Siayngco, Mary Rose Shelyn E.

10/20/2022
ARC205 The Contemporary World
Activity: Module 5.2
We have learned that a working democracy should have four elements: (1) Competition and
Separation of powers; (2) Participation of the citizens; (3) Rule of Law; (4) Upholding the rights
of the citizens. Assess whether or not each element is present in the Philippines right now and
provide examples to support your claims.
The Philippine democracy began in 1987 with the help of the United States that guided us
to this process of transitioning from dictatorship to democracy. Eventually this practice has been
a continuing procedure in our culture and history. Through experience and history with democracy,
how do we ensure that it is a working one? To know the answer to this, we must assess if the four
elements of democracy is present today.
Before anything else, we must know what are the four elements of democracy. These elements
include Competition and Separation of powers; Participation of the citizens; Rule of Law; and
Upholding the rights of the citizens.
Competition and Separation of powers is an element of democracy which is very present
on our government since we have the three branches that were created to prevent abuse of power
and the freedom of people will be exercised accordingly. Through this element, each branch such
as the Legislative, Executive, and the Judiciary was given separated responsibilities that will
ensure that they won’t overlap with each there and balance of power would be practiced.
Next, we have the Participation of the citizens. This element of democracy was created to
ensure that the interest of the people must come first over the government, and this shall be proven
by giving the citizens the power to elect the government officials they think deserved to serve the
nation and community. Before democracy, election is something that is unknown and limited only
however as our country become democratic the citizens any gender or age were able to participate
in this practice.
For the third element, we have the Rule of Law which is related to the first element
‘separation of powers’, wherein this element ensures that any person may it be a government
official or normal citizen shall be not excused from the laws that would be passed and made. This
element is essential since this would create equality and balance of power between the government
and the citizen.
Lastly, we have the Upholding the rights of the citizens which is an element of democracy
that give the citizens access to basic human rights that are incorporated in the supreme law of the
state. These basic human rights include the right to life, right to education, freedom of speech
freedom of profession, freedom of religion, right to a fair trial, protection from unlawful detention
or illegal detention, right to acquire property, and etc. All of these are made possible and provided
all thanks to democracy.