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Forms of Government: According to Thomas Hobbes (English)

1) As to number of persons exercising sovereign powers Monarchy is the best form of government.
a) Monarchy
1) Less division

→ the supreme & final authority is in the hands of a single person such as king, queen, 2) Less scope of corruption
emperor, czar

2 types of Monarchy:
3) Wider consultation
(the monarch can select experts and get advice in private)
Absolute Monarchy
→ ruler rules by divine right 4) More effective secrecy

5) Less chance of civil war

Limited Monarchy
→ ruler rules according to a Constitution (since the Monarch cannot disagree with himself)

6) Policies will be more consistent

7) Complete obedience to single will

(essential to order and security)

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2 Ways in which right can be given-up Example of Contemporary Absolute Monarchy

according to Thomas
Hobbes The Sultan of Brunei is both head of state and head of government.

Executive power is exercised by the government.

1) By simply renouncing the right
Brunei has a Legislative Council with 20 appointed members,
that only has consultative tasks.
2) By transferring the right

> it can be made by promise or contract / covenants

> transferring of right is voluntary

> there is one right that cannot be transferred ………

the ultimate right to defend our lives

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

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b) Aristocracy
c) Democracy
→ political powers is exercised by few privilege class → the power is exercised or resides in the people
→ derived from the Greek aristokratia meaning the ‘best'

→ also known as “oligarchy” → is a form of government in which power

effectively rests with a small elite segment of
2 types:
society
Oligarchies have been tyrannical throughout history. Direct / Pure Democracy
Example: The French First Republic government under the Directory

A body of five Directors that held executive power in France → the will of the state is directly expressed by the
people
aristocrats Upper Class
/ elite clergy/priest Indirect / Representative / Republican Democracy
Middle Class:
nobles/merchants/traders → people choose representatives / delegates to
govern / rule them
Lower Class:
commoners/laborers

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3) As to relationship between EXECUTIVE and LEGISLATIVE branches of

2) As to extent of powers exercised by the CENTRAL / government
NATIONAL government
a) Unitary Government a) Presidential

→ control of the national and local affairs is exercised by the central / national → President is the head of state and of government
government

→ headed by the President that represents the central / national government Pres. George Washington Pres. Manuel Quezon
e.g. Philippines 1789-1797 First President of the Commonwealth - 1935

b) Parliamentary Government

b) Federal Government
→ Prime Minister runs the affairs of the government
→ President serves as ceremonial / symbolic leader of the state
→ powers of government are divided between national and local affairs

→ each organ (national & local) is SUPREME within its own sphere
e.g. United States

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Example: JAPAN Other Forms of Government:

Constitutional Monarchy
The power of the Emperor is very limited. a) Military Government

As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as the symbol of . . . . . → government implemented by one state over another state under their control

1) the state e.g. military government during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
2) the unity of the people
→ a government run by military junta
Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected members of
the Diet. e.g. present government of Myanmar (Burma) from 1962 up to present
Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament
While sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. b) Revolutionary Government

National Diet of Japan

is Japan's → the power of the government is obtained through force
bicameral legislature.
e.g. revolutionary government under Emilio Aguinaldo (June 29, 1898)
It is composed of a
lower house, called the
House of Representative, and an upper house, called the House of Councilors.
Both houses of the Diet are directly elected by the people.
In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally responsible for selecting the Prime Minister

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Other Forms of Government: (As to legitimacy) How will you describe the Philippine Government?

c) De Jure Government a) representative democracy

(Latin) -- rightfully; lawfully; by legal title
→ through election
→ government that is founded on constitutional law
b) unitary
e.g. the Commonwealth government under → control of the national & local affairs by the
Pres. Manuel L. Quezon
central government
d) De facto Government

→ government not founded on constitutional law

→ administration of the state by superior force brought about by revolutions, invasions, c) presidential
insurgency
→ separation of powers by the 3 branches of
e.g. revolutionary government under Andres Bonifacio government

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