Lesson 1 - PPG Hand-out for Introduction PDF

***Chapter 1: Politics and Governance: An Introduction*** **POLITICS** \- from the Greek word "polis" which means city or city-state implying government or citizenship. **David Easton** (American Political scientist) describes politics as *human activity concerning the authoritative decision-maki...

***Chapter 1: Politics and Governance: An Introduction*** **POLITICS** \- from the Greek word "polis" which means city or city-state implying government or citizenship. **David Easton** (American Political scientist) describes politics as *human activity concerning the authoritative decision-making and action by the government wich results in an authoritative allocation of values for society*. **Harold Lasswell** (American Political scientist) defined politics as "who gets what, when and how". Thus, politics is concerned with how official governmental decision-making and action which identifies.(1.) who in political society recieves how much of what they benefits, rewards and advantages. (2.) when they recieve such (3.) methods by which they receive. Moreover, politics includes decision-making and decision enforcing processes in any group that makes and enforce rules for its members. Which includes: 1. An official allocation of things, activities, ideas and other phenonmenon with the society. 2. A determination by government of who should get the benefit, when and how 3. An analysis of public issues giving rise to conflict which requires resolution. **Political Science** \- Greek word "*politikѐ epistemѐ*" or political science which pertains to practical science concerning noble action or happiness of the citizens. It is a social science major that deals with political and governmental structures and processes. It centers on the systematic study of political and governmental institutions. **THEORIES OF STATE'S ORIGIN** **1. Divine Theory** -- it presents the view that the state is created by God. The authority to govern the people was ordained by God upon rulers who were regarded as of divine descent. **2**. **Social Contract Theory** -- the state is deliberate creation of men by means of a social contract reached through their common consent. **3. The Natural Theory** -- it held that state was a natural institution and not an abstract or artificial being. Under this theory, the state is just a living organism which is natural because it has the capacity to grow, develop and attain a fully civilized life. **4. The Patriarchal/ Matriarchal Theory** -- the state arose through a process of evolution. At the beginning that state evolved from the smallest unit of society -- the family. The family enlarged into a clan and later on, the clan expanded into tribe, the tribe into a nation, and the nation into a state. **STATE** **--** is a community of persons more or less numerous occupying a define territory completely free of external control and possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience. Elements of the State **1. People** -- the term refers to the inhabitants or population of a state. The number compromising the state is not definite. Its population would depend on the size of the territory. **2. Territory** -- it refers to the fixed portion of the surface of the earth inhabited by the people of the state. A definite area over which the state exercise sovereign jurisdiction. **3. Government** -- it is essential instrument or machinery of the state that carries out its will, purpose, and objectives. Government is an institution by which society's needs for social are satisfied and by which men's conflicting interest are reconciled. **Kinds of the Government** 1. As to number of people exercising governmental authority: a. Monarchial/Monarchy- it is divided into two types, **absolute** and **limited.** In absolute monacrchy, it is ruled by a Monarch (King/Queen) who has absolute power over the subjects. While Limited monarchy, it is one with limited powers as provided by the constitution. b. Aristocrary- the governmental power is held by few elite members of the society. c. Democracy- a government in which political power is exercised by the majority of the people. It is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is devided into two types: C.1. Direct democracy is the type of government whereby people themselves manage public affairs. C.2. Representative democracry is one in which the people run public affairs thru their representatives elected periodically who inturn appoints officials to appointive possitions. 2\. As to the sharing of government power between the national and local governments: a. Unitary- a government where by the power is centralized in the National Government. b. Federal- is one whereby the set of powers to govern is shared between the national and local government. 3\. As to the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative powers. a\. Presidential- is a government headed by a President who is elected directly by the people for a fix term of office and as the head of the executive department. b\. Parliamentary- type of government in which headed by a Prime Minister who is elected by the members of the Parliament from among themselves. He has no fix term of ofice since he can be removed by the parliament by deciding or sactioning "vote of no confidence" between parliament members. Moreover, the members of the parliament are elected by the people for a fix term of office in every legislatie district. **Governance-** it refers to the activities of the Government as an institution relative to its management of public affairs. It involves (1) How governments are selected, monitored and replaced (ex. election popularity vote) (2) the capability of governments to effectively formulate and implement policies (ex. The Executive) (3) respect of citizens and state for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions. **Good Governance**- is the exercise of authority that encourages citizen to participate, ensures transparency, requires accountability, advances effeciency and support the rule of law. World Bank Group (WBG) formulated Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) that gives formal measures of good governance with two indicators corresponding to each of the three areas of governance. (Evaluate the the Philippine Governance) +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Area/Indicator | Dimension | +===================================+===================================+ | 1.Government selection, | | | monitoring and replacement | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | a. Voice accountability | The degree to which citizens | | | could take part in choosing their | | | governments. it includes freedom | | | of expression, association and of | | | the press. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | b. Political Stability and | How likely the government willl | | Absence of Violence/terrorim | be rendered incapable of | | | functioning or surviving through | | | unconstitutional or violent means | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 2\. Policy making and | | | implemenation | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | a. Government effectiveness | The quality of gov. Services and | | | of policy fomaulation and | | | implementation | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | b. Regulatory Quality | The quality of gov. capability to | | | formulate and implement policies | | | that engender the growth of the | | | private sectors | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 1. Respect for institutions that | | | govern state-citizen | | | interactions. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | a. Rule of Law | The degree in which how agents | | | have confidence in and conform to | | | societal rules and the likelihood | | | of crime and violence. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | b. Control of corruption | Degree to which who hold | | | governmental power use such for | | | private ends | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ On the local level, National Statistical Coordination Board's Good Governance Index(GGI) that covers three areas.The index is was developed as an effort to come up with objectives, comprehensive and comparable measures to guide policy makers in assessing local and national performance. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Area/Indicator | Dimension | +===================================+===================================+ | 1.Political Governance | a. Improvement of internat and | | | external security. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | b. Impovement of law and | | | administration of justice. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | c. Elimination of graft and | | | corruption. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 2.Economic Governance | a. Sustainable management of | | | resources. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | b. Enhance government | | | responsiveness to the poor. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 3.Administrative Governance | a\. Efficient delivery of | | | health, education and power | | | related resources. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | b.Increase government | | | transparency and accountability. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | c.Continuos building of | | | capacities. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | | d.Expanded use of information and | | | communications technology and its | | | improvement. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **4. Sovereignty --** it is defined as the supreme and final legal authority of the state to enforce its will on its members by coercive sanctions, if necessary, which must not be subject to any like power. **Aspect of Sovereignty** a. Internal - is the supreme or absolute power a state to enforce its will on the people with its territory. b. External -- which means independence of a state from control by any other state. The independence of a state should be recognized and respected by the nation-states. **Characteristic of Sovereignty** a. Absolute -- the exercise by the state of its sovereign powers is absolute in the sense that the state is not subject to restrictions by any other power. b. Comprehensiveness -- it means that the supreme legal authority of the state extends to all the citizens, aliens, associations, or organizations within its boundaries. c. Permanent -- it means that sovereignty is perpetual in the sense that as long as the state exist, sovereignty exist. d. Indivisible -- it means that indivisibility of sovereignty is that such supreme authority or supreme will is the monopoly of the state. **Type of Sovereignty** a. Legal **--** it is defined as the supreme authority of the state expressed by the law and the Constitution. Whichever authority has the power to make the law or amend constitution exercise legal sovereignty. b. Political **--** it is supreme authority of the state which resides in the people. c. De facto -- it is vested on a person or group of persons who have succeeded in displacing the legitimate sovereign. d. De Jure -- the supreme legal authority of the state is based on the supreme law.