Introduction to Philippine Politics and Governance

MR. CARL PATRICK SAHAGUN TADEO
SHS Teacher
Department of Social Sciences
Magsaysay Memorial College of Zambales, Inc.

What is POLITICS?
•it is the heart of Political Science
•According to Plato…
POLITICS is the study of the
affairs of the Polis (city-state),
which he defined as the most
sovereign and inclusive
association.

What is POLITICS? (cont.)
•To Robert Dahl…
•POLITICS is the existence of rules or
authority within the state.
•It is therefore the study of POWER
relationship among the people in a
given society as well those
relationships among states in the
international community. (Lazo, 2009)

ORIGIN OF POLITICS
• POLIS – city-state
• POLITES – citizens
• POLITIKOS – government officials
• (Zaide, 1983)

As a concept it is associated to the culture
of cooperation one side and differing
conflict on the other side
Politics
Rivals
Oppositions
Competitions
Work together
Consolidation
Integration

POLITICS is …
• Exercise of power, making of political
decisions, practice of deception and
manipulation, exercise of authority,
allocation of limited resources
• Making of common decision
• Use of force to affect the behaviour of
another person or group

FYI !
•Did you know that people who are
unaware or are only partly unaware
and uninformed of what is going on is
called as idiotes.
•Idiots for ancient Greeks means a
person who: does not vote, does not
discuss public issues, and does not
involve himself in government
affairs. 

BASIC ISSUES IN POLITICS
•Legitimacy
•Sovereignty
•Authority

Legitimacy
• Attitude of the people about what they
consider in mind that government is a
rightful ruler over them
• The King and Queen is the rightful throne
on the basis of legitimate succession to
authority
• LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RIGHT
TO GOVERN
• Compels people to believe and follow
orders

Sovereignty
•It is the right of the government to rule
and the right of a government of
leadership to exist.
•The right of a leader to rule and
control not only his subjects but also
the territory over which the citizens live
and prosper.

Authority
• It is the power of the leader to rule and the
power to exact obedience on his people. It
is based on an acknowledged duty to
obey rather than on any form of coercion
or manipulation.
• It exists when subordinates acknowledged
the right of superiors to give orders.
• Right to act rather than the power to do
so.

Classifications of Authority (Max Weber)
1. Traditional
Authority
A. inheritance
or succession
a. Datu Puti
2.Charismatic
Authority
B. legality of
formal rules
b. Mayor La
Rainne Abad-
Sarmiento
3. Rational-
Legal/
Bureaucratic
Authority
C.gift of grace c. Brother Eddie
Villanueva

Classifications of Authority (Max Weber)
Type of Authority Description Examples
Traditional -legitimate power
conferred by
custom and
accepted practice
Datu Puti
Rational-Legal/
Bureaucratic
Power made
legitimate by law
Mayor La Rainne
Abad Sarmiento
Charismatic Leader’s
exceptional
personal or
emotional appeal
to followers
Brother Eddie
Villanueva

NOTE:
•Authority relies on the obligation of the
people to obey their leaders by virtue
of the legitimate power of his or her
office. Effective authority requires firm,
fair and wise leadership.

VALUE OF POLITICS
• Politics will help you to know your rights.
• Politics clarifies what you yourself believes.
• Politics is a living, breathing subject.
• Politics helps you to understand our
nation’s parties.
• Politics prepares you for adult life.

Why do we need to study Political Science?
It enables us…
• to understand how a political system works
• to understand the functions and role of the
government
• to develop political awareness
• to understand socio-political issues and their
implications
• to cultivate responsive citizenship and effective
participation in government

FieldsofPoliticalScience
Political Theory
political views, thoughts
or doctrines (ideology)
Public Law
government powers,
duties and organization,
and limits of power
Public Administration
methods and techniques
of state affairs

Important Personalities in PolSci
• Jean Bodin – French Philosopher, who
first called the study of state as political
science.
• Niccolo Machiavelli– Father of Modern
Political Science
• Jean Jacques Rousseau – Father of
Modern Democracy

GOVERNMENT
• instrument for the
purpose of
governance
• groups of people
with authority to
govern a country or
state
GOVERNANCE
• exercise of political,
economic and
administrative
authority to
manage nation’s
affairs
• process of
decision-making
and the process by
which decisions are
implemented

Three Legs of Governance
•Economic governance - country's
economic activities and its
relationships with other economies
• Political governance – to formulate
policy
•Administrative governance – system
of policy implementation

Characteristics of Good Governance
1. Participation – participation by both men and women
2. Rule of Law - legal frameworks should be fair and
enforced impartially
3. Transparency - free flow of information
4. Responsiveness - serve all stakeholders
5. Consensus Oriented - mediates differing interests
6. Equity and Inclusiveness - all have opportunities to
improve or maintain their well-being
7. Effectiveness and efficiency - produce results that
meet needs while making the best use of resources
8. Accountability - accountable to the public

ASSIGNMENT:
FOR FRIDAY:
Present your PolvsPolSci Classification
FOR MONDAY:
1. Bring a picture of a known political leader may it be
local, national or international.
2. Bring the following as well:
a. 8.5 x 11 bond paper
b. Ruler
c. Coloring materials
d. Marker
e. Pencil

REFERENCES
• United Nations Development Program (1997),
Governance & Sustainable Human Development. A UNDP
Policy Document.

Introduction to Philippine Politics and Governance

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