ARNOLD V. DE CASTRO, J.D.

Author

All rights reserved. This module is not subject to any reproduction of whatever
form or kind unless with the consent of the above-named author.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
RATIONALE AND/OR OBJECTIVE

Welcome dear student! This module is intended to educate you as regards the concepts of the three
(3) fundamental and core elements of the subject- Philippine Politics. These elements are:
a. Politics;
b. Governance and;
c. Government,

In line with the same, it is very important for you to understand the above-mentioned concepts in
order to build a strong foundation relative to the subject.

At the beginning of this module, you are to take the pre-assessment test, composed of self-check
questions, to see how much background knowledge you have with regard to the above-mentioned
concepts and those relevant thereto.

Likewise, this module is self-instructional as you can read and analyze the contents and learnings
embodied herein. The said learnings will help you better understand the above-stated concepts. If
you need help and further clarification, you can ask my assistance, as your mentor.

Moreover, contained in the latter part of the module is a post-assessment test, composed also of
self-check questions to see how much progress you attain.

As regards the pre and post tests, the answers thereto are located at the end part of this module.

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Doing your tasks with honesty and candor is the best key and armor to combat our greatest enemy-
the COVID-19. Thus, it is expected that you will answer the activities primarily on your own to
see the real progress you have after learning through this module.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
PRE-ASSESSMENT

TRUE OR FALSE

Directions: Read the following statements, determine whether the same are true or false and write

your answer on the blank provided before each number.

__________1. Politics is an essential element of the state without which the state cannot exist.

__________2. Government is an essential element of the state without which the state cannot

exist.

__________3. Governance is a smaller or narrower concept than government.

__________4. The science of studying politics is known as the governance.

__________5. The type of the Philippine government is federal.

__________6. There can be a government without governance.

__________7. There can be a governance without a government.

__________8. The Philippines has politics, government, and governance.

__________9. The Philippines had already been in a monarchy type of government.

__________10. Democratic government is one which may be primarily characterized

with freedom and people’s participation in the country’s or state’s decision-

making.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
 LESSON 1
BASIC CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

POLITICS
• from the Greek word Polis
which means "affairs of
the cities"
• practice of the distribution
of power and resources
• process of making
decisions for achieving and
exercising positions of
governance
GOVERNANCE
• processes of governing, whether
undertaken by a government, market, or
network, whether over a family, tribe,
formal or informal organization
• all actions and activities related to
governing

GOVERNMENT
• entity exercising
authority given by
law
Did you notice that in this diagram, • system that
the government is within a smaller administers or
circle? It means that governance is control the states
a broader term than government. It
is possible to have governance
without government.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
LESSON 2
Based on the illustration, did you
RELEVANT CONCEPTS observe that the government is an
element of the state- the
Philippines? Thus, you can
conclude the following

1. Politics and governance are not

elements of the state, thus the state
can exist without them.

2. The state cannot exist without a

government because the
government is an essential part of
the state.
PEOPLE-
inhabitants that
compose the state

STATE-
SOVEREIGNTY- political community TERRITORY-
ability of the state to living in a well-defined place where the people
govern itself without territory under a that compose the state
outside influence government with live
independence from
external control

GOVERNANCE POLITICS
GOVERNMENT-
administers or control
the state, and is the
instrument through
which the will of the
state is made known
and implemented.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GOVERNMENT

Federal
formal division of
functions and powers
between the national and
local governments.
Republican
one wherein all
government authority
emanates from the Monarchy
people and is exercised government ruled by
by representatives a single person
chosen by the people

BASIC TYPES AND

FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT
Democratic
form of government
where political power is Oligarchy
exercised by most of the
people allows a few businesses,
families, or individuals to
rule
Aristocracy
places strength in the
hands of a small,
privileged ruling class

Presidential
v Parliamentary
there is separation of
there is a fusion of both
executive and legislative
executive and legislative
powers.
powers in parliament

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
Let us use as an example the present scenario in the Philippines to determine and analyze what
type of Government we have.
The Philippines has three branches: executive headed by President Duterte; legislative composed
of the members of the Congress; and judiciary headed by the Supreme Court. Thus, the Philippines
has a Presidential type of Government.

During May elections, our parents and those who are of legal age choose the candidate they desire
to hold position in the government. There can be no candidates running for and winning in the
elections without the power of the people to elect them. Hence, the Philippines is a democratic and
republican state.

LESSON 3
POLITICAL SCIENCE

WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE?

➢ from the Latin scire, “to know”
➢ systematic study of politics, state
and government
➢ The word political is derived from
the Greek polis, meaning a city, of
what today would be equivalent of
sovereign state.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
FIELDS OF STUDY and BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE KEY CONCEPTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

1. Political theory - entire body of doctrines 1. State – (SEE LESSON 2)

relating to the origin, form, behavior, and 2. Legitimacy – right of the government to
purposes of the state exercise power, authority, and recognition
2. Comparative Politics – compare and given to a state by foreign governments and
analyzes the various types of constitutions, international organizations.
political actors, legislature and compares and 3. Governance – see lesson 2
analyzes the various types of constitutions 4. Ideology – set of ideas and beliefs that define
3. Public Administration – study of the the views and actions of individuals, groups,
implementation of government policy and and institutions.
public service
4. International Relations – deals with the
political-economic interaction between
nation-states as well as intergovernmental and
transnational organizations
5. Public Law –studies the relationship between
the government and citizens.
6. Political Methodology – uses quantitative
methods to describe and define phenomena

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
POST ASSESSMENT TEST

A. IDENTIFICATION
Directions: Determine whether each statement pertains to Politics, Governance or Government.
Put your answer on the blank provided.
____________________1. Without it, there can be no state
____________________2. The broadest concept among the three.
____________________3. It pertains to the distribution of power and resources.
____________________4. It is the process of making decisions for achieving and exercising
positions of governance.
_____________________5. It is composed of the executive, legislative and judiciary.

B. TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: Determine whether the statement is true or false. If it is true, write “T” on the blank,
however, if it’s false, write F on the blank and underline the word/s or phrase/s that make/s the
statement false and above the same, put the correct word/s or phrases.

________1. Political science is basically the study of politics, state and government.
________2. Political Methodology uses qualitative methods to describe and define phenomena.
________3. A monarchy type of government places strength in the hands of a small, privileged
ruling class.
________4. The holding of election where the majority of the will of the people prevails is a
manifestation that a State has a parliamentary form of government.
________5. The rules pertaining to governing a private corporation are under the concept of
politics.
________6. Public Administration is the study of the implementation of government policy and
public service.
________7. Public Law studies the relationship between the government and other agencies.
________8. Independence can be very much associated with the concept of sovereignty.
________9. One of the consequences of the Philippines as a republican state is that the existing
laws are more supreme than the people.
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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
________10. Philippines having a presidential type of government has the President as the most
powerful head of the State, such that, the President is more powerful than the Congress and the
judiciary.

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS
 ANSWERS

PRE-TEST POST TEST

1. False A.
2. True
3. False 1. Government
4-6. False 2. Governance
7-8. True 3-4. Politics
9. False 5. Government
10. True
B.
1. T
2. F qualitative – quantitative
3. F monarchy - aristocracy
4. F parliamentary- democratic and
republican
5. F politics – governance
6. T
7. F agencies – citizens
8. T
9. F more – less
10. F more powerful than – co-equal

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MODULE 1- PHILIPPINE POLITICS