Philippine Politics and Governance Quarter 1 – Module 1: Politics, Governance, and other Key
Concepts
Let Us Learn
This material was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the topic
about Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts. The scope of this module permits it to be
used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the
order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now
using.
The learners: (based on MELCs)
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. explain the concept, relationship, and importance of politics, governance, and government.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define politics, governance and other key concepts of Political Science;
2. explain the relevance of politics and Political Science; and
3. enumerate the relationship or similarities of politicians and political scientists; and
4. illustrate how a government should be governed by politicians. This module focuses on the
topic Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts, which will be your task for the whole week.
Let Us Try
Directions: Using the graphic organizer below, write the word/s that describe/s Philippine politics
both positive and negative.
Let Us Study
Introduction Politics is as old as ancient Greek civilization. Thus, it can be traced in the
philosophical ideas of Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics. Yet, it is Aristotle who clearly
defines the term Politics as “the best method of investigation is to study things in the process of
development from the beginning” (Klosko, 2012, p. 8).
Aristotle also called “man (woman) as a political being” (Levin, 1979, p.529). If and only if,
he/she prioritizes the divine order (divine perfection) as the model of the polis or the city-state.
However, it is not always be the case that political players would like to consider the divine
perfection as the best example of a perfect society.
Politics is everywhere and everybody’s concern. It “happens in the workplace, in families,
and even in the classroom. It is the ongoing competition between people, usually in groups, to
shape policy in their favor. To do so, he/she may seek to guide policy indirectly by shaping the
beliefs and values of members of their society” (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
Definition of Key Concepts
A. Politics
As the definition of the term ‘politics’ encompasses the politics of government, it can also
encompass the political dynamics in other contexts. While this text will largely focus on politics of
governments, it is important to understand that politics is more fundamental than governments
but occurs wherever human competitions play out (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
B. Political Power
Politics is about power, specifically the power to shape others’ behavior. Power in politics is
getting people to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having them think
it was their idea. Aristotle called politics “the master science.” He meant that almost everything
happens in a political context, that the decisions of the polis (the Greek citystate and root of our
words polite, police, and politics) governed most other things. (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p.9
Power in politics is getting people to do something they
wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having them think
it was their idea. Some people dislike the concept of
political power. It smacks of coercion, inequality, and
occasionally brutality. Some speakers denounce “power
politics,” suggesting governance without power, a happy
band of brothers and sisters regulating themselves through
love and sharing. Communities formed on such a basis do
not last; or, if they do last, it is only by transforming
themselves into conventional structures of leaders and
followers, buttressed by obedience patterns that look suspiciously like power. Political power
seems to be built into the human condition.
C. Government
The term ‘government’ came from classical Greek thought.
Generally, it is used to “describe both the body that has
authority in a given unit— whether national, regional or
local—and the whole constitutional system. There are
many different forms of government, such as democracy,
autocracy and dictatorship. The first systematic study and
classification of the methods of government was probably
that undertaken by Aristotle, and since that time political
scientists have been involved in distinguishing the different
features of government and politics.
D. Political Science
As an academic discipline, Political science is a very old endeavor. Aristotle “considers it as the
‘queen of sciences.’ It is one of a number of titles for the academic study of politics and political
behaviour. Generally, it is the study of the Let Us Practice
nature, distribution, and dynamics of power, Identify your role model political leader. He/she may be serving at barangay, city, or national level.
usually at the national or international level, Write words or phrases that describes him/her as a politician and his/her governance.
but sometimes at a very ‘micro’ level. The Write the As a Politician Description of her Governance
techniques of the discipline range from highly name of your For example: Very much concern of the welfare For example: Very strict in the implementation
model of her constituents of city ordinances
mathematical and statistical analyses of political
objective data (most commonly found in leader here.
political sociology), via rather journalistic
descriptive accounts of political institutions, or
almost ethnographical accounts of foreign
political cultures, to logical and conceptual
analysis of political morality” (Robertson, 2002, p. 388- 389). Let Us Practice More
Agree or Disagree: On the statements below, draw thumbs up if you agree and thumbs down if
you disagree.
No Statements Agree or disagree
Relevance and Relationship or Comparison of Politics and Political Science
1 A perfect government is achievable.
A. Relevance of Politics and Political Science
2 The issue on the Scarborough Shoal is a political issue.
Roskin, et.al (2017) identifies some importance of political science. First, it is a method of how to
3 Political leaders must be a degree holder.
study Politics. Though, it is not similar to politics. Second, it is not necessarily training to become
4 Political Science is necessary to become a good political leader.
a practicing politician. Yet, it is to educate the learner in a calm and objective analysis of politics,
5 Political scientists are effective political leaders.
which may or may not aid working politicians (p.8). Third, as Aristotle defines political science as
6 The high percentage of teenage pregnancy is a political issue.
‘the master science,’ it means almost everything happens in a political context, that the decisions
of the polis (the Greek city-state and root of our words polite, police, and politics) governed most 7 SARS COV 2 Virus is a political problem.
other things. Fourth, political scientists may opt to become like natural scientists; they quantify 8 A good leader must have a political will.
data and manipulate them statistically to validate hypotheses. Their works have to be scholarly, 9 Government projects should be stopped in order to give financial aid to the
retrenched employees due to COVID-19 pandemic.
which should be reasoned, balanced, supported with evidence, and a bit theoretical. Fifth,
10 ABS-CBN Franchise is a political issue.
Political science can contribute to good government, often by warning those in office that all is
not well (pp. 9-13).
Let Us Remember
B. Relationship or Comparison of Politicians and Political Scientists (according to Roskin (2017), Complete the paragraphs with appropriate word or phrase.
et.al)
Politics as the best method of (1) ________________ is to study things in the process of
(2) ________________ from the beginning. Aristotle also called man (woman) as a (3)
_________________. If and only if, he/she prioritizes the divine order (divine perfection) as the
model of the polis or the (4)______________. However, it is not always be the case that political
players consider the divine perfection as the best example of a (5)__________________.

Some people may consider politics as dirty and distasteful. Either it is the cause of corruption and
immorality or development and morality, political scientists have to endure the political scenario
and like the subject matter that being studied. According to Harold D. Lasswell in his book
entitled: Politics: Who Gets What, When, How, ‘the study of politics is the study of influence and
the influential. The science of politics states conditions; the philosophy of politics justifies
preference” (Merelman, 1981, p. 471).
(6)_____________ is everywhere and everybody’s concern. It happens in the workplace,
in families, and even in the classroom. It is the ongoing (7)____________________between
people, usually in groups, to shape policy in their favor. Politics encompasses the politics of
(8)_______________, it can also encompass the (9)________________ in other contexts.
Government is used to describe both the body that has (10) ________in a given unit—
whether (11) _______________, regional or local—and the whole constitutional system. There
are many different forms of government, such as (12) ___________________, autocracy and
dictatorship.
Political science is the study of the nature, (13) _______________ and (14)
_______________ of power, usually at the national or international level, but sometimes at a
very ‘micro’ level. Political science is one of the (15) _____________________that has been
revolutionized by the epochal advances that have been made in recent years in the study of
human personality.
A. autocracy C. dictatorship
B. democracy D. oligarchy
9. What makes political science not necessarily in training for politician?
A. All political scientists, who are trained to analyze politics, are not politicians.
B. All political scientists, who are not trained to analyze politics, are not politicians.
C. Most political scientists, who are trained to analyze politics, are not politicians.
D. Most political scientists, who are not trained to analyze politics, are not politicians.

Let Us Assess 10. What is the key concept which encompasses the politics of government?
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate A. politics C. political power
sheet of paper. B. governance D. political science
1. It is a social science that has been revolutionized by the epochal advances.
A. Natural science C. Political science 11. Which of the following statement is true of politicians as opposed to political scientists?
B. Physical Science D. Social science A. They hold firm views. C. They reach tentative conclusions
B. They offer many causes. D. They see long-term consequences.
2. The following statements describe politicians as opposed to political scientists, EXCEPT:
A. They love power. C. They seek popularity. 12. Why does Aristotle define political science as ‘the master science’?
B. They seek accuracy. D. They think practicality. A. It means everything happens in a political context.
B. It means everything does not happen in a political context.
3. The following are definitions of political will, EXCEPT: C. It means almost everything happens in a political context.
A. It is the ability of one person to get another to do something. D. It means almost everything does not happen in a political context.
B. It is regulating people to follow through love, sharing, and understanding.
C. It involves society’s commitment to support or to modify old programs to develop new programs. 13. Which of the following statement is true of Political scientists as opposed to politicians?
D. It involves coercing people to do something against the law. A. They seek accuracy. C. They seek professional prestige.
B. They seek popularity. D. They seek the good of the whole.
4. It is the study of the nature, distribution, and dynamics of power.
A. Natural science C. Political science 14. Which of the following is related to politics?
B. Physical Science D. Social science A. deciding the amount of tax to pay C. determining the right age to vote
B. choosing ones religion D. establishing foreign relations
5. The following statements describe political scientists as opposed to politicians, EXCEPT:
A. They think abstractly. C. They offer many causes 15. Why is politics everybody’s concern?
B. They think concretely. D. They reach to tentative conclusions. A. It happens in the workplace, homes and in the classroom.
B. It happens only in the workplace, homes and in the classroom.
6. It is described as both the body that has authority in a given unit. C. It happens mostly in the workplace, homes and in the classroom.
A. governor C. government D. It does not happen in the workplace, homes and in the classroom.
B. governance D. governatorial

7. It is the ability of one person to get another to do something.

A. political will C. political machinery
B. political power D. political advancement

8. The following are the different forms of government, EXCEPT:

Let Us Enhance
Modified True or False: Identify the following statements whether it is correct or wrong. Write
TRUE if it is correct. If it is not correct, CHANGE the underlined to make it true. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.
No. Statements Answers
1 Plato said that man by nature is a political animal.
2 Politics is relevant within a society to maintain peace and order.
3 Government can encompass the political dynamics in other contexts.
4 The study of political science can be empowering to the leaders of the country.
5 Only government officials have the right to study politics.
6 Politics is defined as the activity that influences an individual or a group of people.
7 Aristotle defined political science as the study of people.
8 The study of politics involves a complex process of qualitative and qualitative
interpretations based on available data.
9 Authority is central concept in political science.
10 Political science is the study of power and government systems.

Let Us Reflect
Being a politician: Suppose you are a municipal or town Mayor. You discovered that corruption is
rampant among the local officials who are members of your political party. With the directives of
President of the country to minimize corruption, what will you do? Enumerate your plans.