Jan Erico Luna

AB Political Science 1
Module No. 3
Assignment – Intro to Philippine Government and Politics

1. Discuss and enumerate the different forms of government and its

characteristics.

a. Monarchy- Monarchy originated from the word “mono”, meaning one.

A king rules usually for life. Monarchial kind of government was
exemplified by Great Britain, Sweden and Denmark in the past. Ideally,
Plato considered philosopher-king as the best form. The example is
Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd who is willing to lay down his life for his
flock. Today there are enlightened monarchies. Monarchy is a political
system based upon the undivided sovereignty or rule of a single person.
The term applies to states in which supreme authority is vested in
the monarch, an individual ruler who functions as the head of state and
who achieves his or her position through heredity.

b. Aristocracy- Aristocracy is originated from the Latin term “arete”,

meaning excellence. This is synonymous to the government of the chosen
few. Aristocracy presupposes the best of stock whether ascribed or
archived. It is achieved, if one obtains his status through hard work or
qualities developed. It is ascribed if one has qualities passed on to him or
as the result of one’s birth or kinship with royal blood like the royal
family of England and the Czar of Russian then. Just like aristocracy,
oligarchy and plutocracy, however, are primarily based on wealth. It is
a government by a relatively small privileged class or by a minority
consisting of those presumed to be best qualified to rule.

c. Democracy- Democracy was frowned upon by the Greeks because

they could not put their trust on the masses. They preferred the rule of
philosopher-king as represented by a monarch and for the rule by the
few,aristocracy. Where majority rules, they may either be unruly or
violent to the detriment of the minority, particularly, the elites.
Contrariwise, a small group may also tyrannize practical is the midway,
which they called “polity”. It is the forerunner of today’s democracy.
There are also built-in defects that can lead to eventual decay. Situated
at the midpoint between anarchy and fascism, will emerge a dictator who
governs either manipulation or by coercion. It is possible that a
government may seem democratic. It can be a government of the few
either by the wealth or by a lawless mob. It is a Government by the
people especially rule of the majority. It is a government in which the
supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or
indirectly through a system of representation usually involving
periodically held free elections a political unit that has
a democratic government.
2. Discuss and recognize the different forms of government in the
Philippines starting from Pre-Colonial times to the present.

Pre-Colonial- was established on 900. It was distebalished on 1521. Its form of

Government is Barangay State. The head of state and its head government is
Datu, Rajah, Sultan. Its currency is Piloncitos and its States Religion is Local
Paganism.

Spanish East Indies- was established on 900. It was distebalished on 1521.

Its form of Government is Spanish Colony. Its constitutional government is
colonial authority of the crown. The head of state are queen regent of Spain
and king of Spain. Its head of government is Spanish governor general. Its
military is Spanish imperial army guardia civil.
. Its currency are real de a ocho and Pueso fuerte and its States Religion is
Roman Catholicism.

Haring Bayan Katagalugan- was established on August 25, 1896. It was

disestablished on May 10, 1897. Its constitutional document is Katipunan code
of laws. Its capital is Manila. Its form of government is unrecognized
provisional government. The head of state ang head of government is supreme
leader Andres Bonifacio. Its military is Katipunan. Its currency peso. Its official
language is Tagalog and its state religion is separation of church and state.

Tejeros Revolutionary Republic- was established on March 22, 1897. It was

disestablished on November 1, 1897. Its constitutional document is official
decrees of Aguinaldo. Its capital is San Francisco de Malabon Cavite. Its form
of government revolutionary republic. The head of state and head of
government is President of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo. Its Military is
Philippine revolutionary government. Its currency is peso. Its official languages
are Tagalog and Spanish and its state religion is separation of church and
state.

Republic of Biak na Bato- was established on November 1, 1897. It was

disestablished on December 14, 1897. Its constitutional document is
provisional constitution. Its capital is San Miguel, de Malabon Cavite. Its form
of government is De facto constitutional republic. The head of government is
president of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo. Its military is Philippine
Revolutionary Army. Its official languages are Tagalog and Spanish and its
state religion is separation of church and state.

Dictatorial Republic- was established on May 24, 1898. It was disestablished

on June 23, 1898. Its constitutional document is official decrees of Aguinaldo.
Its capital is Bacoor Cavite. Its form of government is dictatorship. The head of
government and head of state is president of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo.
Its military is Philippine revolutionary army. Its currency is peso. Its official
languages are Tagalog and Spanish and its state religion is separation of
church and state.

Revolutionary Republic- was established on June 23, 1898. It was

disestablished on January 23, 1899. Its constitutional document is official
decrees of Aguinaldo. Its capital is Malolos, Bulacan. Its form of government is
revolutionary republic. The head of state is president of the Philippines Emilio
Aguinaldo. The head of government is prime minister of the Philippines
Apolinario Mabini. Its military is Philippine revolutionary army. Its currency is
peso. Its official languages are Tagalog and Spanish and its state religion is
separation of church and state.
Republica Filipina- was established on January 23, 1899. It was
disestablished on March 23, 1901. Its constitutional document is Malolos
constitution. Its capital is Malolos, Bulacan. Its form of government is unitary
presidential constitutional republic. The head of state and head of the
government are president of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo and Miguel
Malvar. Its military is Philippine republican army. Its official languages are
Tagalog and Spanish and its state religion is separation of church and state.

Tagalog Republic- was established on May 6, 1902. It was disestablished on

July 14, 1906. Its constitutional document is Katipunan code of laws. Its
capital is Rizal. Its form of government is unrecognized provisional government.
The head of state and head of government is President Macario Sakay. Its
military is Katipunan. Its currency is peso. Its official languages are Spanish
and Tagalog and its state religion is separation of church and state.

US Military Government- was established on August 14, 1898. It was

disestablished on July 1, 1902. Its constitutional document is United states
constitution. Its capital is Manila. Its form of government is military
occupational transitional government. The head of state are US President
William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. The head of a government are US
Military Governor General Wesley Merritt, Elwell S. Otis, Arthur McArthur Jr.
and Adna Chafee. Its military is United States Army. Its currency is peso. Its
official languages are English and Tagalog and its state religion is separation
church and state.

US Insular Government- was established on July 4, 1901. It was

disestablished on November 15, 1935. Its constitutional document is Philippine
Organic Act, Philippine Autonomy Act and Tyding Mcduffie Act. Its capital is
Manila. Its form of government is unincorporated territories of United States.
The head of state are US President Thedore Roosevelt, William H. Taft,
Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The head of state are US Insular
Governor General William H. Taft, Francis B. Harrison, Leonard Wood, and
Frank Murphy. Its Military are United States Army, USA Philippine Division,
Philippine Constabulary and Philippine Scouts. Its currency is peso. Its official
languages are English and Tagalog and its state religion is separation church
and state.

Commonwealth of the Philippines- was established on November 15, 1935. It

was disestablished on October 22, 1946. Its capital is Manila. Its form of
government is Presidential commonwealth. The head of state and head of
government are the President of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio
Osmena and Manuel Roxas. Its military are Armed Forces of the Philippines,
USA Philippine Division an Philippine constabulary. Its currency is peso. Its
official languages are English, and Spanish and its state religion is separation
of church and state.

Second Philippine Republic- was established on October 14, 1943. It was

disestablished on August 17, 1945. Its constitutional document is 1943
constitution. Its capital are Manila and Baguio. Its form of government is single
party authoritarian republic. The head of state is President of the Philippines
Jose P. Laurel. The head of the government are Japanese Military Governor
Shigenori Kuroda and Tomoyuki Yamashita. Its military is armed forces of the
Philippines. Its currency are Japanese Government issued Philippine Peso. Its
official languages are Japanese, Filipino, and English and its state religion is
separation of church and state.
Third Republic of the Philippines- was established on July 4, 1946. It was
disestablished on December 30, 1965. Its constitutional document is 1935
constitution. Its capital are Manila and Quezon City. Its form of government is
Unitary Presidential Constitutional republic. The head of the state and head of
the government are President of the Philippines Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino,
Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal. Its military is
Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its currency is peso. Its official languages are
English and Filipino and its state religion is separation of church and state.

Fourth Republic of the Philippines- was established on December 30, 1965.

It was disestablished on February 25, 1986. Its constitutional document is
1973 constitution. Its capital are Manila and Quezon. Its form of government
are Unitary dominant pseudo parliamentary republic under totalitarian civic-
military rule. The head of the state are the president of the Philippines
Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino. The head of the government are Prime
Minister of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, Cesar Virata and Salvador
Laurel. Its military is Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its currency is peso. Its
official languages are English and Filipino and its state religion is separation of
church and state.

Fifth Republic of the Philippines- was established on February 2, 1897. Its

constitutional document is 1987 constitution. Its capital is Manila. Its form of
government is Unitary presidential constitutional republic. The head of state
and head of the head of government are the President of Philippines Corazon
Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Benigno
Aquino III and President Rodrigo Duterte.

3. Discuss and examine the three branches of government, and its roles
and functions.

a. The Executive
b. The Legislative
c. The Judiciary.

a. The Executive branch carries out laws. It is composed of the President

and the Vice President who are elected by direct popular vote and serve a
term of six years. The Constitution grants the President authority to appoint
his Cabinet. These departments form a large portion of the country’s
bureaucracy. It is for the enforcement or the implementation of the law.

b. The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal

them through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution
is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives.

c. The Judicial branch evaluates laws. It holds the power to settle

controversies involving rights that are legally demandable and enforceable.
This branch determines whether or not there has been a grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and
instrumentality of the government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and
lower courts. It interprets the law in case of conflict.
 Discuss the power and functions of the three branches of the
government along with its composition and qualifications.

Executive - The Executive Branch has the power to execute and enforces
law. The Primary Function of executive is to enforce laws and maintain law
and order in the state. It includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet,
Executive Departments, Independent Agencies, and other boards,
commissions, and committees. The qualifications of the executive as
described in the Constitution are usually based on Citizenship, Age,
Residence and Literacy. For Presidency, Natural-born citizen of the
Philippines, registered voter, able to read and write at least 40 years old on
the day at election and resident of the Philippines at least 10 years.
Legislative -

The Legislative Branch make all laws, declares war, regulates interstate,
and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies. The
Legislature is that organ of the government which passes the laws of the
government. In terms of composition, the senate shall be composed of
twenty-four (24) senators, the House of Representatives shall be composed
of not more than 250 (unless otherwise fixed by law) 20% of whom must be
party-list representatives. Requirements or qualifications for legislative
branch, senate: A natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 85 years of
age, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the
Philippines for at least two years prior to election, House of Representatives:
A natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 25 years old, able to read
and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the province where he or she
is running for at least one year immediately prior to the election. Judiciary -

The Judicial Branch is in charge of deciding the meaning of laws, how to

apply them to real situations, and whether a law break the rules of the
constitution. One of the major functions of Judiciary is to interpret and
apply, laws to specific cases. It is composed of the chef justice as ex-officio
chairman the secretary of justice and representatives of congress as ex-
officio members and a representatives of the integrated bar, a professor of
law, a retired member of the supreme court and a representative of the
private sector as members. Qualifications are a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines, at least 40 years of age, has been a judge of a court for at least
ten years, or been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines or has
held office requiring admission to the bar as the prerequisite for at least ten
years.

Is a congress a continuous body?

-Yes, a congress is a continuous body because its seats are never up for
election at the same time, unlike the house of representatives, the senate, as a
continuing body, does not have to adopt or readopt its rules with each new
congress.

MTC, RTC, COURT OF APPEALS. How are they elected? Compositions and
Qualifications?

Municipal Trial Court- the Members of the Supreme Court and judges of lower
courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees
prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such
appointments need no confirmation.
Regional Trial Court- where the executive and legislative branches are elected
by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate. ... Judges and Justices serve no fixed term —
they serve until their death, retirement, or conviction by the Senate.

Court of Appeals- is composed of one presiding justice and 68 associate

justices, all of which are appointed by the President from a shortlist submitted
by the Judicial and Bar Council.

Qualification and Compositions of Judges (MTCs and RTCs) and Justices of

the Court of Appeals (a reference to the 1987 Constitution) The specific
provisions of the law tackle the qualification of judges for the MTC, RTC, and
for the justices of the Court of Appeals. Take note of this technicality, that
judges only apply to MTCs while RTCs and justices apply to the Court of
Appeals. Why is this so? Because the Court of Appeals and also the Supreme
Court are considered as tribunals. Meaning there are several judges and it is of
higher rank as compared to the MTC and the RTC. Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts every municipality in the Philippines has its own
Municipal Trial Court. It is referred to as such if it covers only one
municipality; otherwise, it is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it covers
two or more municipalities. Regional Trial Courts Regional Trial Courts were
established among the thirteen regions in the Philippines consisting of Regions
I to XII and the National Capital Region (NCR). There are as many Regional
Trial Courts in each region as the law mandates. And Court of Appeals is
composed of one Presiding Justice and sixty eight Associate Justices is vested
with jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the Regional Trial Courts
and certain quasi-judicial agencies, boards or commissions.

4. Discuss and find solutions on the challenges the three branches of

the Philippine governing is facing.

The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch
can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto. The legislative branch makes
laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional. Two
specific examples of conflicts over ideas and policies within the three branches
of government include disagreements over the legality of a National Bank and
whether or not the central government had the right to sponsor internal
improvements, such as the building of roads and canals. Public policy making
process includes the manner in which problems get conceptualized and
brought to the government for solution; Governmental institutions formulate
alternatives and select policy solutions; and those solutions get implemented,
evaluated and revised” As such, the establishment of a public policy making
process is indispensable, yet, may vary from country to country.The
Philippines, being a democratic and republican state, has three branches of
government, namely: the executive, legislative, and judiciary which are co-
equal and inter-dependent of each other. As regards legislation or policy
making, each branch has a role to play. The legislative branch formulates laws,
the executive implements the enacted laws, and the judiciary interprets the
laws. As regards administrative policies, the executive branch takes the lead.
The President of the Republic designs his/her platform of government or his
vision for the country. On the basis of his platform or reform agenda, national
policies and programs are designed.