a variety of roles and functions and these are the following  FUNCTIONS OF ELECTION 1.Recruiting political leaders. Through elections, politicians- people who possess talents and skills relevant to electioneering are chosen. These skills may not be related to what politicians are required in accomplishing their functions. Nonetheless, individuals who possess such skills are enlisted at the roster of leaders through elections. 2.Making government In countries where executive is elected, election directly make the government (i.e., the administration, a group of leaders vested with power and authority for the time being). In parliamentary governments, elections are an avenue in the formation of these governments. 3. In the Philippines, elections do not only create the government (in this context , the group of individuals responsible and accountable in policy –making) but the opposition as well. 4. Providing Representation  In fair and competitive systems, elections become the means through which people’s demand are channeled to the government.  Elected officials are considered the link between the government and the people.  In the Philippines, for example, the members of the House of Representatives are elected to represent their constituents in the halls of the government. Such is true for those elected by the district proportional system or by the party-list system. 5. Building Legitimacy  Elections provide justification for a system of rule and thus help in fostering legitimacy. Elections also mobilize active consent by encouraging citizens to participate in politics through elections. In the Philippines officials are given seats in the government and are considered holders of legitimate power as the people elected them.  Strengthening Elites  Elections can also be vehicle through which the political elites can manipulate and control the masses.  6. Influencing Policy  Election may hinder the government from pursuing unpopular policies. At times when a single issue dominates the electoral campaign, elections may directly influence policy. Elections are considered as a venue by which people can choose officials based on policy choices. However, the Philippine Political system is considered as personality-based more than program or policy- oriented. 7. Educating Voters  Elections provide the electorate with abundant information during the campaign period. And voting process. The information maybe about the candidates parties, policies and the like. Elections can possibly influence or encourage citizen’s participation or the civic culture. 8.Building Legitimacy  Elections provide justification for a system of rule and thus help in fostering legitimacy. Elections also mobilize active consent by encouraging citizens to participate in politics through elections. In the Philippines officials are given seats in the government and are considered holders of legitimate power as the people elected them. 9.Strengthening Elites  Elections can also be vehicle through which the political elites can manipulate and control the masses. ELECTORAL SYSTEM  According to Heywood(2013) electoral system is a a set of rules that governs the conduct of elections. From questions pertaining to how elections should be conducted to how a candidates wins, elections are guided by electoral system. To put it simply, electoral systems are the ways by which votes are translated into seats in the legislature or in any other areas such as the presidency.  Majoritarian Electoral system- larger political parties win a higher proportion of votes they gain in the election.  A political party is a group that is formally organized for the purpose of winning government power through electoral or other means. The political party is the major organizing principle of modern politics.  The following are the characteristics of parties that distinguish them from other groups.  They aim to exercise government power by winning seats in the government.  They are formally organized bodies with card carrying membership. Membership involves taking a formal oath  They adopt a broad issue focus and other major of government policy.  They are united by shared political preferences and ideological identity to varying degrees.  Functions of Political Parties  Heywood (2013) identified six (6) functions of Political Parties. These are:  1.Representation  Political parties are vehicles through which the interests of the people are carried out in the government. Representation refers to the ability of the parties to respond to and articulate the views of members and the voters.  Political parties are expected to represent the causes of the people they claim to be supportive of. In the Philippines, since most parties are catch all parties they represent as many as causes possible to get much support across the social strata.  2. Elite formation and recruitment  Political parties provide training ground for politicians. It is through these groups that politicians become equipped with skills, knowledge and experience needed in carrying out their functions. Parties then provide leaders for the state.  In the Philippines, as in elsewhere, these political parties train their members to become future presidents, if not to occupy high positions in the government. 3. Goal Formulation  Political Parties are seen as means through which societies set collective goals.hey formulate governmental power. Political parties, thus become a source of policy initiation and provide the electorate a choice of realistic and achievable goals.  Interest articulation and aggregation  4. Interest articulation and aggregation.  Political parties help articulate various interests in a society by developing collective goals. These interests are then aggregated into a coherent whole, balancing competing interests against each other.  5. Socialization and mobilization  Political parties serve as agents of political education and socialization through a series of internal debates and discussions and through campaigning and electoral competition. The issues focused on by political parties set the political agenda, while the values and attitudes they emphasize become part of the larger political culture.  The type of agenda carried out is reflected on the beliefs and values that political parties adhere to. Apparently, political parties in the Philippines are criticized to be all the same, such that most of them support the liberal democratic agenda 6. Organization of government.  Political parties help in the formation of governments. Parties also give governments a degree of stability and coherence. Similarly, they are a vital source of opposition and criticism, both inside and outside the government.  Political parties are important not only because of their functions that were mentioned. More importantly, the complex relationship between parties helps in the structuring of the political system. This network of relationship is commonly referred to as party system. According to Heywood (2013) the major types of party systems include the following:  One-party system – Only one party dominates and there is no political competition between parties. Single-party systems are characterized by the oppression of democratic freedom.  Two-party system – Two parties primarily dominate the political landscape and smaller parties only play a subordinate role.  Dominant party systems – Other parties are present but only one party dominates and enjoys prolonged periods in power.  Multiparty system- More than two parties compete for power overtime. It reduces the likelihood of a single-party government and increases chances of coalition formation.  CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT  Civil society is the “third sector” of society, along with government and Economy. It comprises civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations.  STATE MARKET  Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) refers to those nonstate, nonprofit, voluntary organizations. CSOs include a wide array of organizations, networks, associations, groups and movements which people come up with, to pursue their common interest by means of collective action.  CSOs covers a range of non-governmental and non-profit groups which interacts with the government and the market (economy). These groups include; Socio-civic organizations, professional organizations, academe, media, churches, people’s organizations (POs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and cooperatives. Key characteristics of successful civil societies (Ghaus-Pasha 2004):  1.Separated from the state and the market  2.Formed by people who have common needs, interests and values  3. Developed through a fundamentally endogenous and autonomous process that is not easily controlled from the outside  Role of Civil Society in Good Governance 1. Key agent in policy analysis and advocacy 2. Regulates and monitors state of performance and behavior of policy officials 3 Expose corrupt conduct of public officials 4. Watch how the state officials use their powers and raise public concern 5. Organize Public forums for public policy debate 6.Build social capital and enables citizens to identify and articulate their beliefs, values, and ideas 7. Mobilizes particular constituencies-especially the marginalized sectors of the masses-to participate in public and political affairs 8. Participates in development work to improve the well- being of its own and of other communities. One of the strategies of civil society is providing Education wherein CSO employ a number of tactics and skills such as meeting media workshops and conferences  Nongovernmental organizations, on the other hand, are nonprofit and voluntary citizens groups, which are organized on local, national, or international level.  Non-government Organizations perform service and humanitarian roles, bring citizen concerns to government, advocate and monitor policies, and encourage participation through information dissemination.  The Role of Civil Society Societies are always changing. They're shaped by world events, struggles, and creative, technological and economic advances. Civil society provides a way to engage productively in this process — to keep tabs on new developments and partner with other organizations working for the common good.  Some of the most critical jobs involve:  Social accountability. Hold corporations, faith-based and other organizations accountable for their actions (or inactions). Social accountability prizes transparency and honesty and makes sure everyone — from government officials to local school children — follows the same rules.  Empowering communities. Civil society organizations give voice to the disorganized, voiceless segments of society. They raise awareness of social issues and advocate for change, empowering local communities to develop new programs to meet their own needs.  Ensuring good governance. Civil society works hand-in-hand with the government, striving to develop policy and implement new strategies. Beyond that, civil society builds so-called social capital by providing a way for participants to build relationships and make connections based on their values, behaviors and beliefs. Activity 4. Direction: Create your own civil society organization (CSO) addressing an important issue in the society by filling in the table below. Name of your CSO Project/Program/Ser Purpose vices Name of CSO Logo Project/Services Purpose Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the National Blood Services, long-term help by the Disaster Management government and other Philippine Services,Safety https://en.wikipedia institutions replaces it. Red Cross Services,Health.org/ Among the people in need Services, Welfare Services wiki/Philippine_Red are the homeless, refugees, and Red Cross Youth. _Cr and victims of natural oss#/media/File:Phi disasters, wars, and lippi famines. ne_Red_Cross_Em ble m.svg SOCIAL MOVEMENT  A Social movement is a loosely organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a social or political one. Social movement is a collective body that has a high level of commitment and political activism. It This may be to carry out, resist or undo a social change. It is a type of group action and may involve individuals, organizations or both. Characteristic of Social Movement 1. It is a collective body that has a high level of commitment and political activism 2. It is non-institutionalized 3. It attempts to change society through collective action Social Movements are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues Kinds of Social Movement  Alternative – Individual level and advocate of minor changes. Typically focus on self-improvement and limited specific changes to individual  Redentive- Individual level and advocate radical changes. It seeks total personal transformation and typically religious in nature  Reformative – Occur at a broader group or societal level and advocate for minor changes  Revolutionary- occur at a broader group or societal level and advocate for radical changes.  Social movements have been described as "organizational structures and strategies that may empower oppressed populations to mount effective challenges and resist the more powerful and advantaged elites".They represent a method of social change from the bottom within nations.  Social Movement is a collective body that has a high level of commitment and a political activism and is not necessarily based on the formal organization  Social Movement in Philippine History  Katipunan, an underground movement that was revolutionary , mass-based and armed. This movement was known as the1896 Philippine Revolution which marks the end of Spanish colonization in the Philippines.  Socialism was one of the most popular context of movements during this time. Pedro Abad Santos’s Socialist Party in 1929 attracted tenant farmers, farmer laborers, and urban workers that led to the emergence of several organizations. This was in American Period  Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) in March 1942. This group had been attempting to address social issues in the Philippine society (During Japanese Period)  The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has strong resistance on the Marcos administration. The issues on ethnicity and religion served as the bases of the group’s mobilization. (Marcos Period)  What I Have Learned Activity 4. Let’s Reflect  1. Are social movements necessary for the democratization of the Philippines? Why or why not.  2. What do you think propels an individual to join a social movement for certain causes? PICTURE A PICTURE B 1. What have you observe in the pictures above? 2. Which picture/scenario do you think is more effective in airing out their concerns to the Philippine government? Explain.  References  DepEd. Philippine Politics and Governance. July 9, 2020. https://www.deped.gov.ph /wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Philippine-Politics- and-Governance.pdf.  United Nations. Peace, Dignity and Equality on a Healthy Planet. July 13, 2020.https ://www.un.org/en/sections/resources-different-audiences/civil- society/index.html. POLTICAL YOUTH INVOLVEMENT  Kabataang Barangay was the first name of Sangguniang kabataan  Kabataang Barangay is the project of Ferdinand Marcos to engage youth in political activities  United Nations Conventions on the Right of the Child(1989) This resolution provides that “ States parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child.  The 1987 Constitution Article II section 13 provides that “State recognizes the vital role of youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual and intellectual and social well-being. Youth can be a creative force and dynamic source of innovation  The international community’s recognition of the role of the youth in nation building They are important in the country/s policies about youth empowerment and participation They are creative and have contributed, catalyzed and participated in political social , economic changes  The inclusion of National Service Training Program(NSTP) to higher education in very important for the youth to be active in civic involvement  According to United Nation Development Program ,the following are the major concerns and issues among youth political participation.  1. The youth are not adequately represented in formal political institutions and processes  2. Young men and women are excluded from policy development given their disillusionment with political leadership and political institutions  3. Youth participation in governance is dependent on different political, socio-economic contexts  Participation is a basic democratic right, an effective and meaningful youth political participation should have the following democratic attributes  1. Consultative  2. Entails youth -led participation  3. Youth collaborative participation