SSE 14 COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS COMPARING THE PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR SOCIAL

CONTRACT
POLITICS
According to their philosophies how should a
 the activities of the government, members of
government operates Relationship of people and the
law making organizations, or people who try to
government
influence the way a country is governed.
 the process by which communities pursue
collective goals.
 is part of our fate; we have no choice but to
practice it
 Essential to human activity
 Is the activity by which groups reach binding
collective decisions through attempting to
TERMS TO UNDERSTAND
reconcile differences among their members.
 GOVERNMENT- Agency of the state, expressed,
formulated and carried out to live in a uniform
STATE
and harmonious society
 state is a form of human association
 POLITICAL POWER- Is the capacity to control or
distinguished from other social groups by its
influence actions by means of government
purpose, the establishment of order and
 POLITICAL STRUCTURE- Is a state or
security; its methods, the laws and their
government institutions that regulates the
enforcement; its territory, the area of
inherent power of the states and rights of the
jurisdiction or geographic boundaries; and
individual
finally, by its sovereignty.
 POLITICS- Is all about distribution of power by
 Is a community of persons, more or less
means of government
numbers permanently occupying a definite
 STATE- Is all about distribution of power by
portion of territory, having government of their
means of government
own & enjoying freedom from external control.
 POWER- Means the ability of an individual to
influence others and control their actions
ELEMENTS OF STATE
 AUTHORITY- It is a formal right, given to high
1. PEOPLE
officials
2. GOVERNMENT
3. TERRITORY
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POWER AND
4. SOVEREIGNTY
AUTHORITY
Power refers to the ability or potential for an individual
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATION & STATE
to influence others and control their behavior. Authority
Nation is an ethnic group, with shared characteristics
refers to the legal and formal right to give commands
like language and culture, which makes a political claim
and make decisions.
for national self-determination. A state is a humanly
devised structure that exists to support and protect the TYPES OF AUTHORITY
nation's interests.
TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF POLITICS A
COUNTRY WILL NOT IMPROVE OR DEVELOP  Legitimate power is conferred by custom and
accepted practice.
 Example, A King or Queen is accepted as ruler of
a nation simply by virtue of inheriting the
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A
crown.
GOVERNMENT IN THE SOCIETY?
RATIONAL-LEGAL AUTHORITY
The purpose of government is to provide essential
services, fulfill the fundamental duties of safety,  Leaders derive their authority from the written
prosperity, and justice, ensure the rights of each human rules and regulatiosn of political systems, such
and protect the country so that its citizens, businesses, as constitution
and organizations have the ability the pursue happiness,  Constitution gives Congress authority to make
live a healthy life, and chase opportunities. laws, President the authority to enforce laws
and politicies, and Judiciary to interpret laws.
 CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY

 Authority is derived more from beliefs of

followers.
 Example, Leaders perceive a charismatic leader
such as Gandhi, Joan of Arc Malcolm X, and
Martin Luther King Jr.

BY STUDYING COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT &

POLITICS WE WILL KNOW ;

 when a country or political leader has been

successful?
 What might be the advantages and
disadvantages of extending sovereignty to other
nations?
 What is the greatest threat to worldwide peace?
 What are the elements of a good government?
 Which is a better model of the power structure
in the Philippines
 What makes Philippines a democratic country?
POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY- study the relationship between
WHY THERE IS A NEED TO COMPARE DIFFERENT
social identity and political behaviour, and how political
STATERS?
power is distributed among social groups.
1. It enables us to find out more about the places we
GOVERNMENT- Is an agency through the will of the
know least about.
state is formulated, expressed and carried out.
a) Ability to interpret overseas event grows in
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
importance as the world becomes more
interdependent. 1. AS TO NUMBER OF PERSON EXERCISING SOVEREIGN
b) Understanding foreign governments. POWERS:

2. It improves our classifications of politics.
a) We can search for the factors which incline
countries to one form rather than the other.
3. Seek to understand a variety of political systems not
just for its own sake but also to formulate and test
hypotheses about politics.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN COLLECTING
INFORMATION
1. Access to data is sometimes simply forbidden
2. Data are difficult to gather because sometimes they
are difficult to measure.
3. Information is difficult to gather because many events
seem to be unique and comparative analysis appears
consequently inappropriate.
SELECTION BIAS
Selection bias arises when the choice of
 WHAT TO STUDY
 HOW TO STUDY IT
Produces unrepresentative results. The risk inheres in
any study covering only a few countries.
EX. We choose to study those countries which speak the
same language, have good exchanges with us and which
we feel safe.
As a result, large, powerful countries are studied more
intensively than small, powerless ones.
a. MONARCHY- one in which the supreme and
final authority is in the hands of a single person.
MONARCHIES ARE FURTHER CLASSIFIED INTO:
i. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY- or one in which the
rules ruled by divine right;
Ex. Brunei- sultan Saudi Arabia- King Vatican- Pope
ii. LIMTED MONARCHY- or one in which the ruler
rules in accordance with a constitution;
Ex. Spain- “the crown”/ king or queen
b. DEMOCRACY- one in which political power is
exercised by a majority of the people.
DEMOCRACY ARE FURTHER CLASSIFIED INTO:
I. DIRECT/ PURE DEMOCRACY- the will of the
state is formulated/expressed directly through
the people in a mass meeting.
II. INDIRECT, REPRESENTATIVE, OR REPUBLICAN
DEMOCRACT- the will of the state is expressed
through the agency and select a representatives
to act for them.
2. AS TO EXTENT OF POWERS EXERCISED BY THE
CENTRAL OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT:
A. UNITARY GOVERNMENT- the control of local
and national affairs is exercised by the central or
national government.
DECENTRALIZATION- the transfer of control of
an activity or organization to several local
offices or authorities rather than one single
one.
B. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT- the power of the
government are divided between two sets of
 organs (national & local affairs) and each organ
being supreme within its own sphere.

3. AS TO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE

AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF THE
GOVERNMENT:

A. PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT- which the state

confers upon the legislature the power to terminate
the tenure of office of the real executive.

B. PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT- which the state

makes the executive constitutionally independent of
the legislatures.

PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS

CHECK AND BALANCE

TYPES OF REGIMES
COMMUNISM-are characterized by:
 State ownership and central direction over
the means of production, opportunities,
housing, education, recreation and all other
parts of civil and social life.
 Very limited personal freedom
 Tightly controlled avenues for political
participation.
 Extensive attempts to equalize the
distribution of income and employment.
FASCISM- are corporatist
 Private economic activity nominally in private
hands but heavily influenced by the state.
 Popular representation is achieved through
sponsored organization.
 Personal and political liberty is severely
restricted.