SOC 003: Philippine Politics and Governance
First Quarter Exam Reviewer
Prepared by: Romeo D. Erese III, LPT, MA, PhD.
Politics- in general, it means organizing human activities.
Politics is all around.
Politics happens because of the need to make
decisions in the complex world we live in.
According to Aristotle, Man by nature is a political
animal. If it is true, then politics is not only
common in our lives it is unavoidable.
Elements of Politics:
Power
Rule
Authority
Influence
Governance- it refers to the way in which something is
governed to meet objectives such as protecting its people,
and acting in the countrys best interest.
State is a group of people living in a definite territory,
having a government of their own and enjoying their own
independence.
Elements of State
1.People a mass of population or community of people
living within the territorial jurisdiction of state.
2. Territory- The space within which the government
exercise its supreme authority.
3. Government- agency through which the will of the state
are formulated, expressed carried out.
4. Sovereignty the supreme power of the state to enforce
its will upon its citizen through laws. It also means
independence from the control of other states. It has two
aspects:
a. internal sovereignty- w/c means complete
authority to rule over the people inside the state
b. external sovereignty (often referred
as independence) which means independence from
outside or foreign control.
Nation - any large group of people who are united by
common bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, or
religion.
State v Nation
State is a political concept while nation is an ethnic concept.
Modes of Acquiring a Territory
1. Discovery and Occupation- a state may acquire a
territory by discovering a continent, an island or
land with no inhabitants or occupied by uncivilized
inhabitants and thereafter, occupying it, by placing
it under its political administration.
2. Prescription- it is a mode of acquiring territory
through continuous and undisputed exercise of
sovereignty over it during such period as it is
necessary to create under the general conviction
that the present condition of things is in
conformity with international order.
3. Cession it is the assignment, transfer or yielding
up of territory by one state or government to
another. It may be in a form of sale or donation.
4. Subjugation and annexation- it is a mode of
acquiring territory belonging to a state in the
course of war and by annexation at the end of the
war.
5. Accretion- mode of acquiring territory by addition
of portions of soil, either artificial or by gradual
disposition through the operation of natural causes.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO
ARISTOTLE
1. Monarchy (ruled by one person)
- where one person exercises sovereignty. It
is the form of government in which the
supreme and final authority is in the hands
of a single person.
2. Aristocracy- ( ruled by a few persons)
- where political power is exercised by a
privilege class known as the elite or
oligarchs.
3. Democracy ( ruled by many)
- is one in which supreme power is vested to the
people . It is classified into two:
a. direct democracy ( pure democracy)- is where
people directly govern themselves
b. indirect democracy (representative democracy)
is where people elect representatives to act in
their behalf.
Demo people / Kratos power
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SOC 003: Philippine Politics and Governance
First Quarter Exam Reviewer
Prepared by: Romeo D. Erese III, LPT, MA, PhD.
Political Science- is a branch of social science that studies
politics and state.
Subfields of Political Science
1. National Politics - deals with the study of the
structure of the government, its branches, the
political system of the state, public opinon and
elections.
2. Comparative Politics studies the politics and
government of other countries
3. International Relations political cooperation
among states, diplomatic relationships,
international organizations and laws.
4. Political Theory defines what is good and what is
bad government.
Example: Machiavelli
5. Constitutional Law studies the balance between
the powers of the government and the rights of the
people.
6. Public Policy focuses on the programs of the
state to benefit the economy and the state as a
whole.
Political Science is a social science.
Social science is the study of society and the manner in
which people behave and influence the world around us.
The following are the Major branches of Social Science:
Psychology studies emotional and cognitive impacts of
environments and relationships, and the reactions of human
systems to emotional and cognitive changes.
Sociology how we become members of groups, move
between groups, and how being in different groups affects
individuals and the groups in which they participate.
Political Science how we identify ourselves as citizens of
a particular nation, how we participate in our political
structure, how it affects us, what motivates us to affiliate
ourselves with certain points of view or parties.
Anthropology deals with of what it means to be human,
through the understanding of modern cultures across the
globe, the cultures of the past, languages, the human body,
and our evolutionary history.
History the interpretation of the past, how it affects our
views of the present, understanding trends or the lack
thereof in the past.
Economics refers to the scientific study of human action,
particularly as it relates to human choice and the utilization
of scarce resources.
Political Phenomenon- any occurrence, events, or facts
relating to politics.
Ideology - refers to a system of beliefs about how society
should function, behave, and operate
Political Ideology is a set of related beliefs about political
theory and policy held by an individual, group of individuals
or a particular social class.
Major Political Ideologies
1. Anarchism - The belief that the best government is
absolutely no government. This ideology argues
that everything about governments is repressive
and therefore must be abolished entirely.
2. Absolutism - The belief that a single ruler should
have control over every aspect of the government
and of the peoples lives.
3. Liberalism - A set of political beliefs emphasizing
individual rights and liberties
4. Conservatism - A set of political beliefs based on
preservation of customs and traditions that define
the character of a society
5. Socialism - A set of political beliefs emphasizing
community and social equality
Political Power is:
The ability to shape and control the political
behavior of others and to lead and guide their
behavior in the direction desired by the person,
group, or institution exercising the political power.
The capacity to influence, condition, mold, and
control human behavior for the accomplishment of
political objectives.
Major Forms of Political Power
1. Political Authority - is governmental power. It is the
legally established power of the government to make rules
and issue commands and to compel obedience to them,
making use of physical force and coercion when deemed
necessary. Political authority in short, is the legal right--the
legally established power--to govern society.
2. Political Influence - is the ability of private individuals
and groups to impact on the government's making and
implementation of official policy decisions. It is a form of
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SOC 003: Philippine Politics and Governance
First Quarter Exam Reviewer
Prepared by: Romeo D. Erese III, LPT, MA, PhD.
political power exercised by those who do not possess the Article XVII Amendments or Revisions
formal-legal authority, but have and utilize the ability to Article XVIII Transitory Provisions
condition, modify, and control the official decision-making
behavior of those in government office who do possess the
authority to make and implement the decisions. Article I: National Territory

CONSTITUTION Section 1. The national territory comprises the Philippine

heart of the nation archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced
foundation of the government therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines
blueprint of the government has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial,
fundamental law of the land fluvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the
seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other
highest law of the land
submarine areas. The waters around, between and
basic law of the land
connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their
breath and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of
Constitution is a written instrument enacted by direct
the Philippines.
action of the people by which the fundamental powers of
the government are established, limited and defined, and by
Article II: Declarations of Principles and State Policies
which those powers are distributed among the several
Basic Principles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
departments for their safe and useful exercise for the
1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican
benefit of the body politic.
state. Sovereignty and government authority belong
to the people. ART II SEC 1
The Republic of the Philippines is using the 1987 Philippine
Constitution also known as the Son/Daughter of the Freedom
2. The Philippines renounces war as an element of
Constitution.
national policy ART II SEC 2
Preamble introduction to the constitution
3. Civilian authority is all times supreme over the
military. ART II SEC 3
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society 4. The prime duty of the government is to serve and
and establish a government that shall embody our ideals protect the people. ART II SEC 4
and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and
develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our 5. The separation of church and state shall be at all
posterity the blessings of independence and democracy, times be upheld. ART II SEC 6
under the rule of law, and a regime of truth, justice, freedom,
love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this 6. The government shall provide social justice. ART II
Constitution. SEC 10
Articles of the 1987 Philippine Constitution Article III: Bill of Rights
Article I National Territory
Basic rights that are recognized and protected by the
Article II Declaration of Principles and State Policies
Constitution:
Article III Bill of Rights
Article IV Citizenship
1. Right to due process of law (Art III Sec 1)
Article V Suffrage
2. Right against unreasonable search and seizure (Art
Article VI Legislative Department
Article VII Executive Department III Sec 2)
Article VIII Judicial Department 3. Right to privacy of communication and
Article IX Constitutional Commissions correspondence (Art III Sec 3)
Article X Local Government 4. Right to travel and Liberty of abode (Art III Sec 6)
Article XI Accountability of Public Officers 5. Right to Assembly and Petition/ Right to form
Article XII National Economy and Patrimony association (Art III Sec 8)
Article XIII Social Justice and Human Rights
Article XIV Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Article IV: Citizenship
Culture and Sports It encapsulates the provisions that will answer the question:
Article XV The Family Who are the citizens of the Philippines?
Article XVI General Provisions

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SOC 003: Philippine Politics and Governance
First Quarter Exam Reviewer
Prepared by: Romeo D. Erese III, LPT, MA, PhD.
Article V: Suffrage Ombudsman/Tanodbayan investigates on its own
Right to vote/Election any act or omission of any public official, employee,
office or agency.
Article VI: Legislative Department
Philippine Congress is bicameral legislature which consists Article XII: National Economy and Patrimony
of : Distribution of income, wealth and opportunities
Upper house: Senate
Economy of the nation
Lower house: House of Representatives
Sustainable development
Industrialization and full employment
Article VII: Executive Department
President of the Philippines (qualifications, manner of Agricultural Development
voting, term of office, powers and limitations) Agrarian Reform
Natural Resources

Article VIII: Judicial Department Article XII: Social Justice and Human Rights
1. The Supreme Court Human dignity
Reduce social, economic, and political inequalities
2. Intermediate Appellate Court (Court of Appeals) Remove cultural inequities
Social Justice commitment to create economic
3. Regional Trial Court (RTC) opportunities based on freedom of initiative and
self-reliance
4. Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Municipal Circuit Trial
Court

In addition to these regular courts, there are two special

courts, namely: Article XIV: Education, Science and Technology, Arts,
Culture and Sports
1. Court of Tax Appeals
Quality education
2. Sandiganbayan System of education
The study of constitution shall be part of the
The Constitution also provides for two special legal bodies, curricula of all educational institutions
namely: Language: Filipino is the official language
Research and Development
1. Judicial and Bar Council Invention
Innovation
2. Ombudsman (Tanodbayan) Preservation of arts and culture
Physical education
Sports Program
Article IX: Constitutional Commissions League competitions
1. Commission on Elections Amateur sports
2. Commission on Audit Regular sports activities in all educational
3. Civil Service Commission institutions
Article X: Local Government
Article XV: The Family
Political Subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines:
Family is the foundation of the nation
1. Provinces
Marriage
2. Cities
Family Rights and Duties
3. Municipalities
4. Barangays
Article XVI: General Provision
*** Autonomous Regions: ARMM and CAR
Flag
Article XI: Accountability of Public Officers Name of the country
National anthem
Impeachment National seal
Sandiganbayan anti-graft court Armed Forces of the Philippines

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SOC 003: Philippine Politics and Governance
First Quarter Exam Reviewer
Prepared by: Romeo D. Erese III, LPT, MA, PhD.
The State may not be sued without its consent
Ownership of mass media is limited to citizens of
the Philippines

Article XVII: Amendments or Revisions

-Changing the constitution.
Article XVIII: Transitory Provisions:
- Provision about the first election of Philippine congress/
first local election
-Provisions about the revolutionary powers, legislative
power of President (Cory Aquino)

Ignorantia Legis Neminem Excusat

Ignorace of the law excuses no one