LEARNING MATERIALS IN

PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP

Prof. Cherry de Leon-Generoso

LESSON 7 – Philippines elections and democracy I

OVERVIEW:
This lesson tackles about the origin and process of elections.
Furthermore, it discusses the root of democracy and how it changed the
history of the Philippines.

OBJECTIVES:
To let students evaluate Philippine democracy according to traditional
and contemporary measures.

COURSE MATERIALS:
For more info click: https://www.slideshare.net/crtnymendoza/suffrage-and-
election

1. What is suffrage?
Article V Section1 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
• Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines, not
otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least one year and in
the place wherein they propose to vote for at least 6 months
immediately preceding the election. No literacy property or
other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise
of suffrage.
• On the other hand, suffrage is on the political rights enjoyed by
the citizens of the country.
• This is because through the exercise of suffrage, citizens can
participate in the establishment and administration of
government
• Thus, it includes election, plebiscite, referendum, initiative and
recall.

Article V Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines

• The congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy
and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee

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LEARNING MATERIALS IN
PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP
Prof. Cherry de Leon-Generoso

voting by qualified Filipinos abroad. The Congress shall also

design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote
without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall
be allowed to vote under existing laws and such rules as the
Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect the
secrecy of the ballot.

2. What is the scope of suffrage?

• Election – means by which people choose their officials for
definite and fixed periods and to who they entrust, for the time
being as their representatives, the exercise of powers of
government.
• Plebiscite – the vote of the people expressing their choice for or
against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them.
• Referendum – the submission of a law by the national or local
legislative to the voting citizens of a country for their ratification.
• Initiative – the process whereby the people directly propose and
enact laws
• Recall- method by which a public officer may be removed from
office during his tenure or before the expiration of his term by a
vote of the people after registration of a petition signed by a
required percentage of voters.

3. What are the types of suffrage?

a. Census Suffrage
b. Compulsory Suffrage
c. Business Vote

Note: The importance of suffrage cannot be over emphasized as it is the

bedrock of the Philippine Democracy and republicanism. When suffrage is
removed, then the Philippines is no longer democratic and republican.

4. What is election?
• It is the principal means by which the citizens of the country
vote and select certain officials to represent them in the
administration of the government. It may be local or national.

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LEARNING MATERIALS IN
PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP
Prof. Cherry de Leon-Generoso

• An election is a formal decision-making process by which a

population chooses an individual to hold public office.
• Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern
representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.

5. What is the history of election?

For more info click: https://www.slideshare.net/brianbelen/philippine-
electoral-system

5.1 Pre-Colonial Philippines

• No elections for ruling authorities
• Government was based more on intangibles
o Kinship
o Customs/Traditions
o Favors
o Unwritten Laws

5.2 Colonial Government

• In colonizing the Philippines, Spain effectively formalized
and modernized government rule.
• To be able to administer the colony effectively, the colonial
government created pockets of local authority across the
country

5.3 American Colonial Rule

• American colonial rule set the foundation for elections in the
Philippines
• Government institutions and the electoral system were
patterned after the American system.
• Filipinos could run for public office in a limited capacity.

5.4 Commonwealth
• Introduced a more accommodating electoral system
• Over time, Philippines elections were dominated by a single-
party
• Creation of the COMELEC to oversee the conduct of
elections.

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LEARNING MATERIALS IN
PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP
Prof. Cherry de Leon-Generoso

5.5 1973 Constitution

• Consolidation of power under Martial Rule
• Less electoral safeguards
o Weakening of the powers of the COMELEC
o Lack of checks and balances within the electoral
system

6. What is democracy?
• Democracy is an ideal for humanity
• It is originated from demo means ‘people’ and cracy means
‘power’.
• It means power of the people
• It can be achieved through social justice, economic, and
political freedom and freedom of expression, opinion, faith and
religion.
• It is a form of government where there is rule by the people,
either directly or through representatives. This grew out of
constitutional government. The principles of equal rights and
privileges, universal suffrage, and participation in the political
process which affect citizen’s lives are features of democratic
regimes (Brangart 1976:20). It is generally referred to as “ a
government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyQnwCtnrA

7. History of Democracy in the Philippines

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=filIp5fNxfo

8. What are the values of democracy?

8.1 Respect for the dignity of the individual
8.2 Freedom
8.3 Equality of opportunity
8.4 Group living
8.5 Faith in toleration
8.6 Faith in change
8.7 Faith in peaceful methods
8.8 Brotherhood

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LEARNING MATERIALS IN
PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP
Prof. Cherry de Leon-Generoso

8.9 Justice
8.10 Secularism
For more info click:
https://www.slideshare.net/kavitaraniverma/democracy-1

9. Marcos and the Martial Law Era

For more info click:
https://www.slideshare.net/AdrianChristianBulgan/chapter-14-
powerpoint

10. Kudeta ( The Challenge to Philippine Democracy)

For more info click:
https://www.slideshare.net/AdrianChristianBulgan/chapter-14-
powerpoint

REFERENCE:
brianbelen Follow. “On Philippine Elections and Political Parties.” LinkedIn
SlideShare, 16 Nov. 2010, www.slideshare.net/brianbelen/philippine-
electoral-system.
CM Follow. “Suffrage and Election.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 25 Feb. 2016,
www.slideshare.net/crtnymendoza/suffrage-and-election.
venerallonza Follow. “Political Parties And Electoral Politics.” LinkedIn
SlideShare, 25 May 2010, www.slideshare.net/venerallonza/political-
parties-and-electoral-politics-4289539.
Bulgan, Adrian Christian. “Chapter 14 Powerpoint.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 11
Aug. 2014, www.slideshare.net/AdrianChristianBulgan/chapter-14-
powerpoint.

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