CONCEPT OF STATE

State is a community of persons more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, independent of external control, and possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience.

States vary in shapes and sizes, cultures, forms of government, natural resources, language, etc. However, all states possess four elements: a) people, b) territory, c) government, and d) sovereignty. The absence of any of these elements will not make a state a state.

People are the inhabitants of the state. It is the entire body of those citizens of the state who are vested with political power for political purposes. There is no specific number of people required in order that a state be considered as one. However, it is important that the number must be numerous enough to be self-sufficient and to defend themselves and small enough to be administered. To date, the smallest state in terms of population is Vatican City with 826 citizens, who are mostly clerics and some Swiss guards. On the other hand, China is the largest state with 1.3 billion population. The Philippines is also fast growing state with 97,976,603 population. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004379.html

Territory is a fixed area or surface of the earth where the inhabitants of a state live and where they maintain a government of their own. There are three components of territory: a) the land mass otherwise known as the terrestrial domain, b) the internal and external waters, which make up the maritime and fluvial domain; and c) the air space above the land and waters, which is called the aerial domain.

For the sake of practicality, a territory must neither be too big as to be difficult to administer and defend nor too small as to be unable to provide for the needs of the population. The smallest state is Vatican City. It spreads across 0.17 square miles or .43 square kilometer. It would actually fit in Rizal Park in Manila. The biggest state is Russia with its total land area of 6,592.735 square miles.

A state may increase or decrease its territory by the acquisition of further territory through either (a) discovery and occupation; or (b) conquest; or (c) accretion; or (d) prescription; or (e) cession through gift, exchange, or purchase. It may decrease through its loss. The increase or decrease does not affect the personality of the state. What is important is there still exists a portion of its territory as an abode for its people.

Government is the institution or aggregate of institutions by which an independent society makes and carries out those rules of action which are necessary to enable men to live in a social state, or which are imposed upon the people forming that society by those who possess the power or authority of prescribing them. (Bernas, 2007). Simply, it refers to the agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and implemented.

Government is different from administration although these two terms are often used interchangeably. Government refers to the institution while administration is the body of men running the government.

There is no particular form prescribed to the State, provided only that the government is able to represent the State in its dealings with other states. The mandate of the government is to always protect the welfare of the people.

Sovereignty is referred to as the supreme, absolute and uncontrollable power by which any state is governed. It has two manifestations: a) internal, which is the power of the State to rule within its territory; and b) external, which is the freedom of the State to carry out its activities without subjection to or control by other States. This is often called as independence.

CLASS SYLLABUS

POLIGOV
Politics and Governance
De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde
SY 2010 - 2011

CLASS SYLLABUS

I. Course Overview

Course Code: POLIGOV
Course Title: Politics and Governance
Pre-requisite: None
Pre-requiste to: None
Type of Course: General
Faculty: Listana, Charo Dugan, MMPM

II. Course Description

An introductory study of Political Science with emphasis on a) goverments and governance; b) constitutionalism; c) selected ideologies and philosophical concepts that shaped various forms and nature of government. Where applicable, the Philippine political and governmental system and the 1987 Philippine Constitution will be the primary focus and locus of topics and subject matters. Politics and Governance is a three-unit course in College in the Philippine education system. An introductory study of Political Science and the 1987 Constitution is mandated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the tertiary level.

III. Course Objectives

At the end of the term, the students are expected to:

1) understand concepts on Philippine politics, government, and the Constitution and analyze how these concepts and institutions affect their lives;
2) understand other political and governmental systems, their ideological basis and compare these with the Philippine system;
3) understand the basis of Constitutions in a universal perspective and evaluate the significance of constitutionalism to democracies and governments;
4) describe and evaluate selected foreign policies and issues in international relations and how these affect the Philippines.
5) identify and internalize citizen's political rights and responsibilities to develop their sense of nationalism and love of country.

IV. Course Contents

A. Concepts of State, Politics, Government, Governance and Administration.

B. Overview on Forms and Structures of Government
1) Principles of Check and Balance
2) Separation of Powers

C. Models and Characteristics of Various Forms of Government
1) Monarchy
2) Aristocracy
3) Political Regimes
4) Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

D. The Legislative Branch
1) Bicameralism/ Unicameralism
2) The Making of a Law
3) Philippine Legislature
3.1) Structure
3.2) Functions
3.3) Membership

E. The Executive Branch
1) Meaning of Executive Succession
2) The Bureaucracy Power
3) Scope of Executive/ Presidential Powers

F. The Judiciary Branch
1) Functions and powers
2) Organization of Philippine courts
3) The Supreme Court

G. Decentralization and Local Governments/ Other Institutions of Government
1) Role and structure of local governments
2) Decentralization/ deconcentration
3) Role of Constitutional Commissions

H. Constitutionalism
1) Origins
2) Classifications
3) Characteristics
4) Parts
5) Process of amendments

I. Socio, Economic and Political Ideologies and Concepts: The "ISMS"
1) Origins
2) Evolution
3) NOtable personalities/ philosophers
3.1) Relevance to the present situation

J. Citizenship and Suffrage
1) Civil Society
2) Citizen's participation in politics and governance
3) Propaganda and Public Opinion
4) The role of media in shaping public opinion

V. Course Requirements and Grading System

A. Regular Attendance
1) All students are required to regularly and promptly attend all class sessions.
2) College regulations on attendance shall be observed.

B. Grading System
Quizzes (25%)
Major Exam (30%)
Project (20%)
Recitation (20%)
Attendance (5%)

Course grade will be computed based on the following:

midterm grade + final grade  = course grade
                   2

C. No special exam is given to students whatever reasons they may have.

VI. General References

Abueva, et al. The Philippines into the 20th Century.
Cruz, Isagani. Constitutional Law/ Political Law, Central Publishing Co., 1998.
Guillermo, Ramon and Sofia Almirante. Philippine History and Government. Manila: Ibon Foundation Incorporated, 1999.
Heywood, A. Political Ideologies: An Introduction. London: McMillan, 1998.
Nolledo, Jose. The Revised Administrative Code of 1987 with Related Laws and Issuances.
Ranney, Austin. Governing: An Introduction to Political Science. Prentice Hall, 1999.

http://www.gov.ph
http://www.ibon.org
http://www.elagda.com

WELCOME!

Welcome! For this first term of school year 2010-2011, you will find this site very useful as you take the subject Politics and Governance. Here, you will get lecture and review notes, articles, videos and other links related to our classroom topics.

You are a member of a body politic. From the day you were born, to the day you had your first step out of your house, til the day you'll have your last breathe, you were and will be subjected to state laws. It is therefore important that you know the concepts on politics and government so that you will be able to logically analyze how they affect your life. It is hoped that with the knowledge acquired after taking this subject you will be able to form political opinions based on critical thinking and objective analyses. It is further hoped that you as a political member you will develop a higher sense of nationalism and love of the body politic where you belong.

Again, welcome in Politics and Governance! c",)