Basic Social Institutions: Economy and Government

Lesson 10

Basic Social Institutions: Economy and Government

This lesson discusses two basic social institutions: Economy and

Government.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to

1. Explain the economy and government in your own words

2. Discuss the function of the economy in society
3. Describe the influence of government on the society

Politics and Government

Politics is a social institution through which power is acquired and

exercised by some people or groups. The government manifests
politics. This is present in every society as it is responsible for
making and enforcing the rules of society. It also regulates how our
society relates to other societies. It solves conflicts that are public
in nature, and it involves more than a few people. However, this
government should be recognized by the people whom it has to
rule. On the other hand, the leader or leaders of this government
have no power if the people would not recognize the leadership.
To support our discussion about government as a social
institution, we have to recognize the four categories of government
that most of the world’s governments fall:

1. Monarchy is a political system that is ruled by a king or a

queen. A single person holds the supreme power, and it is
passed on from generation to generation. Most of the
monarchies in the world are constitutional in which the
reigning member of the royal family is the symbolic head of
the state. The government is actually governed by elected
officials. In absolute monarchy, the king has complete
control of the country.
2. Democracy is a political system in which the citizens choose
their officials to run their government. The officials are
 selected periodically in the form of a local or national
election.
3. Authoritarianism is a political system that does not allow the
citizens to participate in government. This government is
despotic, dictatorial, and domineering.

4. Totalitarianism is a political system under which the

government maintains tight control of nearly all aspects of a
citizen’s life. The government dominates all political, social,
and economic activities in a nation. Examples of this include
Nazi Germany, soviet, Communist Chinese, and Islamist
varieties.

Economy

Economy is the social institution that provides for the production

and distribution of goods and services, which people in every
society need.
There are instances that the people can provide these goods and
services for themselves, but at times, they depend on others. When
they rely on goods and services from others, they have to exchange
them for something. In modern times, it is the currency that society
uses. For others, especially in non-industrialized countries, goods
and services are exchanged with goods and services, too.
The economic systems that are prevalent in the world are
capitalism and socialism.
Capitalism is an economic system under which the means of
production, distribution, and exchange of wealth are privately
owned. All citizens are encouraged to invest and seek profit for
themselves. Free competition determines the success or failure of
an enterprise.
An example of capitalism is that of the United States. American
society is one of the most purely capitalistic societies in the world.
Most U.S. businesses are privately owned, but the government
does regulate business practices.
Socialism is a system under which all resources and means of
production are owned by society as a whole. The rights to private
property are limited, and the good of the whole society is stressed
 Basic Social Institutions: Economy and Government

more than individual profit. The government maintains control of

the economy.
Example of a socialist government is China. The government owns
and controls almost all natural resources.
The countries operating under capitalist systems have a higher
standard of living than those with socialist economic systems. This
is because the capitalist system offers greater opportunities for
success, like providing opportunities for individual profit. For that
reason, capitalism provides a better foundation for society.
For the impact of government policies on society, it is obvious that
the various policies formulated by the government should be
geared towards the benefit of its constituents and the majority as
the government to be strong should have strong support from its
people

RA9710

Society and Culture, a college course, includes the Law on Gender

and Development and its related laws and issuance together with
Volunteerism.
RA 9710 or “The Magna Carta of Women” is a comprehensive
women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination
against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling, and promoting
the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized
sector.
The discrimination occurs when the women are restricted because
of their marital status, ethnicity, age, poverty, or religion.
The rights of women that are guaranteed by the Magna Carta of
Women are:

1. protection from all forms of violence, including those

committed by the State;
2. protection and security in times of disaster, calamities, and
other crises;
3. participation and representation to accelerate and ensure
women’s equitable participation and representation in the
third level of public service, development council and planning
bodies, political parties, etc.
 4. Equal treatment before the law, education, scholarships,
training and sports, also in the military, police and other similar
services and many more.
Filipino women here and abroad are protected by RA 9710. The
government has the primary duty to implement the law. It should
establish a mechanism to promote the coherent and integrated
implementation of the Magna Carta of Women and other
related laws and policies to effectively stop discrimination against
Filipino women.
The government, through the schools, can be a very significant
tool in the information dissemination of this law so that women are
well-informed about their protection and their human rights.
You should also be familiar with the following related laws:

• Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of

1995

• Republic Act 9262 known as Anti-Violence Against Women

and Their Children Act of 2004

• Republic Act 7192 known as Women in Development in

Development and Nation Building Act

• Executive Order No. 273 Approving and Adopting the

Philippines Plan for Gender-Responsive Development,
1195-2025.

• 1987 Philippine Constitution (Article II, Sec. 14) a National

Mandate which states that The State recognizes the role of
women in nation building and shall promote the
fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

Volunteerism

Volunteerism in the Philippines.

Volunteerism is one significant topic to be given attention in
Society and Culture as it remains a tradition among us Filipinos. In
olden times, volunteerism was explained as sharing or helping. It
may be termed as bayanihan, damayan, kawanggawa, tulong,
pakikipag kapwa-tao, pagbabahagi or handog.
Basic Social Institutions: Economy and Government

Volunteerism is a very important tool to bring significant benefits

to individuals and communities in the Philippines.
Participation in groups and organizations strengthens the bond
among the Filipinos. While doing voluntary work for others, the
opportunities enable the volunteers to learn about others. They
boost the morale of the depressed and build the relationship of
trust and lessen prejudices against others.
The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency
(PNVSCA) is the government agency mandated with the promotion
of volunteerism in the country. Thru the efforts of the PNVSCA, the
services of local and international volunteers are mobilized to
benefit society.
As students, not only in Society and Culture, what benefits does
volunteering give you too?
The act of volunteering may benefit you in many ways like:

• You learn and develop a new skill. You will discover that in
the process you are really good at something
• You realize that no man is an island. People in the
community depend on each other for survival.
• Motivation and sense of achievement. The time, effort, and
skills are involved. Your desire and enthusiasm to help are a
sense of motivation and achievement.
• Boost your career option. For example, you enrolled in IT,
but you are interested in arts. You do volunteer work in local
theater, and there perhaps you find a new career option
• New interests and hobbies can boost a career option. You
may explore wider opportunities and expand your horizons
for new interests and hobbies in your volunteer work.
• Meeting a diverse range of people
• New experiences

Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of you

and gives real examples of your commitment, dedication, and
interests; show people what you are passionate about, and
maybe you will inspire them too!
References

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Difference Between Anthropology and Sociology.
www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/...anthropology-and-sociology. Web. 06
June 2015.
Ferrante, J. (2014). Sociology a Global Perspective. 9th edition. USA: cengage
Learning. Print
Mauss, M. (2005). The Nature of Sociology Berghahn Series.USA: Durkheim Press.
Print
Sociology/Anthropology. www.stolaf.edu/catalog/9697/socanthro.html. Web. 06
June 2015.