Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region
DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS – MANILA
Manila Education Center Arroceros Forest Park
Antonio J. Villegas St. Ermita, Manila

Philippine Politics
and Governance
Man by Nature is a Political
Animal ~Aristotle

Quarter 1- Week 1
Module 1
Most Essential Learning Competency:
Explain the concept, relationship and importance of politics,
governance and government.
 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE

Before starting the module, I want you to set aside other tasks that will disturb you
while enjoying the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to successfully enjoy
the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of
this module.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the lessons. Writing enhances
learning, that is important to develop and keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PARTS OF THE MODULE

 Expectations - These are what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the module.
 Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the concepts to be
mastered throughout the lesson.
 Looking Back to your Lesson - This section will measure what learnings
and skills did you understand from the previous lesson.
 Brief Introduction - This section will give you an overview of the lesson.
 Discussion - This section provides a short discussion of the lesson. This
aims to help you discover and understand new concepts and skills.
 Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform with a partner.
 Remember - This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the
lessons.
 Check your understanding - It will verify how you learned from the lesson.
 Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from the entire
module.

1
 EXPECTATIONS

You will explain the concept, relationship and importance of politics,

governance and government
Specifically, this module will help you to:
 unlock the meaning of politics, governance and government;
 establish the relationships among the given concepts;
 conduct a research on the outstanding Filipinos in the field of social science
and government service; and
 become an active agent of social transformation.

Let us start your journey in learning more on Ethnocentrism

PRETEST and Cultural Relativism. I am sure you are ready and excited
to answer the Pretest. Smile and cheer up!

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. President ABC won the hearts of the people because of his charisma and
genuine concern to the poor and other marginalized sectors of the society.
His pet legislation is the passage of a tax reform which provisions are pro-
poor. However, business sectors opposed it since they will be affected once
the proposed bill becomes a law. What should be the best action of President
ABC?
a. Ask for the full support of the marginalized sector.
b. Impose his power to his allies in the Lower House and Senate to
immediately pass the proposed tax reform.
c. Get the consensus of the different sectors of the society and offer
compromise to those who oppose in order to allow the smooth
passage of the bill.
d. Both A and B.

2. Mayor XYZ is one of the respected city mayors in the National Capital Region
because of his management of the City of Manila. Which among the following
characterizes his good governance?
a. Put his constituents specially the poor on top of his priorities.
b. Recreate a new brand of leadership anchored on transparency and
accountability.
c. Use his power to effectively and fairly allocate and distribute the
resources of the city.
d. Involvement of the private individuals, business groups, civil
society and other interest groups in the management and
administration of the City of Manila.

2
 3. Which among the following is not a domain of governance?
a. state c. despotism
b. civil society d. local government

4. Charles wants to become the first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Which among the disciplines in political science should he give the outmost
importance?
a. Political Theory c. Comparative Politics
b. International Relations d. all the above

5. Which among the following is within the sphere of the study of Political
Science?
a. Take a positive action that led to good governance, improvement of
the life of the people.
b. Deep understanding on the management of the government.
c. Offer alternatives and solutions to the existing problems of the
society.
d. None of the above

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

Great, you finished answering the questions. You may request your
facilitator to check your work. Congratulations and keep on learning!

Think, Pair and Share

(Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration)
You are going to explore on the concepts of politics, governance and government by
looking for a news item that would explain such concepts. There will be two
outputs to be submitted to your teacher: first is your individual work, and the
second is the collaborative work with your partner. Look for your classmate who is
also online to be your partner or you may ask any person at home to be your
partner.

Directions:

1. Study the following concepts: politics, governance, and government.

2. Look for a news item related to each concept.
3. In a separate sheet of paper, you may do the following:

Output 1

Brief Summary of the News My Idea About the

Concepts Item Given Concept
(3-5 sentences only) Based on the News
Item

Politics

3
 Governance

Government

4. Using social media like messenger, you and your chosen classmate will
discuss the output that you both prepared, and fill out Output 2.
5. You may submit the output to your teacher in a separate sheet of paper
based on the following format:

Output 2

Name Concepts Brief Summary of Our Ideas About

Our News Item the Given
(How is it related to Concepts Based
the concepts) on the News Item

My Name________ Politics

Governance

Government

Politics

Governance

Government

4
 BRIEF INTRODUCTION
The study of Social Sciences involves ocean of concepts, terminologies, principles
and philosophies. This is true and evident in politics and governance. The
meanings may differ on how we use them. Humanities and Social Sciences
students must be adept with the various nomenclatures and their usage in order to
gain an in-depth study of the course.

DISCUSSIONS

Lesson
Basic Concepts in Politics and
1 Governance

Politics

Man by nature is a political animal (Aristotle, Politics I). These words resonate the
true essence in the study of politics. We have seen an active participation of our
citizenry in giving out opinions on how the government implements policies,
programs and plan of actions. Citizens are vocal about their opinions in social
media. News about government engages people in a mental discourse affecting his
or her fate, and this, itself is politics.

Politics is rooted from the word polis, the city-states that flourished in Greece.
Athens was one of the most powerful and prominent city-states, which became the
birthplace of democracy, and the pioneers and innovators of modern-day
government. Politics under the Greek civilization means the affairs of the city-
states. Today, politics is being understood as ‘the concerns of the state’. Politics is
a mechanism used by the government in order to control, influence, and implement
policies and programs that are deemed important in delivering service to the
people. Politics also refers to how we distribute powers and allocate resources. It
also speaks about interrelationships between communities, local governments,
states, and international systems.

The Conceptions About Politics

The meaning of politics differs depending on how we use it. It is essential that in
understanding the context, we must consider the following conceptions: politics and
government, politics and public affairs, politics as compromise and consensus, and
politics and power.

5
Politics and Government

Politics is an art of government. It involves decision making processes that

apply to all sectors of the society. It deals with how the government governs
and administers its internal and external affairs. It refers to all the activities
of the government, legislative bodies, and local governments. Politics
encompasses the entire processes by which the government responds to the
needs of the whole society by allocating resources, incentives and even
penalties. As such, politics is the responsibilities exercised by the
government in order to meet the needs of the citizenry in the areas of
personal, social, cultural, domestic, economic, environment and artistic
undertaking.

Politics and Public Affairs

This conception refers to the set of associations and relationships of the

government among the different sectors of the society. It is a style of
behavior by which a government entity used in order to carry out its
principles and accomplish its goals. Politics is the most important form of
human activity because it involves interaction among free and equal citizens
(Arendt, 1958).

Government contains apparatus like courts, legislative bodies, military,

police, education and others which are deemed public. These are funded by
tax collected from its citizens. Thus, it is expected that the government must
provide social order and harmonious relationships among its institutions
and agencies. They must be responsible in giving out quality service to the
people and expected to improve the quality of life. All political activities are
regarded as the integrative relationships of delivering the essentials in order
to meet the needs of the public.

Politics as Compromise and Consensus

Politics with guiding or influencing governmental policy (Merriam-Webster,

Online, 2020). It is a means by which the government guides and
implements policies by making compromise and getting the consensus of the
whole government stakeholders. It is an arena where politics is seen as an
arbiter of all social conflicts that necessitates compromise, arbitration, and
negotiation. Arriving at solution to the problem requires an in-depth
discourse and exchange of ideas. Therefore, when differing opinions and
disagreements arise, the government must not crush the opposing side,
instead, it must use politics in order to provide solution. Compromise and
consensus must prevail over coercion and intimidation. It must be a living
alternative to brutality and violence in times of heated disagreements.

Politics and Power

Politics is science concerned with winning and holding control over a

government (Merriam-Webster, Online, 2020). It is “the heart of all collective
social activity, formal and informal, public and private, in all human groups,
institutions and societies” (Leftwich, 2004). Thus, politics permeates all
sectors of the society, it can be seen in various social institutions such as
family, education, religion, and economy.

6
 Since politics involves the distribution of resources and delivery of essential
services, power is vital in achieving its means and objectives. Thus, power is
seen as tool in order to achieve the aims of politics regardless of its
outcomes. Moreover, politics is a “power-structured relationships,
arrangements whereby one group of persons is controlled by another”
(Millett, 1969).

Governance

Government and governance are synonymous, at times, the terms are

interchangeable. However, as students of politics and governance, it is imperative
for us to make a clear distinction of the two concepts.

A government is an organization that exercises the authority to govern based on

the existing legal frameworks. It is the name given to the entity that manages,
governs and administers the organization, specifically, the state. The power of the
government is defined in the constitution and statutes. Meanwhile, governance
refers to how the government manages the affairs of the state. It goes beyond the in
and out of running the government. It is about how the government is effective in
using the available resources in order to effectively deliver its mandate to the
people.

Numerous international institutions have come-up with various definitions of

governance. Most of these boils down on the efficiency of the government and its
machineries.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) defines governance as “the

exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s
affairs at all levels. It comprises mechanisms, processes, and institutions through
which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet
their obligations, and mediate their differences.” It “refers to how any organization,
including a nation, is run. It includes all the processes, systems, and controls that
are used to safeguard and grow assets”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees governance as “to how any organization,
including a nation, is run. It includes all the processes, systems, and controls that
are used to safeguard and grow assets”. It is where the citizens participate and
interact with the government aimed obtain the optimum service to the people.

Citizens are at the core of governance. They “are rightly concerned with a
government’s responsiveness to their needs and protection of their rights. In
general, governance issues pertain to the ability of government to develop an
efficient, effective, and accountable public management process that is open to
citizen participation and that strengthens rather than weakens a democratic
system of government” (United States Agency for International Development, Office
of Democracy and Governance, n.d.).

In the Philippines, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA, 2016)

states that governance is an “exercise of economic, political and administrative
authority to manage the nation’s affairs at all levels. It comprises of mechanisms,
processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their
interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations and mediate their differences.

7
Governance is not the sole domain of government but transcends government to
encompass the business sector and the civil society”. It is highly participatory in
managing the affairs of the government.

The Domains of Governance

The new paradigm in governance goes beyond the administration and running the
affairs of the states. It involves the private organizations, non-governmental
organizations, government stakeholders, and civil society groups. It is a collective
effort where interest groups are vital in running the government.

The State

The state is the essential element in governance. It is considered as the principal

actors that take the lead in running the government. Its power is mandated by the
constitution and other special laws. It has police powers that are necessary in
providing security and delivering the basic services to the people. It has enormous
powers which can be used in the allocation of resources, distribution of powers and
drafting policies based on existing legal frameworks. It plays a vital role in the
delivery of projects needed by its constituents.

The Local Government

The local government includes provincial, municipal, city and barangay government
attached to the central government. These local governments derive its authority
from the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991. Local
governments administer localities defined by law.

The local government as a good venue for the community-based organization to

participate in running the government. Private corporations, non-governmental
organizations, and other stakeholders can engage in a meaningful deliberation that
is related to environment, economy, peace and order, and others.

The Private Corporations and Business Organizations

Private corporations and business organizations are considered as the lifeline of

governance. They can provide financial resources by means of donations, grants or
loans for projects that are beneficial to the people. They can also give financial and
technical expertise by assisting the national and local governments in the
implementation of their plans and programs. Further, they can deliver the much-
needed assistance to the local communities in transferring the technologies needed
by the people.

The Civil Society

Civil society refers to the organizations that advocate certain causes. They are the
“vulnerable sectors” or “third sector” because most often they are disregarded or
neglected. Members of the civil society are often the marginalized, the poor and
voiceless sector of the society. An organized civil society is vital in the delivery of
effective governance. They can mobilize the organization to directly participate in
the decision-making processes of the state. They provide a better alternative to
problems and challenges where the government and private sector could not.

8
Civil society is a venue where citizens can air their grievances, issues and concerns
that were often neglected by the government. At times, their critique on existing
government policies and programs are more valid solutions since they are
researched based and rooted in the grassroots.
Political Science

Politics enters the different realms of human life. It goes beyond the activities of the
state and how efficient governance is being held. Politics covers the entire life of
each person. It is in this context that students of humanities and social sciences
must have an in-depth understanding of how politics and governance are being
carried out. One must be aware that political scenario dictates economics,
education, society and culture.

The study of politics and governance is under the helm of political science. “the
systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally
scientific methods of analysis” (par 1). As an academic discipline, it is considered
as science since it uses scientific principles. Like all sciences, political science
“involves empirical investigation, it generally does not produce precise
measurements and predictions” (Roskin, 2016, par 3). Political science uses
empirical data, observation, analysis and discourse which make it a science. The
use of mental faculty and intellectual intercourse make political science a more
exciting and rewarding field of study.

The Fields of Political Science

Political science is a broad area of academic discipline. It has it its own fields which
are needed in order to have a full grasp of what politics, government, governance
and international system are all about.

1. Political Theory. It examines the different philosophies, theories and

principles related in the study of political science. In essence, political
theories are reflected in the real affairs of the state, relationship among
nations, and patterns of interactions among peoples and its government.

2. International Relations. It studies how states relate and interacts by

analyzing the foreign policy, economy, and other political and social
structures that are deemed important in the relationship among nations.
Modern school of thoughts classify international relations as independent
discipline akin to political science.

3. Comparative Politics. This field takes into consideration the politics and
governance that is existing in different countries. The study of comparative
politics is usually carried out by means of geographical groupings, economic,
or social conditions. It analyzes the similarities and differences of the
existing variables being studied between and among countries.

4. Public Administration. It deals with how the government manages its bureaus
and agencies in order to comply with the existing mandates of the law. It
analyzes how each arm of the government responds to the economic,
cultural, educational, and social conditions.

5. Domestic Policy. This is the most prominent field of political science. It

tackles the local affairs of the state, how the government is run, and how

9
 good governance is carried out in a city, municipality, province or the entire
country.

6. Public Law. It studies and analyzes the legal system, constitution, statutes,
orders, and other local legislations.

Why Study Politics and Governance?

“Man by nature is a political animal” ~ Aristotle. These words make politics and
governance an exciting discipline. We have diverse opinions on the matters of
government and governance. The following are the importance of studying this
course:

1. The study of politics and governance enhances the critical thinking skills of
an individual. Exposure to different socio-political theories and law enables
us to analyze policies and programs which are beneficial for the country.
2. Politics and governance elevate the intellectual discourse thereby providing
the opportunity to correct some lapses in governance by providing
alternative solution anchored on philosophy, laws and research.
3. It provides us the necessary skills and wisdom on how to run the
government and participate in nation building.
4. It inculcates nationalism and foster patriotism. It allows us to see the good
side of the governments and be aware of its shortcomings. It makes us
conscious of our roles and enables us to take a positive response for the
betterment of our country.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1.1. Politics, Governance and Government (Critical

Thinking, Creativity)
Objective: Establish the relationship between and among the following concepts:
politics, governance, and government.
Directions:
1. Based on the lesson presented, identify the relationship among the
following concepts: politics, governance, and government.
2. You may write your answer in a separate sheet of paper based on the
format presented.
3. Thereafter, answer the critical thinking questions below.

10
 Politics Governance

Government

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What is your own understanding of the word politics, governance, and

government?
2. Are they related with each other? Explain your answer.
3. How did the lesson change your ideas about the given concepts?
4. How will you explain such concepts to a grade six student?

Activity 1.2. The World of Good Governance (Critical Thinking,

Creativity, Character)
Objective: Identify and evaluate the impact of different domains of good
governance in the effective management of government.
Directions:
1. Recall the domains of good governance that were presented in the lesson.
2. Identify whether they exist in your community, and the roles they played
in achieving good governance.
3. Submit your output in a separate sheet of paper using the format
provided.
4. Thereafter, answer the critical thinking questions in a separate sheet of
paper.

Domain of Good Functions What are their roles in

Governance the attainment of
good governance?

State

11
 Local Government

Private Corporations
and Business
Organizations

Civil Society

Critical Thinking Questions

1. How is good governance achieved?

2. How important is the participation of different sectors of the society in
achieving good governance?
3. If you are going to create an advocacy group that would participate in
attaining good governance, what will be its objectives?
4. In your own little way, how can you help the government in its quest to
provide good governance?

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

The Filipino Thinkers!

(Creativity, Critical Thinking, Character)

The world of Political science is diverse and fascinating. There are numerous
Filipinos recognized both in local and international levels because of their
excellence in different fields. In this activity, you are going to make a research on
the outstanding social scientists, academicians, government official/public servant,
diplomat, and lawyer.

Directions:

1. Explore the world of the internet.

2. Look for exemplary Filipinos who have made great contributions in the
academe, public service, diplomacy, and law. Identify their outstanding
accomplishments and contributions in the world and in your country.
3. Submit your output using the prescribed format and the answer to the
critical thinking questions in a separate sheet of paper.
4.

12
 Field Outstanding Outstanding
Filipino Accomplishment/International
or Local Contributions

Social
Sciences/Academician
(Political Theory,
Comparative Politics,
Public Policy)

Government Service
(Public Administration)

Foreign Diplomacy
(International Relations)

Law
(Public Law)

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students are at times being

discriminated by other strands because of the career that has low salary.
After doing the activity, would you want to pursue a career in Social
Sciences and its related disciplines? Why?
2. How would you explain to your friends from other strands that HUMSS is
beyond money, and that it is service to God and country?
3. How will you prepare yourself to become a catalyst of change and agent
of social transformation?

13
 REMEMBER

 Politics is a mechanism used by the government in order to control,

influence, and implement policies and programs that are deemed important
in delivering service to the people.
 Politics connotes different meanings. Identifying its common conceptions
would give us a clearer understanding of the term. These conceptions can be
understood as politics and government, politics and public affairs, politics as
compromise and consensus, and politics and power.
 Governance refers to how the government manages the affairs of the state
while government is the entity or organization that carries out governance.
 Good governance is achieved by harmoniously involving the different sectors
of the society in the implementation of government policies and programs.
 Political science presents a deeper understanding on the mechanisms of
politics and governance. It is vital in providing an in-depth analysis about
the frameworks by which the international system and government operate.
 Political science develops critical thinking, nurtures nationalism and
patriotism, and provide alternative solution on the existing problems
anchored on research and analysis of existing variables.

POST TEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Which among the following are domains of governance?
a. state c. local government
b. civil society d. all of the above

2. Humanities and Social Sciences students can become a diplomat serving as

ambassadors or consuls. Which among the following must be given a top
priority in order to achieve it?
a. Comparative Politics c. International Relations
b. Political Theory d. All of the above

3. President ABC wanted to immediately pass the Anti-Terrorism bill that is

free from criticism and opposition. What should he do?
a. Ask the Speaker of the House of Representative and Senate
President to cooperate.
b. Be consultative and get the consensus of different sectors of the
society.
c. Impose his power to his allies in the Lower House and Senate to
immediately pass the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
d. Threaten the people that if the bill will not be enacted to law,
terrorism will become widespread.

14
4. Which among the following characterizes his good governance?
a. Prioritizing the poor and the oppressed.
b. Reviving the old yet effective government policies and programs.
c. Allocating the resources of the government fairly and efficiently.
d. Involving the state, local government, private businesses, and civil
society in managing the affairs of the government.

5. The following are products of an in-depth study of Political Science except

one:
a. Take a positive action that leads to good governance, improvement
of the life of the people.
b. Deep understanding of the management of the government.
c. Offer alternatives and solutions to the existing problems of the
society anchored on research and analysis.
d. Create disagreement and divisiveness as each one has a brilliant
idea over the other because of the lessons learned in Political
Science.

15
 REFERENCES
Books

Arendt, Hannah (1958). The Human Condition (2 nd Edition). Chicago: The

University of Chicago Press.
Eijk, Cees van der (2018). The Essence of Politics. Amsterdam: Amsterdam
University Press.
Jowett, Benjamin, Translator (1999). Politics and Aristotle. USA: Batoche Books
Leftwich, Adrian (2004). What is Politics?: The Activity and Its Study. Cambridge:
Polity Press, Ltd.
Millet, Kate (1969). Sexual Politics. US: Doubleday and Company.

Online Sources
Glock9 (n.d). Upuan. Retrieved from https://genius.com/Gloc-9-upuan-lyrics,
June 27, 2020.
Roskin, Michael (2016). Political Science. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-science, June 27, 2020.

16
 Acknowledgements

Writer: Raul F. Espinosa, Master Teacher II

Editor: Amalia C. Solis - EPS
Reviewer: Ludielyn Bautista, Teacher III
Management Team: Maria Magdalena M. Lim-Schools Division
Superintendent-Manila, Aida H. Rondilla-Chief Education Supervisor
Lucky S. Carpio-EPS and Lady Hannah C. Gillo, Librarian II-LRMS

17
 REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET
Name ____________________________________________ Grade and Section ___________
School: ______________________ Date: _____________ Subj. Teacher: _______________

Quarter: 1st Module No.: 1 Week No.: 1

MELC: Explain the concept, relationship and importance of politics, governance
and government.
Objectives:
 Unlock the meaning of politics, governance and government;
 Establish the relationships among the given concepts;
 Conduct a research on the outstanding Filipinos in the field of social science
and government service
 Become an active agent of social transformation.

Topic: Basic concepts in politics and governance.

Upuan: A Song Analysis

(Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Character)

Directions:

1. Listen to the song Upuan by Glock 9 on YouTube or any music streaming

application.
2. It is advised that you look for the lyrics in the internet or seek the
assistance of your teacher in securing a copy.
3. Analyze the song using the table provided. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

Title of the Song Insights

Artist

Synopsis of the song

18
Significance of the song

My Reflection about the song

How can I improve the existing

social conditions using my
knowledge in governance?

19
 ANSWER KEY
PRETEST POSTTEST

1. C 1. D
2. D 2. D
3. C 3. B
4. D 4. D
5. D 5. D

20