Senior High School

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Philippine Politics and
Governance
Quarter 1 – Week 1
Module 1
Concept, Relationship, and Importance
of Politics, Governance and
Government
(Part II)
Most Essential Learning Competency:

Explain the meaning of politics and differentiate various views on

politics.

Sandra Mae Dulay Calpito, MAEd, JD.

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The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Pre Test before moving on to the other activities included in
this module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
7. If you encounter difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to
consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain
deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

You have learned in the previous module that politics could be viewed as a
social activity. In the sense that a social interaction is necessary between and among
the members in order to resolve disagreement and find solutions to the same. As a
result, it will guide you in your political life.
Following Aristotle’s contention that man is by nature a political animal, all
individuals are, in essence, political thinkers. This makes you unique because only
human have the capability of reasoning. The way you think involves politics. You
often times express your views on different issues in society particularly with current
events. And as you share our opinions, you usually use political ideas and concepts.
This module explores these ideas from the concept of government and governance.

After reading this module, you will be able to explain the difference between
government and governance and the characteristics of governance.
Specifically, this module will help you to:

 Define politics;
 Identify the various views on politics;
 Differentiate governance from government

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 PRE TEST

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer
on the space provided.

_____1. The agency and the machinery of the State through which the will of the
people is formulated, expressed, and carried out.
a. sovereignty               c. people
b. territory                                 d. government
_____2. The executive is dependent on the legislative
a. civil              c. unitary
b. presidential                                 d. parliamentary
_____3. It is the set of rules and laws framed by the government that are to be
implemented through the representatives of the state.
a. sovereignty               c. governance
b. government                                 d. politics
_____4. The power is in the hands of the people
a. theocracy               c. anarchy
b. monarchy                                 d. democracy
_____5. Composed of group of persons in whose hands the reins of government are
for the time being.
a. administration               c. people
b. appointees                                d. community
_____6. A government which actually exercises power or control but without legal
title.
a. oligarchy               c. de facto
b. de jure                                 d. monarchy
_____7. Functions that are undertaken only by way of advancing the general
interests of society and are merely optional.
a. ministrant               c. essential
b. constituent                                d. basic
_____8. The control of national and local affairs is under the central or national
government
a. democracy               c. hereditary
b. federal                                 d. unitary
_____9. A government that is established and administered by a  belligerent in the
territory of an enemy occupied by him
a. civil              c. anarchy
b. military                                d. aristocracy
_____10. Functions that constitutes the very bonds of society and are compulsory in
nature.
a. doctrinal               c. constituent
b. ministrant                                 d. instinctive

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 LESSON The Government And The
1 Governance

Activity 1. Give Me the Reason

Direction: Directions: Based from the previous lesson, briefly enumerate five (5)
reasons why politics is important?

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 STUDY TIME

Government
 Government is a group of people who rule or run the administration of a country.
 The body of representatives that governs and controls the state at a given time.
 Government is the medium through which the power of the state is employed.
 Government may be of different types.
 Government as an element of the state is the agency or aggregate of institutions
that formulates, expresses and realizes the will of the state.

Governance
 Governance is the act of governing or ruling.
 It is the set of rules and laws framed by the government that are to be
implemented through the representatives of the state.

8 Characteristics of Good Governance by UNESCAP (United Nations Economic

and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific)

1. PARTICIPATORY
 Participation by both men and women is a
key cornerstone of good governance.
 Participation could be either direct or through
legitimate intermediate institutions or
representatives.
 Participation needs to be informed and
organized. This means freedom of
association and expression on the one hand
and an organized civil society on the other
hand.

2. FOLLOWS THE RULE OF LAW

 Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially.
 It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities.
 Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an
impartial and incorruptible police force.

3. CONSENSUS ORIENTED
 Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to
reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole
community and how this can be achieved.

4. EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE

 A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they
have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society.

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  This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have
opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.

5. EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT

 Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that
meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their
disposal.
 The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the
sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

6. ACCOUNTABILITY
 Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. In general an
organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by
its decisions or actions.

7. TRANSPARENCY
 It means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those
who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement.
 It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in
easily understandable forms and media.
8. RESPONSIVENESS
 Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all
stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

Government vs Administration
 Government is distinct from administration.
 Government is the agency which formulates, expresses and realizes the will
of the people.
 On the other hand, administration is composed of group of persons in whose
hands the reins of government are for the time being.

Functions of Government
There are two functions of government: constituent and ministrant.
1. Constituent functions are those which constitute the very bonds of society and
are compulsory in nature. Examples are keeping of order and providing for
the protection of persons and property; the fixing of the legal relations
between man and wife, and between parents and child; the regulation of
property and the determination of contract rights.

2. Ministrant functions are those that are undertaken only by way of advancing
the general interests of society and are merely optional. Examples are public
works, public education, public charity, health and safety regulations and
regulations of trade and industry.

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Forms of Government
The following are the forms of government:
1. As to the number of persons exercising sovereign powers:
 Monarchy - the supreme authority is in the hands of a one person
only; how he got into power or how long his tenure would be does not
matter 
 Absolute monarchy - the power of the monarch is based on
divine right
 Limited monarchy - the power of the monarch is based on the
constitution
 Aristocracy - the ruling power is in the hands of a few privileged class
 Democracy - the power is in the hands of the people
 Direct or pure democracy - the power is directly exercised by the
people through assembly or mass meeting.
 Indirect, representative or republican - the power is exercised by
a group of persons chosen by the people to act as their
representatives
2. As to extent of powers exercised by the central or national government:
 Unitary government - the control of national and local affairs is under
the central or national government
 Federal government - the powers of the government are
divided between two sets of organs, one for national and the other for
local affairs, each organ being supreme within its own sphere
3. As to relationship between the executive and the legislative branches of the
government:
 Parliamentary government - the executive is dependent on the
legislative
 Presidential government - the executive is constitutionally vested with
powers making it independent from legislative department
4. Other forms:
 Civil government - the affairs of the state are administered and directed
by the citizens or their representatives.
 Military government - established and administered by a  belligerent in
the territory of an enemy occupied by him
 Constitutional government - the powers of those who rule are defined
and limited by the constitution
 Despotic government -  the powers of those who rule are vague and
may seem limitless because it is not defined nor limited by the
constitution
 Hereditary government - the state confers the powers of government
upon a person or organization standing in a certain family relations to
his or their immediate predecessors
 Coordinate government -  the powers of the government is distributed
among separate departments equally independent of but coordinate
with each other
 Consolidated government - the state confides all governmental powers
to a single body

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  De jure government - established according to the constitution of the
state.

PRACTICE TIME

Activity 1. Voc-OWL-bulary

Direction: Provide the correct terms for the definitions.

a government which actually

exercises power or control but
without legal title.

the agency or aggregate of

institutions that formulates,
expresses and realizes the
will of the state.

act of governing or ruling.

an organized government of a
state which has the general
support of the people.

composed of group of
persons in whose hands the
reins of government are for
the time being.

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Activity 2. Concept Mapping

Direction: Enumerate the Eight(8) Characteristics of Good Governance

Charactecteristics of a Good
Governance

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Activity 3. Who Rules?

Direction: Read each statement. Choose whether it is A or B. Encircle the correct

answer.

A B
1. One person is in charge
Autocracy Democracy
2. Led by a king or queen
Monarchy Oligarchy
3. Nobody is in charge
Dictatorship Anarchy
4. Democracy where citizens elect others
Direct Indirect
to serve government
5. A small group rules the country Oligarchy Democracy
6. The powers of the government are
divided between two sets of organs, one
Federal Unitary
for national and the other for local
affairs.
7. The executive is constitutionally vested
with powers making it independent from Parliamentary Presidential
legislative department
8. Established according to the constitution
De Facto De Jure
of the state.
9. The affairs of the state are administered
and directed by the citizens or their Miitary Civil
representatives.
10. The powers of those who rule are vague
and may seem limitless because it is not Despotic Constitutional
defined nor limited by the constitution

KEY POINTS

Politics is the term to describe the specific activities performed to

govern a nation, a city, or an organized society. Similarly, it is referred to as the art
or science of the government. It can also be described as the activities concerning
the governmental guidelines. In the academe, the said actions are studied through
political science.

The word government is a noun derived from the root word govern, which
means “to lead.” It is, therefore, defined as a system that governs or manages a
nation, a state, or an organized group of people or entities. On the other

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hand,governance is a set of rules and laws framed by the government that are to be
implemented through the representatives of the state.

POST TEST

Direction: From the choices written below, write the letter of the correct
answer that best describes the statement.

A. Parliamentary G. De jure M. Indirect democracy

B. Absolute monarchy H. Federal N. Hereditary
C. Unitary I. Limited monarchy O. Consolidated
D. Despotic J. Coordinate P. Constitutional
E. Aristocracy K. Military Q. Direct democracy
F. Democracy L. Presidential

_____1.The state confides all govenrmental powers to a single body.

_____2.The executive is dependent on the legislative.
_____3. The power is exercised by a group of persons chosen by the people to act as
their representatives.
_____4.The power is based on divine right.
_____5.A form of government in which political power is exercised by a relatively small
and especially qualified class.
_____6.The powers of those who rule are defined by the constitution.
_____7.The executive is constitutionally vested with the powers making it independent
from legislative department.
_____8.The powers of the government is distributed among separate departments
equally independent of but coordinate with each other.
_____9.The power of the monarch is based on the constitution.
_____10.One in which the state confers the powers of a government upon persons, or
organizations composed of persons, standing in a certain family relation to his or their
immediate predecessors.
_____11.One administered and established by a belligerent in his territory of an enemy
occupied by him.
_____12.One in which the control of national and local affairs is exercised by the central
or national government.
_____13.The power of is directly exercised by the people through assembly or mass
meeting.
_____14. The powers of those who rule are vague and may seem limitless.

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_____15. The powers of the government are divided into two sets of organs, one for
national and the other is local affairs.

REFERENCES

Pawilen, R.A. and Pawilen, R.M. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Rex
Bookstore Inc.

Tabajen, R. and Pulma, E. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance.JFS

Publishing Services

Mendoza, Diana J. et al. (2016). Politics Without Borders. Phoenix Publishing

House Inc.

Lazo, R.S. (2009). Philippine Government and the 1987 Consitution. Rex Bookstore
Inc.

Vidal, Via R. (2020 Dagupan City National High School—Senior High School

Department of Education - Philippines. 2016. K to 12 Senior High School Curriculum

Guide. Philippine Politics and Governance.

Department of Education - Philippines. 2020. Most Essential Learning

Competencies. Philippine Politics and Governance.

https://www.cobw.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/typesofgovernmentreadingandwo
rksheets.pdf

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 ANSWER KEY

Pre Test Activity 1 Activity 2

1. D 1. De facto 1. Participatory
2. D 2. Government 2. Follows the rule of law
3. C 3. Governance 3. Consensus oriented
4. D 4. Democracy 4. Equitable and inclusive
5. A 5. Administration 5. Effectiveness and efficient
6. C 6. Accountability
7. A 7. Transparency
8. D 8. Responsiveness
9. B
10. C

Activity 3 Post Test

1. Autocracy 1. O
2. Monarchy 2. A
3. Anarchy 3. M
4. Direct 4. B
5. Oligarchy 5. E
6. Federal 6. P
7. Presidential 7. L
8. De jure 8. J
9. Civil 9. I
10. Despotic 10. N
11. K
12. C
13. Q
14. D
15. H

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