Senior High School

Philippine Politics
and Governance
Quarter 3 – Module 10:
Nature of Elections and Political
Parties in the Philippines
 What I Need to Know

This module introduces you the basic

concepts and nature of election and political
parties in the Philippines. At the end of the
module, you will be able to realize the
important role of political parties and election
in the analysis of electoral system in the
country, specifically the way how political
parties and elections are used to measure the
unification of a society’s democracy.

The module has one lesson, namely:

• Lesson 1 – Nature of Elections and Political Parties in the Philippines

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. analyze the nature of elections and political parties in the Philippines.
 What I Know

I. TRUE OR FALSE. The following are statements about nature of elections and
political parties in the Philippines. On your answer sheet, write TRUE if the
sentence is correct, write FALSE otherwise.

1. Suffrage is universal at age eighteen.

2. The current electoral system was established under the 1987 constitution.
3. Commission on Audit is responsible for running the elections.
4. Political parties are required to have chapters in a majority of regions, and
within each region, a majority of provinces, down to towns and barangays.
5. Voters make a choice in accordance with the policies and programs presented
by every political party during elections.
II. IDENTIFICATION. Find the word/s from the box that fit the descriptions given.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Suffrage Initiative
Referendum Recall
Plebiscite Election
One-party system Political Party
Multiparty system COMELEC

1. It is a form of government where the country is ruled by a single political party.

2. It is a formal decision-making process by which the citizens of the country
vote and select certain officials to hold public office.
3. This commission is empowered to supervise every aspect of campaigns and
elections in the country.
4. It is defined as an organized and presumably durable association, either of
individuals or of distinguishable groups of individuals, which endeavors to
place its members in governmental offices for the purpose of bringing about
the adoption of favored political policies or programs.
5. It is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political
spectrum run for national election.
6. It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the election of
certain national and local officers of the government and in the decision of
public questions submitted to the people.
7. It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against
a proposed law or enactment submitted to them.
 8. It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the national or local
legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their ratification or
rejection.
9. It is the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
10. It is a method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his
tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people after
registration of a petition signed by a required percentage of the qualified
voters.

Lesson Nature of Elections and

1 Political Parties in the
Philippines

What’s In

You learned in Module 9 the roles and functions of Local Government Unit (LGU).
Remember, LGUs provide the connections between the government and its people
and plays a significant role in the development of one community. Aside from this, it
is also responsible in addressing its community’s problems and concerns, promoting
peace and order and enforce policies over its communities.

What is It

As posted on the Official Gazette webpage of the Constitution of the Republic of

the Philippines posted on July 15, 2020 Article V-Suffrage Section 1 states that:

Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise

disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided
in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote
for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or
other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.
Meaning of Suffrage
Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the election of
certain national and local officers of the government and in the decision of public
questions submitted to the people.

Nature of Suffrage
(1) A mere privilege – Suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but merely a
privilege to be given or withheld by the law-making power subject to
constitutional limitations.
(2) A political right – Suffrage enables every citizen to participate in the process
of government to assure that it can truly be said to derive its powers from the
consent of the governed. The principle is that of one man, one vote.

Scope of Suffrage
Suffrage includes:
1. Election – It is the means by
which the people choose their
officials for definite and fixed periods
and to whom they entrust, for the
time being as their representatives,
the exercise of powers of government.

2. Plebiscite – It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice
for or against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them. In the
Philippines., the term is applied to an election at which any proposed
amendment to, or revision of, the Constitution is submitted to the people for
their ratification. Plebiscite is likewise required by the Constitution to secure
the approval of the people directly affected before certain proposed changes
affecting local government units may be implemented.

3. Referendum – It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the

national or local legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their
ratification or rejection.

4. Initiative – It is the process whereby the people directly propose and enact
laws.

5. Recall – It is a method by which a public officer may be removed from office

during his tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people
after registration of a petition signed by a required percentage of the qualified
voters.
Qualifications of voters
He must be:
1. A citizen (male or female) of the Philippines;
2. Not otherwise disqualified by law;
3. At least eighteen (18) years of age; and
4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place
wherein he proposes to vote for at least six (6) months preceding the election.
It is also stated in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines –
Article IX –C the establishments of Commission on Elections (COMELEC. In Section
2 discusses the powers and functions of COMELEC:
(1) Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an
election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall.
(2) Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over all contests relating to the
elections, returns, and qualifications of all elective regional, provincial, and
city officials, and appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving elective
municipal officials decided by trial courts of general jurisdiction, or involving
elective barangay officials decided by trial courts of limited jurisdiction.
Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on election contests
involving elective municipal and barangay offices shall be final, executory, and not
appealable.

Meaning of Political Party

As stated by Marume et al (2016), a political
party is defined as an organized and
presumably durable association, either of
individuals or of distinguishable groups of
individuals, which endeavours to place its
members in governmental offices for the
purpose of bringing about the adoption of
favoured political policies or programmes. Of all
the characteristics of parties, the one which
distinguishes them from all other associations evincing a substantial interest in
public affairs is their effort to secure the election or the appointment of their own
personnel to the public positions through which the policies of government are
prescribed for implementation.

Characteristics of a Political Party

One of the primary characteristics of a political party is its objective to control
the exercise of governmental powers by placing its own members in the public offices
through which the policies of government are determined. A second characteristic
of a political party is its intention to use governmental powers for purposes which
meet with the general approval of its leaders and the rank and file of its membership.
Types of Electoral System
1. One-party system - An open system of the one-party variety exists in those
jurisdictions in which a particular party is so much stronger than any of its
nominal competitors that it almost invariably is successful in winning control
of the government. Example: North Korea, China
2. Bi or two-party system - The earmark of a two-party system is their existence
of two major parties which are so strongly supported that one or the other
ordinarily emerges as the victor in elections and consequently gains mastery
of the government. Although one of these parties may win a series of victories,
its chief competitors always is the running and sooner or later manages to
defeat its opponent. Example: In the US – Republican vs Democrats

3. Multiparty system - Multiple-party systems are featured by the presence of

a fairly large number of parties with compete with one another on relatively
equal terms. Several parties may be considerably in comparison with their
minor competitors, but they lack the strength of the major parties under a
genuine two-party system. None of them is regularly able to muster sufficient
voting strength to capture control of government. Example: Philippines, Spain,
Sweden, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea

There are several political parties that stand for the election in the country.
The Nacionalista Party, the Liberal Party, the Lakas-CMD, the PDP-LABAN,
the Nationalist People's Coalition, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino,
the Akbayan and the Philippine Democratic Socialist Party are the parties with
largest membership in Congress.

Political Parties are required to register with the COMELEC with a verified petition
with attachments including a constitution, by-laws, platform, and such other
information as may be required by the COMELEC. They are required to have chapters
in a majority of regions, and within each region, a majority of provinces, down to
towns and barangays.

Assessment

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE: Read the following items carefully. Write the letter of the
correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. It is a formal decision-making process by which the citizens of the country

vote and select certain officials to hold public office.
a. Amendment c. Plebiscite
b. Election d. Suffrage

2. The existing electoral system in the Philippines was established under

what Constitution?
a. Constitution 1935 c. Constitution 1973
b. Constitution 1943 d. Constitution 1987
 3. This commission is empowered to supervise every aspect of campaigns and
elections in the country.
a. COMELEC c. NAMFREL
b. Congress d. Senate

4. The following countries are example of multipart system except one, which
is this?
a. Indonesia c. South Korea
b. North Korea d. Sweden

5. These people come together to contest elections in order to hold power in

the government.
a. Political Ideologies c. Political Party
b. Political System d. Political Science

6. The following are the qualifications of voters in the country EXCEPT one,
which is this?
a. A citizen (male or female) of the Philippines
b. Not otherwise disqualified by law
c. At least eighteen (18) years of age
d. Have resided in the Philippines for at least three (3) months and in the
place wherein he proposes to vote for at least two (2) months preceding
the election.

7. It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or
against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them.
a. Plebiscite c. Recall
b. Referendum d. Initiative
8. It is a political system in which are featured by the presence of a fairly large
number of parties with compete with one another on relatively equal terms.
a. Double Party System c. Multiparty System
b. Electoral System d. One-Party System

9. It is a form of government where the country is ruled by a single political

party.
a. Double Party System c. Multiparty System
b. Electoral System d. One-Party System

10. What article of the constitution is related to the right of every Filipino to
vote?
a. Article III c. Article V
b. Article IV d. Article VI

II. JUMBLED LETTERS. Arrange the jumbled letters to reveal the hidden words.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper

1. It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in

the election of certain national and local officers of the
ESUFGFRA
government and in the decision of public questions
submitted to the people.
 2. It is a formal decision-making process by which the
OCELETIN citizens of the country vote and select certain officials to
hold public office.
3. It is the process whereby the people directly propose and
REDFEMRENU
enact laws.
4. It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the
VINITIEATI national or local legislative body to the voting citizens of
a country for their ratification or rejection.
5. It is a method by which a public officer may be removed
from office during his tenure or before the expiration of his
CAELLR
term by a vote of the people after registration of a petition
signed by a required percentage of the qualified voters.