LESSON 1-COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND and limitations of government, rights and duties of the

POLITICS citizens, sovereignty, legislation and others.

● Political Science is the study of politics.
IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION
● To understand how a political system work
The term 'comparative politics' is a relatively new concept
● To understand the functions and role of the
that first became popular in the 1950s and is indicative of
government
political science's widening horizons.
● To develop political awareness
● The political scientists made a bid to study the political
● To understand socio-political issues and their
reality through new techniques and approaches. The
implications
old concepts were also seen in a new light. One of the
● To cultivate responsive citizenship and effective
main reasons which encouraged the development of a
participation in government.
new approach for the study of politics was
FIELD OF STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
dissatisfaction with the traditional descriptive approach
● Political Theory
to the subject.
● Public Law
● Scholars borrowed a number of ideas and concepts
● Public Administrative
from other social sciences and provided the political
POLITICAL THEORY is about the study of political views
studies a new empirical orientation.
and thoughts or doctrine relating to the state. It includes
COMPARATIVE POLITICS
the ethical and moral standard for government.
● According to Edward Freeman “Comparative politics is
PUBLIC LAW is the study of governments power, duties,
comparative analysis of the various forms of
its organization and the limits of its authority in relation to
government and diverse political institutions.”
individual rights.
● Braibante says comparative politics is “identification
a. Constitutions Law
and interpretation of factors in the whole social order
b. Administrative Law
which appears to affect whatever political functions
c. International Law
and their institutions which have been identified and
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE deals with study of the
listed for comparison.”
methods and techniques in the management of the state
COMPARATIVE POLITICS’ AND ‘COMPARATIVE
affairs by three branches of government.
GOVERNMENT
STATE is a community of persons, more or less
● Comparative Government is concerned with the study
numerous, permanently occupying a definite territory,
of formal political institutions like legislature,
under an organized government to which they render
executive, judiciary and bureaucracy.
habitual obedience and enjoying freedom from foreign
● Comparative politics’ makes a study of the formal as
control.
well as informal political institutions. The scope of
ELEMENT OF THE STATE
comparative politics is wider than comparative
● People
government despite search for making comparisons
● Territory
which is central to the study of both.
● Government
● Comparative government was chiefly confined to the
● Sovereignty
study of the political institutions of western democratic
1. PEOPLE this refer to the inhabitant or the population
countries. On the other hand comparative politics
of the state that comprises its citizens. Citizens are the
concentrates on the study of political institutions of all
persons who enjoy protection of the state and have
the countries of the world.
the right to participate in its political affairs.
● Comparative government involves only descriptive
2. TERRITORY this definite geographic area occupied
study of the political institutions and makes only formal
by the people. The territory of a state must be definite
study of the political institutions provided by the
so as to properly ascertained its jurisdiction.
constitution while comparative politics concentrates on
a. a. Terrestrial
analytical study of the various political institutions. In
b. b. Maritime
other words it tries to examine the political
c. c. Fluvial
institutions through interdisciplinary approach.
d. d. Aerial
POLITICAL SCIENCE
3. GOVERNMENT refers to the body of people and
● Political Science is one of the disciplines of social
different agencies that make and enforce the laws. It is the
science deals with study of state and government. Its
organization, function and development. apparatus of the state that manages its affairs and carry out
● It revolves on legalistic concepts of state such as form the will of the people.
of government, its branches and agencies the power
 The political system by which a country or community isPOWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN this is the right of the State
administered and regulated.
ARISTOTLE’S CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT compensation and observance of due process
● Monarchy
● Aristocracy
● Polity
MONARCHY literally means rule of one person (Greek
monos-one). Government power are vested in one
virtuous and just person.
ARISTOCRACY derived from the Greek word, aristos
which means best. It is the rule of most virtuous intelligent
and enlightened few member of the elite class of society.
POLITY is taken from the Greek word Polites or citizens.
The people are given the right to participate in selecting
their leaders, in making law and the decision making of
the government.
BASIC DUTIES OF GOVERNMENT
● Insure domestic peace and order
● Establish the defense of the state and
preservation of independence
● Promote physical, social and economic well
being of the people
● Promotion of general welfare, public safety,
and public morality.
● Secure economic development.
INHERENT POWER OF GOVERNMENT
1. Power of Taxation
2. Police Power
3. Power of Eminent Domain
POWER OF TAXATION an inherent power of the state
exercised through legislature, to impose burdens upon
subjects and objects within its jurisdiction, for the purpose of
raising revenues to carry out the legitimate objects of the
government.
POLICE POWER this is the power vested in the Legislature
by the Constitution to make the obligation of the State to
provide protection for its citizens and the safety and good
order of society.
to acquire private property for public use upon payment of just
APPROACHES IN PROMOTING THE GENERAL
WELFARE
● Laissez Faire Approach
● Socialist Approach
● Welfare State Approach
LAISSEZ FAIRE APPROACH
● Literally means “Let alone”
● Government is viewed as an enemy of human liberty
in terms of the economy.
● Thomas Jefferson says “that Government is the best
which governs least.
SOCIALIST APPROACH
● Government plays a big role in the economy,
government, not private individuals or corporations
own major strategic means of production.
● Government determine what, how, and for whom to
produce and distribute government services equitably
for its citizens
● Private ownership of business and industries should
be limited
WELFARE STATE APPROACH
● A combination of Laissez Faire and Socialist approach
● The government establishes basic rules for economic
order and acts to eliminate abuses by private
individuals or corporations.
● Provides social security to its citizens, workers
compensation financial assistance to unemployed, aid
to dependent children and other social welfare
programs to the needy and underprivileged.
4. SOVEREIGNTY is from the old French “soverain”
which means “to rule over”. The supreme power of the
state to rule over its citizens within its territory and be free
from control of foreign states.
● Internal sovereignty is the power of the state which
establishes its supremacy over all individuals and
associations within the territory under its control.
● External sovereignty means that the state is
independent from the control or interference of any
other state.
CHARACTERISTIC OF SOVEREIGNTY
● It is permanent
● It is exclusive
● It comprehensive
LESSON 2-FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION
● Government, whether we refer to the system or
institutions in operation, the group of people in charge,
or the process in use, is the authority that sets rules
for a society, helps its members relate to one another
and to others, and keeps it running smoothly, securely,
and peacefully.
● The role of the government is protect the lives,
liberties and properties of the member of society.
ANARCHY
● Anarchy isn’t a type of government, it’s actually the
absence A condition of lawlessness or political
disorder brought about by the absence of
governmental authority.
● There are also people called anarchists. They believe
that any government is a bad thing - this belief is
called anarchism.
● Anarchists think governments stop people organizing
their own lives. Instead they think people would be
better off if they ruled their own lives and worked
together to create a society in any form they choose.
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.
● When the ruler died the power is automatically passes
to the one of the monarch’s child or relatives.
KINDY OF MONARCHY
● Absolute Monarchy
● Constitutional Monarchy
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY The monarch holds absolute or
total powers.
Divine Rights/Divine Right of kings in European history
is political doctrine in defense of monarchical absolutism,
which asserted that kings derived their authority from God
and could not therefore be held accountable for their
actions by any earthly authority.
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
● Constitutional Monarchy a system of government
in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby
his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out
in written law or by custom.
● Constitutional Monarchy the power of the monarch
is limited by a constitution. He rules in accordance with
the law.
ADVANTAGES OF MONARCHY
● Government Based on Monarchy is robust
● Corruption Control is one of the key advantages of
Monarchy
● Less Arguments over Transfer of Power
● Monarchist Countries have a strong defense
● Monarchy leaders are trained from birth to become
leaders.
DISADVANTAGES OF MONARCHY
● A monarchy can decide to remove all checks and
balances
● There is no guarantee of competency coming from the
leadership
● The head of state is usually the final say on all
governing matters
● Tyranny is easier to form in the structure of a
monarchy
● The structure of a monarchy encourages one person
to stay in power
OLIGARCHY
● Similar to a monarchy, an oligarchy places power with
a few people or families, typically a country’s wealthy
elite. Unlike aristocracy, oligarchy is not necessarily
dependent on noble birth, but on wealth or those who
are deemed most “capable” of ruling. The term is
derived from the Greek words for "few" (óligon) and
"rule" (arkho).
TYPES OF OLIGARCHY
● Aristocracy
● Autocracy
● Plutocracy
● Stratocracy
● Theocracy
● Meritocracy
1. ARISTOCRACY refers to a government form in which
a small, elite ruling class.
● The aristocrats have power over those in lower
socioeconomic strata. Members of the aristocracy are
usually chosen based on their education, upbringing,
and genetic or family history.
● Aristocracies often connect wealth and ethnicity with
both the ability and right to rule.
2. AUTOCRACY an autocracy is a system of
government in which one person.
● An autocrat holds all political, economic, social, and
military power. The autocrat’s rule is unlimited and
absolute and is not subject to any legal or legislative
limitation.
3. PLUTOCRACY is a term describing a society
governed either directly or indirectly by extremely
wealthy people. A common characteristic of plutocracy
is the frequent enactment of government policies that
benefit the wealthy, often at the expense of the lower
classes.
● Since plutocracy is not a recognized political
philosophy or form of government, its existence is
rarely admitted or defended. Instead, the word is
typically used in criticizing what is considered to be an
unjust system.
4. STRATOCRACY a stratocracy is a form of
government headed by military chiefs; the term is
derived from two Greek terms signifying army and
power. It is not the same as a military dictatorship or
military junta where the military's political power is not
enforced or even supported by other laws.
● Stratocracy is a form of military government in which
the state and the military are traditionally or
constitutionally the same entity, and government
positions are always occupied by military leaders.
5. THEOCRACY refers to a form of government in which
a specific religious ideology determines the
leadership, laws, and customs. In many instances,
there is little to no distinction between scriptural laws
and legal codes. Likewise, religious clergy will typically
occupy leadership roles, sometimes including the
highest office in the nation.
6. MERITOCRACY (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy,
from Ancient Greek kratos 'strength, power') is a
political system in which economic goods and/or
political power are vested in individual people on the
basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than
wealth or social class.
REPUBLIC the word republic, comes from the Latin res
publica, or public thing, and refers to a form of
government where the citizens act for their own benefit
rather than for the benefit of a ruler or king. A republican
government is one in which the political authority comes
from the people.
● A republic is similar to a representative democracy
except it has a written constitution of basic rights that
protects the minority from being completely
unrepresented or abused by the majority.
PRINCIPLES OF REPUBLIC
● The power and authority of government comes from
the people, not some supreme authority, or king.
● The rights of the people are protected by a written
constitution and through the vote of the people.
● The citizens give power to elected representatives,
based on majority rule, to serve their interests and act
on their behalf.
● The representatives are responsible for helping all the
people in the country, not just a few people.
● The stability of government rests with the people and
is dependent on civic involvement.
DEMOCRACY coming from the Greek words for “people”
(dēmos) and “rule” (karatos), democracy means “rule by
the people,” democracy is a system of government that
not only allows but requires the participation of the people
in the political process to function properly.
● Democracy is a form of government that allows the
people to choose leadership.
● Along with the two most common types of
democracies—direct and representative
DIRECT DEMOCRACY is called "pure democracy," is a
form
of democracy in which all laws and policies imposed by
governments are determined by the people themselves,
rather than by representatives who are elected by the
people.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
● In a representative democracy, the people elect
officials to create and vote on laws, policies, and other
matters of government on their behalf.
● The powers of the elected representatives are defined
by a constitution that establishes the basic laws,
principles, and framework of the government.
● Elected representatives may also have the power to
select other government leaders, such as a prime
minister or president.
PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT is a form of government
in which the chief executive (President) is constitutionally
independent of the legislature with respect to his tenure,
acts, and powers.
● A presidential system is a democratic and republican
system of government where a head of government
leads an executive branch that is separate from the
legislative branch.
PARLIAMENT GOVERNMENT is a form of government in
which the leader of the government is part of the
legislature. The leader is called Prime Minister.
● The parliamentary system typically has clear
differentiation between the head of government and
the head of state, with the former being the Prime
Minister and the latter, the President. In the
parliamentary system, there is fusion of powers
between the executive and the legislative branches.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is form divided the powers of
the government between the national government and the
different local government.
● Federalism is a system of government in which the
same territory is controlled by two levels of
government.
● Both the national government and the smaller political
subdivisions have the power to make laws and both
have a certain level of autonomy from each other.
STRENGTHS OF FEDERALISM there is independence
of local governments to initiate programs and laws within
their jurisdictions authority that will answer their particular
need.
● The people in a federal system are more interested in
participating in public affairs.
● The national government is relieved of the burdens
and congestion in attending to various local problems.
● A federal system is more applicable in a state of vast
area and different ethnic groups.
WEAKNESSES OF FEDERALISM
● The lack of uniform legislation among local
government makes administration of federal affairs
difficult
● It creates a complex political organization where there
is duplicity of legislation and administration that entails
heavy expenditures.
COMMUNISM is a form of government most closely
● Confusion and delay is likely to happen when a certain
associated with the ideas of Karl Marx
government problem borders between federal and
● Communism is based on the goal of eliminating
local authority.
socioeconomic class struggles by creating a classless
UNITARY GOVERNMENT is centralization of government
society in which everyone shares the benefits of labor and
powers in the national government. The authority of the
the state controls all property and wealth.
national government is supreme over local government.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNISM
● There is uniformity of legislation and the
Collective ownership of the means of production: All
administration of government.
means of production such as factories, farms, land,
● There is efficiency and effectiveness in the execution
mines, and transportation, and communication systems
of national policies
are owned and controlled by the state.
● There is less expense in the operation of the
Abolition of Private Property: As collective ownership
government.
implies, private ownership of means of production is
● There is enhancement of national unity with respect to
prohibited. In a purely communist state, individual citizens
religion, language and culture.
are allowed to own nothing except the necessities of life.
● It restrains the initiatives of local government to
The operation of privately owned businesses is similarly
formulate its own program of development.
prohibited.
● An over-centralized power of government in the
Centrally planned economy:  Also known as
national government tends to make it autocratic.
a command economy, a centrally planned economy is an
● Government imposed programs for local affairs may
economic system in which a single central authority,
fail.
typically the government in communist states, makes all
● The national government is inclined to disregard local
decisions regarding the manufacturing and the distribution
affairs.
of products. 
Elimination of income inequality: In theory, by
compensating each individual according to their need,
gaps in income are eliminated. By abolishing revenue,
interest income, profit, income inequality, and
socioeconomic class friction is eliminated, and the
distribution of wealth is accomplished on a just and fair
basis.
AUTHORITARIAN Authoritarianism, principle of blind
submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom
of thought and action. In government, authoritarianism
denotes any political system that concentrates power in
the hands of a leader or a small elite that is not
constitutionally responsible to the body of the people. 
● Authoritarian leaders often exercise power
arbitrarily and without regard to existing bodies of law, and
they usually cannot be replaced by citizens choosing
freely among various competitors in elections. The
freedom to create opposition political parties or
other alternative political groupings with which to compete
for power with the ruling group is either limited or
nonexistent in authoritarian regimes.
Yale University, described the four most recognizable
characteristics of authoritarian states
● Limited political freedom with strict government
controls imposed on political institutions and groups
like legislatures, political parties, and interest groups
● A controlling regime that justifies itself to the people as
a “necessary evil” uniquely capable of coping with
“easily recognizable societal problems” such as
hunger, poverty, and violent insurgency
● Strict government-imposed constraints on social
freedoms such as suppression of political opponents
and anti-regime activity
● The presence of a ruling executive with vague,
shifting, and loosely-defined powers
TOTALITARIAN totalitarianism is a form of government in
which the state’s power is unlimited and controls virtually
all aspects of public and private life. This control extends
to all political and financial matters as well as the
attitudes, morals, and beliefs of the people.
● According to Russian history expert and author
Richard Pipes, Fascist Italian Prime Minister Benito
Mussolini once summarized the basis of
totalitarianism as,
● “Everything within the state, nothing outside the state,
nothing against the state.”
EXAMPLES CHARACTERISTICS OF TOTALITARIAN
● Rule enforced by a single dictator
● The presence of a single ruling political party
● Strict censorship, if not total control of the press
● Constant dissemination of pro-government
propaganda
● Mandatory service in the military for all citizens
● Mandatory population control practices
● Prohibition of certain religious or political groups and
practices
● Prohibition of any form of public criticism of the
Government
● Laws enforced by secret police forces or the military
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOTALITARIANISM AND
AUTHORITARIANISM
● Totalitarianism is authoritarianism. And then some.
In an authoritarian system there are a few social and
economical institutes that are outside of the government’s
control. The authoritarian system wants full political
power, but does not go beyond that. The totalitarian rule
system, on the other hand, wants power over everything.
They seek power beyond governmental rule and begin to
intrude into the Ideology of everyone under their rule.
LESSON 3- THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT
CONSTITUTION is a set of rules, principles and customs
that establish the limit, and distribute the fundamental
power of government and define its relations with the
citizens.
THE ROLE OF CONSTITUTION
● A constitution is more than an instrument that serves
to restrain government powers and defines its relation
to the citizens.
● It provides symbolic statements of people’s collective
ideals and their unity, the legitimacy of government
and outlines a structure of government.
THEORETICAL ROLES OF CONSTITUTION
● An expression of national ideals and unity.
● A symbol of Government Legitimacy
● An outline of government Structure
● An instrument of political legitimacy
NATURE OF CONSTITUTION
● The constitution is adopted by nearly all nation-states
in the world.
● To establish the Supreme law of the land.
● The constitution enumerates the fundamental laws of
the nation and is not meant to change easily and as
often caprice of those in power.
● A measuring instrument by which any activities of the
government or the people to be measured.
KINDS OF CONSTITUTION
A. Written – in which it is contained or codified in a single
document.
● Constitution Convention – In which the delegates that
will draft the constitution are elected by the people
such as the 1935 and 1973 constitution.
● Constitutional Commission – In which the delegates
are appointed by the President of the Philippines such
as the present constitution.
B. Unwritten – it is a product of political evolutions,
customs and traditions that evolved from the passage of
time.
GOOD WRITTEN CONSTITUTION
1. Brief and not too detailed
2. Broad and comprehensive to cover general statement
from structure and powers of government to relationship
between government and its citizens
3. Definite and not ambiguous so that it will not lead to
different interpretations
THE 4 CONSTITUTIONAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
1. MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
● It is said that the 1st constitution of the Philippines.
● It established a democratic, republication government
with three branches - the Executive, Legislative and
the Judicial branches.
● It called for the separation of church and state. The
executive powers were to be exercise by the president
of the republic with the help of his cabinet. Judicial
powers were given to the Supreme Court and other
lower courts to be created by law. The Chief justice of
the Supreme Court was to be elected by the
legislature with the concurrence of the President and
CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION
his Cabinet.
There are three bodies that may propose a change in the
2. THE 1935 CONSTITUTION
constitution in accordance with Article 17. Any
● This constitution has to be approved by the US
amendment or revision must be ratified by the people in a
President before submitting it to the people for
plebiscite.
approval.
1. Constituent Assembly - Congress
● It provides for a commonwealth government for
2. Constitutional Convention – in which the members
10years in pursuance of the tydings-McDuffie Law or
are elected by qualified voters.
the Philippine Independence Act.
3. Electorate - the qualified voters through popular
● It is the transition to a republic when the US
initiative.
sovereignty withdraws from the Philippines.
THE PHILIPPINE FORM OF GOVERNMENT
3. THE 1973 CONSTITUTION
● It was a very unusual constitution.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE
● It was ratified by the people in a plebiscite in pursuant
PHILIPPINES
to 1935 constitution which provides ratification is
● PREAMBLE
through “ in an election or plebiscite held in
● ARTICLE I National Territory
accordance with law and participated in only by
● ARTICLE II Declaration of Principles and State
qualified register voters.
Policies
● It was ratified by Citizen Assemblies (Barangay)
● ARTICLE III Bill of Rights
created under PD 86.
● ARTICLE IV Citizenship
4. THE 1987 CONSTITUTION
● ARTICLE V Suffrage
● The 1987 Constitution established a representative
● ARTICLE VI Legislative Department
democracy with power divided among three separate
● ARTICLE VII Executive Department
and independent branches of government: the
● ARTICLE VIII Judicial Department
Executive, a bicameral Legislature, and the Judiciary.
● ARTICLE IX Constitutional Commissions
● There were three independent constitutional
● ARTICLE X Local Government
commissions as well: the Commission on Audit, the
● ARTICLE XI Accountability of Public Officers
Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on
● ARTICLE XII National Economy and Patrimony
Elections.
● ARTICLE XIII Social Justice and Human Rights
● Integrated into the Constitution was a full Bill of
● ARTICLE XIV Education, Science and Technology,
Rights, which guaranteed fundamental civil and
Arts, Culture and Sports
political rights, and it provided for free, fair, and
● ARTICLE XV The Family
periodic elections.
● ARTICLE XVI General Provisions
● ARTICLE XVII Amendments or Revisions
● ARTICLE XVIII Transitory Provisions
PREAMBLE
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society
and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals
and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve
and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and
our posterity the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth,
justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this Constitution.
PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
● The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of
government wherein power is equally divided among
its three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The government seeks to act in the best interests of
its citizens through this system of check and balance.
● Article 2. sec 1. The Philippines is a democratic and
republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people
and all government authority emanates from them.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
Article VII, Section 1, of the 1987 Constitution vests
executive power on the President of the Philippines. The
President is the Head of State and Head of Government,
and functions as the commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines. As chief executive, the
President exercises control over all the executive
departments, bureaus, and offices.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
The President of the Philippines is elected by direct vote
by the people for a term of six years. He may only serve
for one term, and is ineligible for reelection. The term of
the President of the Philippines starts at noon of the 30th
day of June after the election.
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
● Power of control over the executive branch
● Power ordinance power
● Power over aliens
● Powers of eminent domain, escheat, land reservation
and recovery of ill-gotten wealth
● Power of appointment
● Power of general supervision over local governments
● Other powers
LINE OF SUCCESSION
The constitution provides for a line of succession in the
event that the elected President of the Philippines is not
able to discharge the duties of his office due to death,
disability, or resignation.
DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
● According to the constitution, the vice president may
concurrently assume a cabinet position should the
President of the Philippines offer the former one. The
vice president will become a secretary concurrent to
the position of vice president.
● Aside from the cabinet post, the vice president is
mandated to assume the presidency in case of the
death, disability, or resignation of the incumbent
President.
FUNCTION OF A CABINET SECRETARY
● Cabinet secretaries act as the alter ego of the
President executing, with his authority, the power of
the Office of the President in their respective
departments.
● The number of cabinet secretaries varies from time to
time depending on the needs of an administration.
According to the Administrative Code of 1987, the
President of the Philippines may create or dissolve
any department as he sees fit.
APPOINTMENT OF CABINET SECRETARIES
According to Article 7, Section 16, the President may
appoint anyone to executive departments with the
consent of the Commission on Appointments. Names of
individuals nominated to cabinet posts are submitted to
the Commission on Appointments for their consideration.
POWERS OF A CABINET SECRETARY
● The cabinet secretary is the alter ego of the President
in their respective departments. Thus, they possess
the power to issue directives relative to their
departments, such as department orders.
● These orders only apply to offices under a specific
department under the cabinet secretary’s jurisdiction.
Cabinet secretaries also act as advisors to the
President of the Philippines for their areas.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The executive branch extends beyond the national
government. According to Article X, Section 4 of the
constitution, the President of the Philippines is mandated
to supervise local governments all over the country.
However, because of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise
known as the Local Government Code of 1991, local
governments enjoy relative autonomy from the national
government.
Each local government has its own chief executive.
The following is the list of local chief executives
1. Barangay — Punong barangay (barangay chairman)
2. Municipality — municipal mayor
3. City — city mayor
4. Province — provincial governor
TERM LIMITS
The offices of the local chief executives are limited to three
consecutive three-year terms. Once they end their third
term, they may not run for reelection, but may run again
once they let one term pass.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
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.
THE POWER OF LEGISLATIVE
The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or
rejects Presidential appointments, and has the authority to
declare war. This branch includes Congress
(the Senate and House of Representatives) and several
agencies that provide support services to Congress.
MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE
● The Senate is composed of 24 Senators who are
elected at large by the qualified voters of the
Philippines.
● The House of Representatives is composed of about
250 members elected from legislative districts in the
provinces, cities, and municipalities, and
representatives elected through a party-list system of
registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or
organizations.
● The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty
per cent of the total number of representatives
including those under the party list. It is by selection or
election from the labor, peasant, urban poor,
indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and
such other sectors as may be provided by law, except
the religious sector.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
Judicial power rests with the Supreme Court and the
lower courts, as established by law (Art. VIII, sec. 1 of the
1987 Constitution). Its duty is to settle actual
controversies involving rights which are legally
demandable and enforceable (Art. VIII Sec. 1 (2).
FUNCTION OF JUDICIAL
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies
laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the
Constitution. The judicial power shall be vested in one
Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be
established by law.
MEMBER OF SUPREME COURT
Pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution, the
Supreme Court is composed of a chief Justice and 14
associate justices who serve until the age of 70. The chief
justice and associate justices are appointed by the
President of the Philippines, chosen from a shortlist
submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS
The Constitutional Commissions, which shall be
independent, are the Civil Service Commission, the
Commission on Elections, and the Commission on Audit.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
● The Civil Service Commission, as the central
personnel agency of the Government, shall establish a
career service and adopt measures to promote
morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness,
progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service.
● It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system,
integrate all human resources development programs
for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a
management climate conducive to public
accountability. It shall submit to the President and the
Congress an annual report on its personnel programs.
COMMISION ON ELECTIONS
The Commission on Elections shall exercise the
following powers and functions:
(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.
COMMISSION ON AUDIT
The Commission shall submit to the President and the
Congress, within the time fixed by law, an annual report
covering the financial condition and operation of the
Government, its subdivisions, agencies, and
instrumentalities, including government-owned or
controlled corporations, and non-governmental entities
subject to its audit, and recommend measures necessary
to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. It shall submit
such other reports as may be required by law.