CHAPTER 27

INTRODUCTION TO THE
STUDY OF GOVERNMENT
 IMPORTANCE OF STUDY OF GOVERNMENT

• To Filipinos, especially our youth, the study of government is as important as

the study of history. There are three reasons why we should study our
government. First, it would make us better citizens of our republic. Second
reason is because we are the government. We choose by means of elections
our our national and local officials. As Dr. Jose Rizal once said; ‘’Like people,
like Government’’. Finally, we should study our government because it is our
duty to do so. ‘’Nobody can love the Filipinos better than the Filipinos
themselves’’, said former President Jose P. Laurel.
MEANING OF A STATE

• Before we begin the study of government, we should first know the meaning
of state.
• A state is a group of people, living in a definite territory, having a
government of their own, and enjoying independence from other countries.
• A state should not be confused with the so-called ‘’states’’ like California,
Texas, New York, etc., are not real states.
• At present, there are more than 150 states or independent countries in the
world.
ELEMENTS OF A STATE

• A state has four essential elements, or else it would not be an independent

country. These are as allows:
1.People
2.Territory
3.Government
4.Independence of Sovereignty
ORIGIN OF THE STATES
• According to political scientist who study the state, there are several theories
about the origin of the state. The most important of these are as follows:
(1)divine theory, (2)social contract, and (3) Force theory.
• The ‘’divine theory’’ is the oldest theory on how states originated.
• The ‘’social contract theory’’ became the most important political theory of the
17th and 18th centuries, replacing the divine.
• Force theory says that countries come and go because of force or domination
by different rules.
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
• According to a Greek philosopher named Aristotle (384-322 B.C.),
governments may be classified into three types depending on the number of
people who hold power in the country. These are:
1. monarchy, or rule by one person;
2. Aristocracy, or rule by a few persons;
3. Democracy, or rule by the majority(most) of the people.
PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY
GOVERNMENTS
• Both presidential and parliamentary governments are two different forms of
government in modern democracies. The president is independent of the
legislative or law-making body. The president cannot dissolve the legislature
or congress. Under the 1935-1986 Constitutions, the Philippine government
became presidential in form.
• Under the 1973 Constitution, the Philippines was supposed to have a
parliamentary government. But this was never implemented. Instead, President
Marcos imposed a mixed presidential-parliamentary form of government,
which in reality was an authoritarian rule by one man.
DEMOCRACY OR COMMUNISM?
• According to the 1935 Constitution, the Philippines is a republican state and a
democracy(Preamble and Article II Section 1).
1. Democracy encourages all citizens to take an interest in how a government is
chosen and how it operates.
2. It gives people a sense of civic responsibility by making them realize that the
success or failure of the government depends on them.
3. It reduces the danger of violent revolution or military takeover because the people
can make changes by peaceful elections or by constitutional amendments.
DISADVANTAGES OR FAULTS OF DEMOCRACY

1. Democracy is slow, fickle and extravagant.

2. Corrupt and dishonest officials may be elected to power because the
masses barter their ballots for money or promises by unscrupulous politicians.
3. Democracy may lead to the ‘’rule of the mob’’ or ‘’rule of the ignorant’’.
COMMUNISM

• Is the very opposite of democracy. It is a political system that limits the

freedom of people in exchange for the total control bt the communist party of
the country’s government and resources.
• The communist says they are ‘’two wave of the future’’. They claim that their
form of government is better because they care for the poor, the sick and the
weakest members of society better than in a democratic government.
THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Out of some 200 countries in the world today, not one has had a single form of
government only. History shows that states change their form of government to
suit different conditions and the desire of the people to find a good form of
government.
For the Filipinos, a democracy is the best form of government. According
to Apolinario Mabini, one of our greatest heroes and political thinkers: ‘’You
should strive for a republic and never for a monarchy n your country; for the
latter exalts one or several families and founds a dynasty. The former makes a
people noble and worthy through reasons, great through liberty and prosperous
and brilliant through labor’’.
WAYS OF CHANGING A GOVERNMENT

Sometimes it is the form of government which is changed; sometimes

it is only the chief executive who is replaced. However, some of
these so-called ‘’peaceful’’ methods may become violent, for
example whe elections include terrorism by candidates.
THE DUTY OF GOVERNMENTS

It is the duty of a government to provide for the life, liberty,

happiness and prosperity of the people in that country. If a
government is corrupt or lazy, the people will eventually
throw it out by elections, or by a demonstration of ‘’People
power’’.
MAJOR ROLES WHICH ALL GOVERNMENTS MUST
PERFORM
1. SECURITY. The government much protect the people from external attack or
aggression by another country. It must protect the independence of the
country and promote good relations with other states.

2. POLITICAL HARMONY. Not everybody can agree with everyone on

everything all of the time. There are bound to be differences of opinion
among people, and the greater the issue, then the more people differ on the
right solutions or choice of action for the good of the group.
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION
MEANING OF CONSTITUTION

A constitution is the most important law of a country because it contains

the official declaration of the form of government, its structure and powers, and
the rights and duties of citizens.
The constitution of a country may be amended or changed or even
replaced by a new constitution. The amendment of an existing constitution, or
the making of a totally new one, depends on the desire of the majority of
people in the country.
THE PARTS OF A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION USUALLY
ARE:
• 1. A preamble which expresses the ideals of the nation;
• 2. Definition of national territory;
• 3. Definition of citizenship;
• 4. Rights and obligations of citizens;
• 5. The right of suffrage or elections;
• 6.The functions of the government;
• 7. The method of amending the constitution; and
• 8. The date of affectivity of the constitution.
 MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION

Since the late 19th century, Filipinos have written their own constitutions to
inspire and to express their aspirations for nationhood. The First Philippine
Republic under General Emilio Aguinaldo had a written charter called the
Malolos Constitution of 1899.

In the late 1960s, there was another clamor to change the 1935
Constitution, since many people felt that it had become outdated and incapable
of solving the terrible problems facing the country.
 ON MARCH 24, 1986, PRES. AQUINO ISSUED PROCLAMATION NO. 3 PROMULGATING THE
‘’FREEDOM CONSTITUTION’’ WHICH SERVED AS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR HER PROVISIONAL
GOVERNMENT. THE FREEDOM CONSTITUTION CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:

1. It adopted the Bill of Rights of the 1973 constitution;

2. It abolished the Batasang Pambansa and granted legislative powers to
President Aquino until after a new legislature is established;
3. It provided for the appointive powers of the President;
4. It declared the validity of laws, executive orders, proclamations, letters of
instruction, and rules of the previous regime, as well as treaties and
contracts previously approved, unless they were otherwise revoked by new
presidential orders;
CONTINUATION…

5. It provided that the Vice-President would succeed the President in case of

death, incapacity or resignation, and in case the Vice President cannot succeed,
the cabinet members will choose from among them a minister with portfolio to
head the government;
6. It provided for the holding of local elections after the plebiscite to ratify the
new constitution; and
7. It provided for the drafting of a new constitution within 60 days by a
constitutional commission.
CONTENTS OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION
Preamble- Expressing the ideals of the nation
Article I- National Territory
Article II- Declaration of Principles and State Policies
Article III- Bill of Rights
Article IV- Citizenship
Article V- Suffrage
Article VI- Legislative Department
Article VII- Executive Department
Article VIII- Judicial Department
Article IX- Constitutional Commissions
Ordinance-Apportioning the seats in the Congress to
Different legislative districts in the country.
Article X- Local Government
Article XI- Accountability of Public Officials
Article XII- National Economy and Patrimony
Article XIII- Social Justice and Human Rights
Article XIV- Education, Science and
Technology, Arts, Culture, and
Sports
Article XV- The Family
Article XVI- General Provisions
Article XVII- Amendments or Revisions
Article XVIII- Transitory Provisions
CHAPTER 29

FILIPINO CITIZENS
MEANING OF CITIZEN
A citizen is a person who full rights and obligations in a states. He owes allegiance to
that country.
According to the 1987 Constitution, the following are citizens of the Philippines
(Art. 4, Sec. 1):
1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the
constitution;
2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
3. Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
KINDS OF CITIZENS

There are two kinds of citizens: The natural-born and the naturalized citizen.
• Natural-born citizen is one who at the time of birth is already a citizen of the
Philippines.
• Naturalize citizen is one who was originally a citizen of another country but
has acquired a new citizenship in a different country.
CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION

In the Philippines he may be naturalized in two ways:

1. By applying to a court, and
2. By a law passed by Congress.
QUALIFICATIONS OF NATURALIZATION
Must have the following qualifications:
1. He must be at least 21 years of age.
2. He must have resided continuously in the Philippines for at least 10 years.
3. He must own real estate property in the Philippines or must have a profitable
trade or lawful occupation.
4. He must have behaved well during his entire stay in the Philippines.
5. He must be able to speak and write English or Spanish and any Filipino dialect.
6. He must have enrolled his children, if he is married, in any public or private school
where Philippine history and civics are taught.
PERSON DISQUALIFIED FROM NATURALIZATION
1.Persons who do not believe in organized government.
2. Persons who advocate violence to impose their ideas.
3. Polygamists or persons who believe in having more than one spouse.
4. Persons convicted of crimes involving immorality.
5. Persons who are insane or suffering from an incurable or contagious disease.
6. Persons who do not mingle socially with Filipinos and do not like to embrace Filipino
customs, tradition, and ideals.
7. Citizens of other countries with whom the Philippines is at war.
8. Citizens of other countries which do not permit Filipinos to become naturalized
citizens.
 CHAPTER 30

Rights and Duties of Citizens

THE RIGHTS OF FILIPINO CITIZENS
To protect the people from tyranny or abuses of government officials, the
Constitution grants certain rights which are embodied mostly in Article IV- the
Bill of Rights. These legal, civil and political rights, also known as ‘’Human rights’’
are as follows:
1. Right to due process of law and equal protection of the law
2. Right from arbitrary arrest and unreasonable search and seizures
3. Privacy of communication and correspondence
4. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press
CONTINUATION…
5. Right to peaceful assembly and petition 15. compensation for torture and rehabilitation of
victims
6. Freedom of religion and their families
7. Liberty of abode and travel 16. Right to bail
8. Right to secure information from government records 17. Presumption of innocence
9. Right to form associations 18. Writ of habeas corpus
10. Right to own property 20. Prohibition against the death penalty and
excessive fines
11. Inviolability of contracts 21. Right to humane and adequate prison facilities
12. Right to speedy and public trial 22. No imprisonment for failure to pat debts or poll
tax
13. Right against self-incrimination and right to counsel 23. Right against double jeopardy
14. Freedom from torture, threats, or secret detention 24. Prohibition of ex post facto law and bill of
attainder.
25. Right to vote and to hold office.
 CHAPTER 31

Suffrage and Elections

MEANING OF SUFFRAGE

Suffrage is the right to vote in an election and also the right to be

voted to public office. By the use of the right of suffrage, the people
determine who will run their government.
PATRIOTIC DUTY TO VOTE

The 1973 constitution, made voting compulsory, and those who did
not vote could be fined or imprisoned. However, the 1986
constitution does not make voting compulsory.
VOTER QUALIFICATIONS
According to the 1987 Constitution, voter qualifications are as follows:
1. A Filipino citizen
2. Be 18 years old or more
3. A resident in the Philippines for at least one year and in the municipality
where he votes at least six months before the election.
PERSONS WHO CANNOT VOTE

The following persons are disqualified to vote:

1. Those who had been sentenced by the court to imprisonment of not less than
one year and have not ben pardoned by the President;
2. Those who have violated their allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines;
3. Insane or feeble-minded persons.
KINDS OF ELECTIONS
Elections are of various kinds, namely:
1. General
2. National
3. Local
4. Special
END….THANK YOU…..