The value of politics and

differentiation of governance
from government
Grade 12
Activity 1: The World With Politics

You are going to show how politics is valued in each group

or organization. Write your answers in not less than 2 to 3
sentences.

• Family
• Classroom/School
• Peers (barkadahan)
• barangay
• Workplace
Processing question

• How does politics affect you as a member of

society and the world.
Politics

Politics is the art of societal decision making and the distribution of

power in a society. Permeating throughout all aspects of life, no
human is exempt from political processes. Politics are crucial for
societal, economic and political progress and development. Here are
10 reasons why politics is important and how they influence human
life in all shapes and forms.
1. Helps people to understand their rights

Politics acts as the foundation for the rights of humans and sets the
groundwork for ethics and morality. Without politics, humans would not have
a tangible benchmark and understanding of what they are entitled to as
citizens of a country or society and would lead to human rights violations. By
having legal documents and political customs that delineate the rights of
humans, people can become aware of what they are entitled to in the political
and social landscape.
2. Affects every aspect of daily lives

From paying grocery shopping to driving a car to work, politics permeates

in every aspect of human life. As governments and political entities hold the
power to create laws and customs that govern our daily lives, it is important
for people to understand that politics is the central figure in determining
societal and political processes. Knowing this can help people determine
what the best course of action to take when problems arise.
3. Helps people to become informed voters

Voting plays an important role in politics, as citizens hold the power to

change the organizational structure of governments and the direction
society moves forward towards. To understand what benefits and
disadvantages each political party brings to their campaign, citizens
have to do individual research and become informed of basic political
processes before casting their ballot.
4. Provides a voice and platform to people

Politics provides a direct platform for people to voice their societal concerns
and priorities. While some citizens may be content with the political order of
a society, some may feel marginalized and disadvantaged in a society and
may begin to protest for greater and radical change. This ability to be able
to freely voice opinions is a crucial aspect of politics and highlights the 
power of politics in mobilizing people to create meaningful change.
5. Determines laws and decisions

Governmental and political institutions are the primary decision-

makers when determining societal laws and ordinances. These
decisions can range from major international issues we face today,
such as climate change and social inequality, to smaller and domestic
rules such as the types of books students are assigned to read in
public schools or the number of bike lanes in a neighborhood.
6. Governs society (constitution)

Political institutions hold the highest level of legitimate power when

governing a society. As governments are responsible for laying the
groundwork for all political, economic and social activities, they have the
ability to govern society in a way that suits the political and social context of a
society. Constitutions of a country are often deemed as the founding
document of a country’s political landscape, as such legal documents govern
the activities of governmental institutions and keep their power in check.
7. Enacts change in society

Although politics is grounded in tradition and orthodox thought, politics

is an ever-changing entity that adapts to different political, cultural and
economic contexts. As politics acts as a societal key to unlock new ideas
and change for a society, it is crucial for policy makers and governments
alike to adapt to the political landscape and enact meaningful and effective
change that serves the best interests of the community.
8. Establishes how power is controlled

Politics is often cited as an all-encompassing mechanism that controls the

behavior of people and influence the outcomes of events. The distribution and
the extent of political power is often determined by governments and political
institutions alike and equips certain groups of people to control policies,
cultures and customs of a society. Oftentimes, governments have a complex
system of rules that constrain this power to ensure that political power is not
abused and used for the sole interest of one actor.
9. Creates a sense of identity

As politics covers every aspect of human life, humans are likely to

resonate with certain political issues more than others. By fostering a sense
of identity with a particular political issue, this creates a greater sense of civic
responsibility and engagement, which in turn helps to voice underrepresented
groups within society. This sense of identity also plays into creating
communities where people can express their opinions and share their ideas
of what governments should do to better accommodate their citizens.
10. Influences the way people think and
behave

Human attitudes and behaviors are influenced by politics as people are

constantly interacting with politics on a daily basis. The way a government
distributes funds or deal with proposed laws affect the day to day lives of
people, which ultimately influences the attitudes and actions of people.
Consequently, politics holds the power to change public sentiment and
attitudes towards political phenomena, and this must be taken into
consideration during political decision making.
The value of POLITICS…

• Help you to know your rights.

• It clarifies what you yourself believe.
• Politics is a living, breathing subject.
• Politics helps you to understand our nation’s parties.
• Politics prepares you for adult life.
Government

• is the instrument of the state through which the

will of the people is expressed, carried out, and
formulated.
Governance

• is broadly defined as the action of sovereign authority;

specifically, the exercise of authoritative direction or
control, over a particular political unit or organization.
Law
• as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas is “an
ordinance of reason for the common good, made
by him who has care of the community…”
•People exercise their political authority through the government,
which functions as an instrumentality of the state through law.

•Politics and governance are shaped by institutions of a country.

According to Johnson (n.d.), institutions are significant practices
needed to “sustain and restrain orderly competition” in the field
of politics.
Recognizing the essential link between politics and
governance will provide both government officials and
citizens a clear idea of the type of political activity essential
for good governance.
Post Assessment (True or False)

• Directions: Read the statement carefully. Write T if

the statement is correct, and write F if the statement
is incorrect. Write your answers in the activity
notebook.
 Directions: Read the statement carefully. Write T if the statement is
correct, and write F if the statement is incorrect. Write your answers in
the activity notebook.

1. Politics is the actual process of how humans interact in groups.

2. Politics does not include the decision-making and decision n-enforcing processes in any
group that makes and enforces rules for its members.
3. Political science seeks to study the origin, nature and functions of the State, Government and
its all organs.
4. Politics is universal and is always the same.
5. Governance deals with the way power is exercised in managing country’s economic and
social resources.