BICOL UNIVERSITY

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

LEGAZPI, CITY
1 Semester, A.Y 2021-2022
st

Quarter 1 – Module 3

POWER: Nature, Dimensions,

Types, and Consequences

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING MODULE

SPECIALIZED SUBJECT
HUMSS 12
Prepared by:
MS. CHRISTINE IRISH P. GOYENA
Teacher
 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,

TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

OVERVIEW
“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Uncle Ben (Spider-Man). In the past lesson,
we have tackled the different political ideologies which are consciously or unconsciously adopted by
different political systems around the world. Among these ideologies, there is that one common factor
for its successful application which is “power.” It is power which makes the world go round in the
different political entities that whoever exercises it should be accountable for the effects or results.
Various societies, countries, and governments implement different means in utilizing power,
and these means define their respective cultures, traditions, and prevailing political structures.
Democratic societies believe that true power lies among the people, and that it is by the consent of the
people that the government is able to exercise great power. Political power, therefore, is subject to
certain limits and checks.
Power is an important concept in understanding politics and governance. Government is
understood to have authority and power over the people, and its various action bear great influence in
people's lives and society in general. In this module, we will focus the discussion on power – its nature,
dimensions, types, and consequences. At the end, you shall be able to determine the vital role of power
in politics, and how it should be exercised in accordance with governance.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IN THIS MODULE?

• Definition of power
• Nature, dimensions, types, and consequences of power
• Power and governance

WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN?

• Define power (HUMSS_PG12-Id-
11)

• Recognize the nature,

dimensions, types, and
consequences of power
(HUMSS_PG12-Id-12)

• Analyze the nature, dimensions,

types, and consequences of
power (HUMSS_PG12-Id-13)

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

DISCOVER

The right to occupy positions of authority and power in government is a public trust, and the people
have the right to hold officials accountable for their actions. This relationship between the government and
its citizens ensures that power is exercised responsibly, and that no abuses shall be committed by those
entrusted by the people to wield power. In turn, the government respects the right of the citizens to
exercise power in reasonable ways. Personal relationships are also characterized by power, whether you
are conscious of this or not. You can notice how power is practiced in everyday life, even in the most
ordinary situations.

POWER

KEY TERMS
• Power
• Political Power
• Authority
• Influence
• Force

DEFINITION AND NATURE OF POWER

In any given endeavor at any given situation, the players in a game all become power players, where
every single person wants to be empowered to have the right hand control over the scenario. So, what’s
with this power that, literally, everybody seems to have grown insane for the love of power and that power
must have become a part of man’s social existence?

In its broadest sense, power is the ability of a person to carry out his or her will. This concept is
particularly significant in the study of social relationships since society is composed of individuals who
exercise varied degrees of power. However, in political terms, power is the ability to influence another—the
way one thinks or behaves—in a manner not of his or her own choosing (Lasswell 1936). It is also the ability
to exercise control or impose restrictions over individuals, as well as compel other people to do certain tasks
he or she would not otherwise do. Thus, power is closely tied to the concept of authority.

Political power involves three interrelated concepts: legitimacy, authority, and sovereignty. According
to Roskin et al. (2012), legitimacy refers to the people’s perception that their government rules rightfully,
and thus must be obeyed. Sovereignty, on the other hand, speaks of the ability of a national government to
be the sole leader, which has the last word of law in that society. Lastly, authority is seen as the political
leader’s ability to command respect and exercise power.

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

In understanding the nature of power, it is important to know the difference between power and
force, power and influence, and power and authority.

POWER AND FORCE POWER AND INFLUENCE POWER AND AUTHORITY

“Power over”
Force means physical force,
violence in the form of police
action, imprisonment,
punishment, or war.
Power means a psychological
relationship of control which is
backed using force, or threat of
use of force. When physical
force, war and other means
involving the use of military
power or police power are used
to secure certain objectives,
power stands replaced by force.
Table 1 Power vs Force, Influence, and Authority
“Power to”
Influence involves the attempt to
change the behavior of others
through persuasion and not by
threats or force. The scope of
influence is wider than the scope
of power and it is more
democratic than power.
Power involves a use of force or
threat of use of force. Political
Power or Legal Power is backed
by authority or sovereignty of the
state.
“Power with”
Authority is legitimate power as
defined in political science.
Power is defined as the ability to
command obedience and is
rested on coercion
When the exercise of power by a
leader is recognized and is
accepted by those he or she
governs, such is considered as
legitimate power

DIMENSIONS OF POWER
Power comes in different faces or dimensions which makes us aware of its scope or boundaries.
According to Heywood (2013), it can be considered as decision-making, agenda setting, or thought control.

Power can involve the ability to influence the making of decisions.

Who decides, what to be made, and how to execute such decision
POWER AS DECISION-MAKING all involve power.
- force (intimidation), deal (exchange of offer), loyalty and
commitment (out of love)
Power involves the ability to set or control political agenda,
highlighting one at the exclusion of other issues.
POWER AS AGENDA SETTING
- prioritizing the senior citizen members of the community to
receive the first dose of vaccine
Power is seen as a psychological control where one has the ability
POWER AS THOUGHT CONTROL to change or shape another’s preferences
- political speeches and propagandas
Table 2 Dimensions of Power (Heywood 2013)

Power characterizes much, if not all, of people’s relationships, may

it be at the most personal level or in their relationship with the government
or a larger polity. Power and authority are usually used interchangeably. In
political science, authority is legitimate power. When the exercise of power
by a leader is recognized and is accepted by those he or she governs, such
is considered as legitimate power.

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

TYPES OF POWER
Social psychologists John French and Bertram Raven view power as based on the perception and
understanding of the various participants in society. Each member and group or society recognizes that
certain individuals in their group possess a degree of power based on the nature of their relationships with
other members of the group. Power, therefore, could be classified according to several bases:
COERCIVE POWER – the ability to control and influence other people through force, threats,
punishments, and consequences

REWARD POWER – the ability to control and influence other people by compensating them with
rewards or benefits

REFERENT POWER – the ability to control and influence other people based on an individual’s
personality (charisma) and ability to attract followers

EXPERT POWER – the ability to control and influence other people through the possession of
knowledge, expertise, skills, and experiences

LEGITIMATE POWER – the ability to control and influence other people based on an individual’s
position, role, and duties in a group

Max Weber, a German sociologist and philosopher, proposed a classification of power, based on
different types of authority. These are Traditional, Charismatic, and Legal-rational authorities.

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
Authority is rooted in traditional values and existing social ties and
institutions. An example of people who wield traditional power are
monarchs and members of royal families. In the Philippines, many of
the political and social elite are perceived to have power and authority
because they belong to political families who have ruled for
generations, which also leads to existing political dynasties.

CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY
Obedience is based on the person qualities of the individual who wields
power. The person’s authority is recognized based on his or her
characteristics, whose qualities are considered to be exceptional, and
how he or she is perceived by other people in society. Great example
for this type are those celebrities running for positions in the
government.

LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY
Authority is based on a system of laws and regulations, and an
established bureaucracy, Person is able to exercise power because
he or she has been empowered by law. Power in this context,
depends on an individual's position in the social hierarchy, and the
roles and responsibilities that come with this position. People obey
through a legitimate command from the leader.

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

CONSEQUENCES OF POWER
Power and consequence are often closely related. The basic principle is that a person with power
has the ability to create consequences for the target person, who takes these consequences into account
when they are deciding whether to comply with a request or refuse it. However, consequence does not
always mean negative, it also yields positive results. The figure below would summarize the general
consequence of power with regards to its types.

Types of Power Positive Consequences Negative Consequences

COERCIVE POWER Resistance Power loss

REWARD POWER
Compliance Prevention
LEGITIMATE POWER

EXPERT POWER
Commitment Punishment
REFERENT POWER

Figure 1 Consequences of Power

(Inspired by culled from https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/jassidut/power-and-politics-28411797)

Power, when wielded by entities such as the state, often yields significant effects on society. The
exercise of political power is primarily intended to ensure social control. This generally results in government
influencing the development of individuals in society, as well as group behavior and identity. Democratic
governments utilize their power to uphold democratic ideals and institutions and inculcate a democratic
mindset among the citizens. Within groups and organizations, the exercise of various forms of power by their
members results in a well-defined hierarchy that enables them to identify their individual roles,
responsibilities, privileges, and rights within the group. A well-balanced power structure within an
organization contributes to its stability and efficiency.
However, irresponsible use of power limits individual freedom and imposes restrictions to citizens’
actions. A government that ignores lawful limits on its powers is bound to violate the rights and freedoms of
its citizens. Misuse of power by the government eventually leads to loss of legitimacy, especially if the citizens
consider government actions as violations of democratic ideals and the general welfare. This leads to wider
dissent among citizens who resort to rebellion or terrorism which in turn bring about instability in government
and society. Many totalitarian states have successfully used the full power of the state to stamp out dissent
among its citizens and have retained power for a long time.

The use of power has consequences. From micro to macro settings,

power determines who gets what, where, and when.

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

POWER AND CITIZENSHIP

Power and citizenship are two closely intertwined concepts within the context of a democratic
society. As sovereignty resides in the people that compose the state, the government provides the people
with the means to exercise power. The recognition of the sovereign citizens is evident in the rights and
privileges guaranteed by the state. The Bill of Rights (Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution)
enumerates the various political, social, and economic rights that citizens enjoy. These rights, in turn,
come with a set of responsibilities which citizens must fulfill to exercise power and participate fully within
a democracy. For example, Filipinos have the right to free speech and expression. This right, however,
imposes the responsibility to be aware of social issues, engage in critical discussions and debate, and
express concern regarding pressing issues. Citizens who ignore these responsibilities are unable to fully
enjoy these rights. Also, irresponsible exercise of the right to free speech such as spreading
misinformation, engaging in hate speech, and advocating violence, undermines democracy and good
governance. The exercise of citizen power, therefore, becomes effective if done in a responsible manner.
The state has instituted formal means by which citizens are able to directly participate in
government. These include suffrage, referendum, plebiscite, and initiatives. (See R.A No. 6735)
 Suffrage is the power of citizens that enables them to vote in public elections and also run for
public office. During elections, people exercise their power to choose public officials by casting
their ballots.
 Referendum is similar to an election but instead of electing officials, citizens vote for or against a
proposal or law. These may include approval of certain local laws or laws passed by Congress
 Plebiscite refers to the process by which citizens approve of proposed changes to the constitution.
 Initiative is a process by which citizens directly propose laws or amendments to the constitution.
Citizen’s
participation in the
political process is
primarily driven by
advocacy. This is
the process by
which individuals
or groups seek to
influence decisions
or implement
change within
institutions,
societies, social
and economic
systems, and
governments.
Advocacy requires
citizens to be
educated and well- https://assets2.rappler.com/968F0A9454CF449A9D01E318B4F558EA/img/11BBE183ABBD4CF6AEC994EFFA884B80/mo
informed about ck-election-qc-20160213-005.jpg
issues in politics and society and to be actively involved in actions and initiatives that will advance the
issues and concerns they advocate. Many political scientists consider advocacy-building and active
involvement of citizens as a solution to the often-unequal balance of power in many governments. Effective
citizens are empowered, and they have the ability to engage in advocacies and organize themselves to
pursue their goals.

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

POWER AND GOVERNANCE

The government, being the instrument by which the people enact its will, is empowering to enact
programs, initiate activities, and act whenever the need arises. In this sense, sovereignty is expressed by
the government as a form of “national power” that is composed of various resources and instrumentalities
such as the economy, population, and the military. National power is evident in the actions of government
agencies, officials, members of the military and police, and other public servants. The constitution gives
the government inherent powers that it can enact in pursuit of national goals and objectives:

1. Police power refers to the ability of the state to use the police force to ensure law and order in
society.
2. Eminent domain is the power of the government to acquire private property for public use.
3. The power of taxation allows the government to impose and collect taxes from its citizens.

These powers enable the government to undertake its activities as well as ensure the safety of citizens.

Since the exercise of political power by the government originates from the consent of the citizens,
government action should be defined by responsibility and accountability. Responsibility is closely to
obligation, which refers to an action that an individual is required to perform. Accountability refers to the
acknowledgement of responsibility for an action and its consequences. Public officials in particular, are
expected to uphold responsibilities in exercising their authority. They possess legal responsibilities – a set
of obligations outlined by law; and Moral responsibilities – doing actions that are considered to be morally
and socially acceptable and deserving of praise.
Elected public officials are expected to perform the obligations of the offices they occupy. Local
officials are responsible for maintaining law and order and promoting the interest of the people within their
respective jurisdictions. Members of the congress are expected to create laws that will uphold the common
good. The president, as the head of the executive branch, is tasked to uphold the Philippine Constitution,
implement the laws of the country, and effectively administer government services.
Article 11, Sec. No.1 of the Philippine Constitution 1987 states the following:
“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and
efficiency; act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives”.
Public office is the right authority, and duty created and conferred by law by which for a given
period, either fixed by law or enduring at the pleasure of the creating power, the individual is vested with
some portions of the sovereign functions of the government to exercise by him for the benefits of the
public. Hence a public office can be exercise by a public officer or employee. (Lazo, 2009)
However, there are public officials and leaders who abuse the power they hold. Abuse of power
pertains to misconduct in office, where an official performs unlawful actions while in office. Most evident
examples are Graft and Corruption.

Graft – a form of political corruption where an

official uses public funds for his or her personal
gain
Corruption – the use of authority of influence for
private interest. It is seen in various acts such as
giving or accepting bribes or inappropriate gifts,
double-dealing, under-the-table transactions,
manipulating elections, diverting funds,
laundering money, and defrauding investors

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

RECOLLECT

• Power is the ability to influence another—the way one thinks or behaves—in a manner not of his
or her own choosing (Lasswell 1936)
• Political power involves legitimacy, sovereignty, and authority.
• There are three natures of power: power over (force), power to (influence), and power with
(authority)
• Power has three dimensions/faces: decision-making, agenda setting, and thought control
• Power can be classified as coherent, reward, referent, expert, and legitimate.
• There are also types of power according to authority which is evident in contemporary politics
namely: traditional authority, charismatic authority, and legal-rational authority
• Each type of power has its own positive and negative consequences.
• It is important for citizens to exercise their power in a responsible manner, and so as the
government/public officials.

ENGAGE
Here is an enrichment activity for you to work on to master and
strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

ACTIVITY 1: POWER ACROSTIC

Instruction: Based on the knowledge you gained in this module, write an acrostic poem using the word
power.
P -
Criteria Points
O -
Message/Content 10
W -
Relevance to the 10
E - topic
R - Poetic format 5

DEEPEN
Great job! Now here is an in-depth activity that will enable you to critically think and
challenge your understanding about types of politics and their consequences.

ACTIVITY 2: JUSTIFY ME
Instruction: Below are scenarios about the types and consequences of power. Read each carefully and
understand the situations before answering. Write a 3-5 sentences justification to support your
answer.
1. Pepe was the smartest boy and the kindest soul in his class back in high school. Because of this, he
unknowingly put up a boy group in the campus at that time. He automatically became the honorary
leader of the said group. The members of the said group would always follow what he said and what
he would do. Pepe S. never scolded the other boys for obedience issues and the latter never
contradicted him as well. What type of power did Pepe hold back in his high school days? What result
did that power yield?

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

2. In barangay Adayu, three nurses were deployed back in March 16,2020 to assist the barangay officials,
the Barangay Health Workers and the members of the Barangay Peace-keeping group in implementing
the Enhanced Community Quarantine. The barangay put up its own triage area to apprehend people
who may manifest the symptoms of the CoViD-19 or who were PUI or PUM. In the process, the nurses
manned the triage. In this scenario, what type of power was exercised and who exercised it? Why?
What do you think was the consequence of the exercise of that power?

3. Way back in 2018, PRRD gave a pronouncement about the eradication of the ‘drugs business’ and
‘drug use’ in the country, thus, the ‘Operation Tokhang’ was instituted and its implementation was
placed in the hands of the Philippine National Police. As per news reports, the members of the PNP
had to engage into so-called military operations to catch high prolife drug personalities and more often
than not, some suspects get killed and some military operatives either get hurt or become casualties
as well. In this scenario, is there any type of power exercised? What type of power is it and who could
have exercised it? Why? In the long run, what do you think would be the consequence of the exercise
of this type of power?

Scoring Rubrics

POINTS REQUIREMENTS
5 provides an insightful and detailed explanation/opinion that includes or extends ideas from the
text
4 provides some explanation/opinion that includes ideas from the text for support
3 uses text incorrectly or with limited success and includes an inconsistent or confusing
explanation
2 demonstrates minimal understanding of the task and provides an unclear reference or no use
of the text for support
1 response is completely irrelevant or off-topic

TRANSFER
Let us apply your understanding by doing this meaningful activity!

ACTIVITY 3: CREATIVITY CHECK

Instruction: On LONG BOND PAPER, kindly write a one-paragraph reflective essay of your most significant
learning about the topic. Emphasize your perspective about power with regards to how it is
being exercised by our government amidst the CoViD-19 pandemic. It should be composed of
not less than 100 words and not more than 120 words.
Scoring Rubrics

POINTS REQUIREMENTS
10 CONTENT - Relevant to the topic. Well expressed ideas. Briefly and directly emphasized own
perspective about power
10 MECHANICS - Use of Proper Language. Use of correct spelling or vocabulary. Use of proper
or correct punctuation marks. Follow the prescribed number of words.
5 ORIGINALITY - Statements or sentences are not copy-pasted from the internet or rephrased
from classmate’s work
5 ORGANIZATION – Ideas were logically arranged. Related or connected statements

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 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM POWER: NATURE, DIMENSIONS,
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 TYPES, AND CONSEQUENCES

OPEN NOTES

Instruction: Write down any ideas or thoughts that you have about any of the topics discussed in this
module. You may list down your questions, reactions, unclear thoughts.

References
Aspiras, B. A. (2021). Philippine Politics and Governance. La Union: La Union Schools Division.

Chen, J. (2020, July 14). Corruption. Retrieved from Investopedia:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corruption.asp

Heywood, A. (2019). Politics (Fifth Edition). London: Red Globe Press.

Mendoza, D. J., & Melegrito, M. F. (2016). Politics Without Borders: Philippine Politics and Governance. Quezon
City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. .

Power and Consequence. (n.d.). Retrieved from Changing Minds:

http://changingminds.org/explanations/power/power_consequence.htm

Villanueva, P. G. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Makati City: Diwa Learning Systems Inc.

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