Joshua Angeles, Francheska Garcia, Denise Lachaona, Polo Nepomuceno MHA1

Topic: Political Accountability in both Medieval Europe and Modern Philippines

I. Introduction
A. Thesis Statement: ​This paper believes that there are similarities in the Democratic
accountability of Medieval Europe and Modern Philippines in having similar
cases of patron-client relationship, in the church’s major influence on the
decisions of the people, in having institutions that constrain the power of the
heads of state.
B. During Europe’s Medieval period, political accountability came from the
powerful and influential vassals of the King who sometimes gained enough power
to affect and even overpower the Crown. Another would be the Church’s right to
call into question the ruler’s divine right to rule into question. Later on the ability
to limit the powers of the crown would be institutionalised with the creation of a
Parliament in the 13th century (Parliamentary Education Office, n.d). The
Republic of the Philippines has identified itself as being a democratic, unitary and
republican government since its independence from the United States on July 4
1946 (1987 Philippine Constitution). There are institutions that would increase the
political accountability of each of the three branches can be found in it in order to
prevent abuses in the system.
II. Body
A. Patron-Clientelism (negatively related to democratic accountability)
Patron-client relationship pervades the governmental structures of both
setting in differing degrees to the extent that this system of interaction dictates
institutional and civil decisions and choice. This proves to be a more practical
approach performed by two parties in resolving issues. It outperforms the
purposes of impersonal and formal institutions as state-building is dictated by
modes of personal dependence and patron-clientelism. It also dictated personal
discretion of rulers, as mainly practiced by the church in the medieval age.
B. Church’s Influence (positively related to democratic accountability)
 During the Medieval Period, the Church was an institution given legal
rights to allow or hinder government policy. In the time period of the Modern
Philippines, the Church was not given these legal rights, however, its influence
towards the government remains strong. The Church as an institution present in
both time periods of Medieval Europe and Modern Philippines has influenced
different government actors to realize certain policies or actions.
C. Executive-constraining and Bureaucratic Institutions (positively related to
democratic accountability)
In the Medieval period, early versions of parliaments and diets were
assemblies, called upon by kings, with the purpose to represent the masses in
advising the king on certain choices. These assemblies can be related with the
modern House of Representatives (HoR) in the Philippines, as the HoR
represents the many regions and groups in the lawmaking process. Both of these
institutions had the power to advise and sometimes constrain the leaders in
making their decisions (Payling, n.d.).
III. Conclusion
A. Medieval Europe and the Modern Philippine government share certain
similarities, despite being centuries apart. Among these include patron-client
relationships, religion having a great influence in political decisions, and in the
presence of institutions that aid in the control of the state head’s power.

Working Bibliography:

Constitutional Commission of 1986 (2015). ​The 1987 Constituion of the Philippines – Article I,
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, viewed 23 April 2018,
http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-198
7-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-ii/
Middle Ages (2018). Historical Era, Encyclopedia Britannica, viewed 23 April,
https://www.britannica.com/event/Middle-Ages
European Middle Ages (n.d.). ​Feudalism in Europe, ​Class Zone, viewed 23 April 2018,
http://www.sps186.org/downloads/basic/727197/ch13_2.pdf

Pangalangan, R. (n.d.). ​Religion and the Secular State: National Report for the Philippines​,
viewed 23 April 2018, https://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Philippines%20wide.pdf

Parliamentary Education Office or Australia, (n.d), ​A Short History on Parliament​,

Parliamentary Education Office, viewed 23 April 2018,
https://www.peo.gov.au/uploads/peo/docs/closer-look/CloserLook_Short-History-of-Parliament.
pdf

Payling, S.J. (n.d.). ​Middle Ages: Parliament and Politics Before 1509​, The History of
Parliament, viewed 23 April 2018, http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/periods/medieval

Teehankee, J. (2012). ​Clientelism and Party Politics in the Philippines​, Research Gate, viewed
23 April 2018,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313359654_Clientelism_and_Party_Politics_in_the_Ph
ilippines