COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

ESPAÑA, MANILA

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION

Course Outline
2nd Semester 2010 – 2011

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 To provide the students citizenship education through the study of Philippine

government and constitution
 To study the dynamics of the Philippines as a democratic and republican government
 To help students to understand and appreciate the 1987 Constitution as the
fundamental charter of the land
 To enable the students formulate their own perspectives and responses to the pressing
issues of the times

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

To maximize the benefits of and to, hopefully, pass the course, students, at the very outset, are
expected:

 To have an average familiarity with Philippine history

 To possess an updated awareness of current events
 To have made, at least, an initial reading of the text of the Philippine Constitution
 To be willing to share their insights on issues during small group and plenary class
discussions
 To be ready to accomplish and turn in their requirements on time
 To be prepared to comply with the reading assignments
 To be capable of exercising independence in thinking and of engaging in meaningful
discussion of the issues to be taken up in the class

TEACHING / LEARNING PARAMETERS:

 The class shall treat the Constitution as a living text, that is, open to both questions and
answers.
 Consistent with our advocacy of democracy, the class shall also adopt a “democratic”
approach to learning through the use of small group and plenary discussions.
 At the outset, the class will be divided into permanent discussion groups. Each
discussion group is responsible for “nursing” the topic/s assigned to / chosen by them.
 Oral and written, individual and group exercises shall be employed as tools of
assessment. There will be a short written quiz and/or oral recitation each meeting to
ensure readiness for the day’s discussion.
 Each meeting, the class shall commence with a brief oral presentation from the group/s
of the day.
 The class shall promote problem-posing and problem-solving approaches to learning.
 Independent research/study for groups and individuals is highly encouraged.
 The study of the constitution will be issue-oriented and infused with both local and
global perspectives.

CLASROOM PROTOCOLS:

Basic classroom decorum (see Student Handbook)

Absences beyond 7 mean WP.
Three counts of tardiness are equal to one absence.
Special quiz or recitation is given only on exceptional cases.

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REQUIREMENTS:

Recitation
Group activities
Quizzes
Major exams
Paper

GRADING SYSTEM:

Class standing 50%

Major exams (prelim / final) 30%
Major paper 20% (10% oral + 10% written)

COURSE OUTLINE:

Prelim Grading Period

Day 1 Orientation
To provide an overview of the course.

Week 1 PGC and Citizenship Education

OBJECTIVES: To make a cursory mapping of Philippine political landscape

To identify key political issues affecting Philippine state
To introduce the concept of citizenship education as a paradigm of
understanding Philippine politics and constitution

QUESTION: How do we understand the statement, “What is personal is also

political.”?

TOPICS:
General definition of citizenship education
Citizenship education according to the constitution
Philosophical underpinnings of citizenship
The strict legal meaning of citizenship
The broader meaning of citizenship

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec. 3-5, Sec. 9 –28; Art. III; Art. IV; Art. XIII; Art. XIV; Art.
XV

READING: Citizenship Education for the 21st Century in

http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_b/mod07/mod07task03/a
ppendix.htm

Week 2 Research Break

Things to do:
Watch “Batas Militar” in Youtube (11 parts)
Read the 1987 Constitution
Plan / consolidate preliminary work for research
Checking out, gathering, browsing of readings

Week 3 Historical Background of the 1987 Constitution

OBJECTIVES: To trace the key historical events which led to the creation of the
1987 Constitution
To deepen the students’ understanding of constitution
To highlight the significance of the constitution in the political life of modern
state
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 QUESTION: Is the state of Philippine politics reflective of a leadership crisis or
citizenship crisis?

TOPICS:
Meaning of constitution
The relation between the constitution and the modern political state
The different previous Philippine constitutions and their impact on the
development Philippine government
Historical precedents of the 1987 Constitution (key players, key events)
The distinction between “nation”, “state” and “government” in the light of
Philippine history
Watersheds in the history of Philippine government
Different forms of government in the context of Philippine history

REFERENCE: Preamble of 1987 Constitution; Art. II, Sec. 1-2, 7-8

READINGS: 1899, 1935, 1943, 1973, 1986 Constitutions in

http://www.chanrobles.com/philsupremelaw1.htm

Week 4 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part I)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the proper understanding of democracy

To trace the development of democratic tradition in the Philippines
To study democracy Philippine-style as reflected in the constitution

QUESTION: How do we describe democracy Philippine style? What are its

features, strengths and weaknesses?

TOPICS:
Meaning of democracy
Major stages of the evolution of democracy in the Philippines
Key features of democracy in the Philippines
Military and democracy
The role of media
Other democratic institutions

REFERENCE: Art. III; Art. V; Art. VI, Sec. 16, par. 5, Sec. 19, Sec. 23, par. 1, Sec. 27,
par. 1, Sec. 32; Art. VIII, Sec.4, par. 2-3; Art. X. Sec. 3, 10, 11, 18; Art. IX; Art. XI;
Art. XIII, Sec. 15-19; Art. XVI, Sec. 11; Art. XVI, Sec. 4-3; Art. XVII, Sec. 1-2

READING: Philippine Democracy: Alive but is it well? in

http://opinion.inquirer.net/viewpoints/columns/view/20100511-
269336/Philippine-Democracy-Alive-but-is-it-well

Week 5 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part II)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the form of government in the Philippines

To discuss the relationship of governance and public accountability
To identify key issues of governance / government in the Philippines

QUESTION: What is the key to a corruption-free government?

TOPICS:
The features of presidential form of government
The role of the different branches of government
Governance and bureaucracy
Public accountability
The issue of regional autonomy
Devolution of local government
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 People power and Philippine government

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec.1,4; Art VI-VIII; Art. X; Art. XI

READING: RP up a bit in corruption index in

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101028-
300174/RP-up-a-bit-in-corruption-index

PRELIM EXAM

Week 6 The Constitution and the Economy

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a cursory mapping of the state of the economy of the

country
To identify key economic provisions of the Constitution
To identify key problems and how we, as citizens, can contribute to their
solutions

QUESTION: What ails our economy?

TOPICS:
Agrarian economy
The role of the private sector
Social and human development
Labor
Foreign investment
The population and economy

REFERENCE: Preamble; Art. II, Sec. 7-28; Art. XII; Art. XIII; Art. XIV, Art. XVI,
Sec. 9-11

READINGS: Philippines slips in global prosperity index in

http://www.newsbreak.ph/2010/11/03/philippines-slips-in-global-prosperity-
index/

Low human development reflects MDG failure in http://www.undp.org.ph/?

link=news&news_id=417&fa=1

2010 Human Development Report analyses long-term development trends in

http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/november/undp-launches-2010-
human-development-report-analysing-long-term-development-trends.en

Summary of 2010 Human Development Report in

http://www.undp.org/publications/hdr2010/en/HDR_2010_EN_Summary.pdf

Week 7 Constitution, Education and Culture

OBJECTIVES: To examine key provisions of the Constitution on education and

culture
To identify issues related to education and culture
To determine the importance of education and culture in the democratic
growth of Philippine nation

QUESTION: What is the role of education and culture in promoting democracy

and nation-building?

TOPICS:
The relation between education, culture and citizenship
Problems related with education and culture
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 Language
Youth and family
Sustainable development

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec. 11-14; Art. XIII; Art. XIV; Art. XV

READINGS: RP far behind goals to lift plight of children, mothers in

http://pcij.org/stories/rp-far-behind-goals-to-lift-plight-of-children-mothers/

The Crisis of Public Education in the Philippines in

http://www.fnf.org.ph/liberalopinion/crisis-public-education-philippines.htm

Education crisis looms in

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/may/21/yehey/top_stories/20090
521top1.html

Department of Education: When reforms don’t transform in

http://hdn.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chapter-2-department-of-
education-when-reforms-dont-transform.pdf

The Labor Exporting State: Migration and Higher Education in the Philippines in
http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/9/7/3/8/
pages197380/p197380-1.php

Week 8 Global Perspectives on Philippine Politics

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the Philippines situates itself vis a vis the
current trends of global politics
To see how the Philippine government directs itself in relation with its global
counterparts
To understand the future of Philippine politics in the age of globalization

QUESTION: How do we describe the Philippines’ position in global politics?

(How does the country view itself in relation with other states? How do they view us?)

TOPICS:
Sovereignty and Globalization
Terrorism
Environment
Economy and democracy
Philippines’ foreign relations / policies

REFERENCE: Art. I; Art. II, Sec.1-2, 8,18,24,27; Art. III; Art. VII, Sec. 21; Art. XII;
Art. XIII, Sec. 1-3

READING: PNP, DND, intel agency notified of the terror info in

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20101109/tph-pnp-dnd-intel-agency-notified-
terror-541dfb4.html

Week 9 Constitution: Cure or Problem?

OBJECTIVES: To take a look at the on-going debate on the issue of

constitutional change
To see the previous attempts to change the constitution
To formulate informed perspective on the issue

QUESTION: Is there a genuine need to change the Constitution?

TOPICS:
Strengths and weaknesses of the constitution
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 Past efforts to the change the constitution; their merits and demerits
Key reasons behind the campaign for constitutional change
Prospects and alternatives

REFERENCE: Art. XVII

READINGS: Philippine Constitution and Charter Change in

http://sites.google.com/site/ipeoteam2010/philippine-constitution-and-
charter-change

The Philippines’ Foreign Relations: Threats and Opportunities in

http://www.iseas.edu.sg/viewpoint/rcs28nov03.pdf

Week 10 Synthesis

FINAL EXAM

GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK:

1. Each group shall select a topic or issue related with a topic. The issue or topic must be
based on the text of the Constitution. The group is expected to be able to do this during
research break.
2. At the beginning of each lecture, one or two groups shall give an overview of their
report (from Abstract to Justification).
3. For the prelim grading period, each group is expected to complete the initial part of its
report (from Abstract to Justification). Prelim exam consists of the oral defense of the
said part.
4. For the final grading period, the group is expected to complete the entire report. Final
exam consists of the oral defense of the entire paper.
5. Structure of the report:

Abstract
Objectives
Question
Justification or Background of the Study
Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations

REFERENCES:

Books

Abinales, Patricio and Donna J. Amoroso. State and Government in the Philippines. New York:
Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2005.
Adams, Ian. Fifty Major Political Thinkers. London: Routledge, 2003.
Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of the Filipino People. Manila: Garotech Publishing, 1990.
Anvil Law Books Series. The Constitutions of the Philippines. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing Inc.,
2005
Busto, Arellano S. (Comp.) Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Manila: AVB Printing
Press, 2005.
David, Randolf. Nation, Self and Citizenship. Quezon City: University of the Philippines, 2002.
De Leon, Hector S. Textbook on Philippine Constitution. Quezon City: Rex Publishing Co., Inc.,
2005.
Morada, Noel et al. Philippine Politics and Governance: An Introduction. Quezon City: University of
the Philippines, 2006.

Online Articles (see above)

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