Politics and

Governance: With
Philippine
Constitution

Originally published: 2003

Authors: Roman Ramiscal Dannug, Marlo Bermejo Campanilla
Nation is a group of people bound together by certain characteristics such as common social
origin, language, customs, and traditions, and who believe that they are one and distinct
from others.

State community of persons more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite

portion of territory, having a government of their own to which the great body of
inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying freedom from external control.

NATION STATE
Ethnic concept Political Concept
May or may not be controlled by Cannot be controlled by other countries
external control (foreign countries) (external
One race or origin Consists of different races

Elements of State:
1. People
2. Territory
3. Government
4. Sovereignty

Origin of States:

1. Divine right theory – the state is of divine creation and the ruler is ordained by God to
govern the people. Ex. Moses giving the commandments

2. Necessity or force theory – states must have been created through force, by some great
warriors who imposed their will upon the weak. Ex. Warriors conquer lands

3. Paternalistic theory - attributes the origin of states to the enlargement of the family, which
remained under the authority of the father or mother. By natural stages, the family grew
into a clan, and then developed into a tribe, which broadened into a nation, and the nation
became a state.

4. Social contract theory – states must have been formed by deliberate and voluntary compact
among the people to form a society and organize government for their common good. This
theory justifies the right of the people to revolt against a bad ruler.

Different Forms of Government

 1. As to number of persons exercising sovereign powers
a. Monarchy – power belongs to one person in which the supreme and final authority is in
the hands of as single person, e.g. King, queen, empress, without regard to the source of
his election or nature or declaration of his tenure.
Classifications:
*Absolute Monarchy – which the ruler rules by divine right given by God
e.g. Thailand, Saudi Arabia
*Limited Monarchy – which the ruler rules in accordance with a
constitution e.g. England – Britain

b. Aristocracy – power is in the hands of few people, a few privileged class also known as
oligarchy exercises the political power.

c. Democracy – which the political power is exercised by the majority of the people, or by the
people itself.

2. As to extent of powers exercised by a central or national government

a. Unitary Government– in which the control of national and local affairs is exercised by
the central/national government. Ex. Philippine Constitution.

b. Federal Government – which the powers of government are divided between two sets of
organs: one for national affairs and local affairs (governors) Ex. United States

3. As to extent of powers exercised by a central or national government

a. Parliamentary Government – which the state caters upon the legislative the power to
terminate the tenure of the office of the ”real” executive

b. Presidential Government– which the state makes the executive constitutionally

independent of the legislative as regard his tenure.

*Philippines is a representative democracy, a unitary, and presidential government with

separation of powers.

The Government of the Philippines in Transition

1. Pre-Spanish Gov’t
-Unit of government (barangay)
-Ruled by Datu/Rajah/Sultan/King
-Composed of 30-100 families
-Timawa, Maharlika, Alipin: namamahay at sangigilid
- 3 social classes
1. Maharlika (nobles) – slave-owning families
2. Timawa (freemen) – majority of the population freeborn persons
3. Alipin (slaves) – a. namamahay- have own house, own properties, could marry without
master’s consent b. sagigilid - lives in their master’s house, have no properties at all.
- Barangay to towns/ pueblos (gobernadorcillo / little governor): to provinces (leader: governor-
governor-general) and/or cities (ayuntamiento, city council)

Spanish Government
-Ferdinand Magellan discover the Philippines
- After 45 years, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi: colonized the Philippines
- Governor-general: Chief
-Royal Audiencia: Supreme Court; checks the governor-general

Revolutionary Era
- Katipunan Government (KKK): Andres Bonifacio- a secret society
- Ranks/membership: 1. Katipon- associates;black; Anak ng Bayan
2. Kawal - soldier; green; Gomburza 3. Bayani- patriot; red; Rizal
- Supreme Council ( Central Government): kataastaasang Sangunian
- Provincial Council (Provinces): Sanguniang Balangay
- Popular Coouncil (Towns): Sangguniang Bayan
- Judicial Council: Sangguniang Hukuman

Biak na Bato Government

- President: Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
- Magdalo: Aguinaldo; Magdiwang: Bonifacio
- Constitution took effect for 2 years only, December 15, 1897

Malolos Constitution
- San Miguel Bulacan
- The first Philippine Republic, Sept. 15, 1898
- Spanish-American War
-
Commonwealth Republic (under United States)
- First military General: Wesley Merritt
- Civil Government- William Howard Taft
- Philippine Independence 10 years: President Manuel L. Quezon but was cut because
of the Japanese Period.

Japanese Occupation
- Puppet Government
- Jorge Vargas: chairman
- Second Republic of the Philippines - Jose P. Laurel
After Japanese Occupation: THIRD REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
- Manuel Roxas, July 4, 1946
- 1935 Constitution

Fourth REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

-Ferdinand E. Marcos
- 1973 Constitution