Party System

It is referred to as the interactions of parties with each other (Roskins et. Al., 2012). The party system is not equated to
parties because a party system is seen as macro persperpective where as parties are micro perspective just focusing in the
particular party. It could be said that the life of political system depends upon the kind of party system it has. It describes a
relatively sound system of political party and voter alignments, electoral rules, and policy priorities that dominate a
Democratic political system’s electoral process for some deliminated period.

Classification of Party System

1. The two-party system

 This is the system wherein the major political parties alternates with each other in the exercise of political power.

2. The multi-party sytem

 More than two political parties fight in an election, and no single party gets the majority control power.

 Parties may become identified as either “leftist”, “rightist”, or “center” parties depending upon the tendency of
their political views.

a. Leftist party- Is the reform-minded party which seeks to change the existing conditions of the country.
b. Rightist party- Is a conservative group which aims to maintain the status in the country.
c. Center party- Adopted policies which are a mixture of both left and right tendencies.

3. The one party system

 Only one political party holds power either because it towers above the others or because it suppresses all other
groups.
Note: The only choices left to voters are
1. To decide whether or not to vote.
2. To vote “yes” or “no” for the designated candidates

Philippine Party System

The Omnibus Election Code has the following provision that define political party functions during elections:

 Parties must be furnished a copy of Comelec directives and orders in pursuant to the provisions of the omnibus
Election Code (Article VIII)
 Parties must be notified by the Comelec in the use of technological and electronic device (Article VII)
 Parties must be provided guidelines for campaign spending (Article X)
 Parties must limit their spending to 1.50 pesos per voter for each candidate (Article Section 101)
 The two major parties shall have a representative each in the board of election inspector in every precinct (Article
XIV) and board of canvassers.
 All parties can have a watcher in every polling place (Article XV)
 Parties may hold party conventions or meetings to nominate their official candidates 30 days before the campaign
period and forty days for presidential and vice-presidential candidates (Article X)
 Parties should be notified by the Comelec before the printing of emergency ballots ( Article XVI)
 The two major parties may send representatives to verify the content of ballot boxes and shall be given a copy of
the statement of elections result (Article XVI)
 Parties may raise a pre-proclamation controversy, i.e any question pertaining to or affecting the proceedings of the
board of canvassers (Article XX).
Concept of Social Movements

There have been many social movements throughout history that have dramatically changed the societies in which they
occurred. Social movements have varied widely in their ideologies, some have been revolutionary in their aims, some have
advocated reforms to the existing system, and others have been conservative in their orientation and have worked to
oppose changes in society. In scope, social movements are varied also; many changes are limited to local policies and
others have been international in their focus (Christiansen, 2009)

Three Stages of Social Movements

 Emergence. With in this stage, social movements are very preliminary, and there is little to no organization.
Ex. The early 1950’s for the Civil Rights Movement.
 Coalescence. At this stage, social movements have overcome obstacle which many never overcome. It is
characterized by a more clearly defined sense of discontent, a sense of what the unease is all about and who or
what is responsible.
Ex. American civil rights movement.
 Bureaucratization. This stage is characterized by higher levels of the organization and coalition-based strategies. In
this stage, social movements can no longer just rely on mass rallies or inspirational leaders; they must rely on
trained staff to carry out the functions of organizations.
Ex. Gay rights movement.

Functions of Social Movements

Guiner & Torres (2014) in an article entitled “Changing the Wind”: Notes toward a Demosprudence of Law and Social
Movements” published in Yale Law Journal claimed that:

 Social movements have played key roles in redefining the meaning of our democracy by creating necessary
conditions for a genuine “ community of consent”
 Social movements build solidarity through “ a continuos series of interactions between power holders and persons
successfully claiming to speak and behalf of a constituency lacking formal representation,” as well as through
connective structures and shared identities that sustaincollective action.
 Social movements tend to emerge initially as a local source of power and moral authority.
 Social movements create constituencies of accountability and alternative authoritative interpretative communities
that draw on local resources (networks, information, relationships, and cultural symbols) to ground the lawmaking
process in a moral vision that forces both their legal advocates and the larger society to begin to contend with
issues of substantive justice.
 Social movements may ultimately succeed in changing public opinions. Or minorities through social movements-
can attract more supporters, influence a political majority, and thus succeed in conventional politics through their
dis proportionate and concentrated attention in gaining access to legislation or the executive branch.
 Social movements influence lawmaking which then shapes the agenda of the social movements.
 Even when they fail, social movements may still provide a valuable window on lawmaking because they bring to
the fore conceptions of the substantive justice, not just procedural fairness. Social movements, whether of the
political right or left, help narrate new social meanings often through their interaction with , and resistance to,
more conventional understanding.