Politics

(from Greek: : Politika, definition "affairs of the cities") is the process of making
decisions that apply to members of a group. More narrowly, it refers to achieving and
exercising positions of governance organized control over a human community,
particularly a state. Furthermore, politics is the study or practice of the distribution of
power and resources within a given community (this is usually a hierarchically organized
population) as well as the interrelationship(s) between communities.
In most countries, people have formed political parties to put forward their ideas. There
is usually some disagreement between people within a party, but they work together
because they feel that they agree on enough things, and they will have more power if
they join together. They agree to take the same position on many issues, and agree to
support the same changes to law and the same leaders. An election is usually a
competition between different parties. Some examples of political parties are the Liberal
party, the Labor party, the Greens and the Conservative party.
Politics is a multifaceted word. It has a set of fairly specific meanings that are
descriptive and nonjudgmental (such as the art or science of government and "political
principles"), but it can and often does carry a negative meaning closely related to these
(political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices). The negative
sense of politics, as seen in the phrase "play politics", for example, has been in use
since at least 1853, when abolitionist Wendell Phillips declared: We do not play politics;
anti-slavery is no half-jest with us.[1]
A variety of methods are deployed in politics, which include promoting or forcing one's
own political views among people, negotiation with other political subjects, making laws,
and exercising force, including warfare against adversaries. Politics is exercised on a
wide range of social levels, from clans and tribes of traditional societies, through
modern local governments, companies and institutions up to sovereign states, to
the international level.
It is very often said that politics is about power.[2] A political system is a framework
which defines acceptable political methods within a given society. History of political
thought can be traced back to early antiquity, with seminal works such
as Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics and the works of Confucius.
GOVERNANCE

Governance in General
1. The word governance came from the Latin verb gubernare, or more originally from the
Greek word kubernaein, which means to steer. Basing on its etymology, governance refers
to the manner of steering or governing, or of directing and controlling, a group of people or a
state.
2. Governance is essentially related to politics, in that politics is often defined as the art of
governance. Just as politics talks about governments, institutions, power, order, and the ideals of
justice, governance also deals with the public sector, power structures, equity, and ideals of
public administration. Nevertheless, they are distinct from each other in the sense that politics is
broader than governance. Traditionally, the study of politics entails the concept of the good life
 and the ideal society, which are so broad they include a web of subjects and every possible
form of government. The study of governance, on the contrary, is generally attuned to the
concept of democracy, and on how the government and the civil society arrive at a decision in
meeting their needs.
Definition of Governance
Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by political leaders
for the well-being of their countrys citizens or subjects. It is the complex process whereby
some sectors of the society wield power, and enact and promulgate public policies which
directly affect human and institutional interactions, and economic and social
development. The power exercised by the participating sectors of the society is always
for the common good, as it is essential for demanding respect and cooperation from the
citizens and the state. As such, a great deal about governance is the proper and effective
utilization of resources.
Governance and Government
1. Governance is traditionally associated with government. In literatures, they are often used
interchangeably. But in the 1980s, political scientists broadened the meaning of governance as
including, not just government actors, but also civil-society actors.[1]Today, governance
includes three sectors: the public sector (state actors and institutions), the private sector
(households and companies), and the civil society (non-governmental organizations). These three
sectors are said to work hand in hand in the process of governance. This new use of the term
focuses on the role of networks in the achievement of the common good, whether these
networks are intergovernmental, transnational, or international.[2] In other words governance is
broader than government in that other sectors are included in it.
2. Many authors also distinguish the two by associating government with control and domination,
and governance with decentralization and relational management. On the one hand,
government refers to a central institution which wields power over its subjects. It is the
instrument patterned after the model of command and control, the government being in
command over the affairs of the people. On the other hand, governance is closely associated with
the concept of decentralization of power and the need for inter-sectoral management.
Governance is based on the realization that the government cannot do everything for the people,
so that in order to survive the state should not only rely on government but also on the other
sectors of the society.
3. Thus, under the current trend, there is a need to move from the traditional hierarchical exercise
of power by the government to the new notion of a dispersed and relational power in
governance from government to governance. To govern should now mean
to facilitate or regulate, not to dominate or command.
 Importance of Studying Governance

From the information learned in the discussion of governance, the people, most
especially the citizens, will be aware of the need for good governance. Consequently,
such awareness should move them to action. For their continued empowerment and
sustainable development, they have to know how to fight for their rights by knowing
what to expect from Philippine governance. Thus, what will follow is an exposition of the
basic concepts of governance, the ideal type of governance, and the status of the
Philippines vis--vis the indicators of good governance.

CONSTITUTION

1a : the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that
determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights
to the people in it
b : a written instrument embodying the rules of a political or social organization
2a : the physical makeup of the individual especially with respect to the health,
strength, and appearance of the body
a hearty constitution
b : the structure, composition, physical makeup, or nature of something
the constitutionof society
3: the mode in which a state or society is organized; especially : the manner in
which sovereign power is distributed
4: an established law or custom : ORDINANCE

5: the act of establishing, making, or setting up

before the constitution of civil laws

CONSTITUTION

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines is the fundamental law
establishing, defining and governing the Fourth Philippine Republic and its government.
Ratified in 1987, it was preceeded by the 1986 Freedom Constitution and the 1973
Constitution.

After Marcos' overthrow in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, there was a need
to replace the 1973 Constitution which was in use during the dictatorship.
President Corazon C. Aquino then issued Proclamation No. 9 on 23 April 1986, ordering
the formation of a Constitutional Commission (ConCom). Chaired by Cecilia Munoz
Palma, the ConCom commenced work on 2 June 1986 at the Batasang Pambansa.
 In the meantime, the Aquino administration used the 1986 Freedom Constitution, which
was actually a set of major amendments to the 1973 Constitution.

The new constitution was completed on 12 October 1986. The draft was presented to
Aquino three days later, marking the start of a massive nationwide information
campaign. A plebiscite for its ratification was held on 2 February 1987, with around 17
million voters in favor while only 5 million were against its ratification. The new
constitution was then proclaimed as ratified and in effect on 11 February 1987, with the
government and the military pledging their allegiance.

However, the plebiscite date of 2 February 1987 is taken as the official date of
ratification due to the Supreme Court ruling in the De Leon vs. Esguerra (153 SCRA
602) case on the term of several barangay officials in Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal. In
the ruling, the Supreme Court took the plebiscite date as the basis for ruling in favor of
the petitioners.

PHILIPPINE GOVERMENT

The Government of the Philippines (Filipino: Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas) is the national

government of the Philippines. It is governed as unitary state under
a presidential representative and democratic and a constitutional republic where
the President function as both the head of state and the head of government of the
country within a pluriform multi-party system.
The government has three interdependent branches: the legislative branch, the
executive branch, and the judicial branch. The powers of the branches are vested by
the Constitution of the Philippines in the following: Legislative power is vested in the
two-chamber Congress of the Philippinesthe Senate is the upper chamber and
the House of Representatives is the lower chamber.[1]
Executive power is exercised by the government under the leadership of the
President. Judicial power is vested in the courts with the Supreme Court of the
Philippines as the highest judicial body.

STATE
1a : mode or condition of being
a state of readiness
b (1) : condition of mind or temperament
in a highly nervous state
 (2) : a condition of abnormal tension or excitement
2a : a condition or stage in the physical being of something
insects in the larval state

the gaseous state of water

b : any of various conditions characterized by definite quantities (as of energy,
angular momentum, or magnetic moment) in which an atomic system may exist
3a : social position; especially : high rank
b (1) : elaborate or luxurious style of living
(2) : formal dignity : POMP usually used with in
4a : a body of persons constituting a special class in a society : ESTATE 3
b states plural : the members or representatives of the governing classes
assembled in a legislative body
c obsolete : a person of high rank (as a noble)
5a : a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite
territory; especially : one that is sovereign
b : the political organization of such a body of people
c : a government or politically organized society having a particular character
a policestate

the welfare state

6: the operations or concerns of the government of a country
7a : one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government
the fifty states
b States plural : The United States of America
8: the territory of a state
4 ELEMENTS OF STATE
According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), a state must comprise of 4 essential
elements:
1)Territory - A state cannot exist without territory. Territory refers to land, surrounding
water upto 3 nautical miles, as well as the air above the land and water. Nomadic
settlements did not possess any permanent territory. Hence, they cannot be called
state.
2)Population - A state fundamentally comprises of a permanent population over which it
exercises its unlimited authority. The nature of the state depends upon the quality and
quantity of its population. No ideal size of population can be stated. Aristotle stated "A
population must be large enough to be self-sufficient, but small enough to be well-
governed." A good population makes a good state; a bad one, a bad state.

3)Government - It is a body of a few people who administer the population and are
meant to express the will of the state. The government has limited power, as opposed to
the state's unlimited authority. The government is subject to change and is bound to
obey will of the people as well as state. To equate the Government with State is a
dangerous, yet common mistake.

4)Sovereignity - It is the soul of a state. It implies that the state is independent from
external interference, as well as can maintain integrity within itself. India could not be
referred to as a state prior to 1947, as it did not have an independent government.
ASSIGNMENT
IN

SOC SCI 12
(POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE)

ELJED CLINT A. ESTOYA

BSME-2C