THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

● Constitution (Art. VIII, sec. 1)

- The judicial power rests with the Supreme Court and the lower courts, as
established by law.
● Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice
- to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable
and enforceable
- to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or
instrumentality of the Government
● Tabajen and Pulma (2016), “It is the power to apply the laws to contests or disputes
concerning legally recognized rights and duties between the state and private
persons, or to individual litigants in cases properly brought before judicial tribunal."
● interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws
violate the Constitution
● Wikipedia, "it is a non-judicial body which can interpret law. It is an entity such as an
arbitrator or tribunal board, generally of a public administrative agency, which has
powers and procedures resembling those of a court of law or judge, and which is
obliged to objectively determine facts and draw conclusions from them so as to
provide the basis of an official action. Such actions are able to remedy a situation or
impose legal penalties, and they may affect the legal rights, duties or pri of specific
parties."

SCOPE OF JUDICIAL POWER

● Adjudicating Power
- power to settle legal disputes
● Power of Judicial Review
- refers to the power of the Supreme Court to interpret and make judgments
with respect to the law
● Incidental Powers
- powers necessary for the discharge of the judicial functions

KIND OF COURTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

● Supreme Court
- The highest court in the land
● Regular Courts
- Court of Appeals, Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal
Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
● Quasi-Judicial Bodies
- NLRC, SEC, etc)

SPECIAL COURTS
● Court of Tax Appeal
 - has exclusive jurisdiction over tax appealed by private citizens and
commercial firms who protect the amount of taxes imposed
● Sandiganbayan
- decides cases involving graft and corruption by government employees
● Ombudsman
- investigates cases of graft and corruption
- Tanodbayan
● Shari'a Courts
- Islamic regions and provinces
- to interpret and apply the Code of Muslim Personal Laws with Shari'a Circuit
Courts (SCCs) and the Shari'a District Courts (SDCs), at the same level as the
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTCs) and Regional Trial Courts (RTCs),
respectively
● The Supreme Court
- the highest court in the land
- Appointed by President
- 14 associates justices and 1 chief justice
- the final arbiter of controversies and disputes brought to the courts of law
- Art. VIII Section 5 of the Constitution enumerated the following petitions for
certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus powers
of the Supreme Court.
(1) Exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other
public ministers
(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law
or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts

⚫
in cases of:
constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive
agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction,

⚫
ordinance, or regulation is in question
legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty

⚫
imposed in relation thereto

⚫
jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue

⚫
penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher
only an error or question of law is involved
(3) Assign temporary judges of lower courts to other stations as public
interest may require.
(4) Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
(5) Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of
constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the
admission to the practice of law, the integrated bar, and legal assistance to
the underprivileged.
(6) Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the
Civil Service Law. Section 6 also emphasized that the Supreme Court shall
have administrative supervision of all courts and their personnel.

Certiorari
 - individual action
- a writ issued by a superior court requiring a lower court or a board of officer
exercising judicial function to transmit the records of a case to the higher
tribunal for purposes of review
Prohibition
- written order by which a superior court commands a lower court or a
corporation, board, or a person to desist from further proceedings in action
Mandamus
- order issued by a high court commanding a lower court or a corporation
board, or person to perform a certain act, which is its duty to do
- orders a compliance or performance of an act
Quo warranto
- action by the government to recover an office or franchise from an individual
or corporation usurping or unlawfully holding it
Writ of Habeas Corpus
- a law stating that an individual cannot be imprisoned or held in custody inside
a prison cell unless he/she has first been brought before a court of law
- decides whether or not it is legal for the person to be kept in prison
● Court of Appeals
- second highest
- 68 associate justices

QUALIFICATIONS
● Member of Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals
✓ Natural born citizen of the Philippines
✓ At least 40 years old
✓ Atleast 15 years or more as a judge of a lower court
✓ Atleast 15 years of law practice in the Philippines
✓ Must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence

● Members of the Sandiganbayan

✓ Natural born citizen of the Philippines
✓ At least 40 years old
✓ Atleast 10 years s a judge of a court
✓ At Least 10 years of law practice in the Philippines
✓ At least 10 years holding an office requiring admission to the bar as a prerequisite
constitution
✓ A member of the Philippine Bar
✓ Must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence

APPOINTMENT TO THE JUDICIARY

By virtue of Article VIII, Section 8, appointments to the judiciary are made by the President
of the Philippines based on a list submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council which is under
the supervision of the Supreme Court. Its principal function is to screen prospective
appointees to any judicial post. It is composed of the chief justice as ex-officio chairman,
the Secretary of Justice and representatives of Congress as ex-officio members, and a
representative of the Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a retired member of the Supreme
Court and a representative of the private sector as members.

TENURE OF OFFICE
● Members of the Supreme Court (SC) and judges of the lower courts shall enjoy their
office during good behavior
● Members of the SC shall enjoy the position until they are removed in the long and
complicated process of impeachment
● Hold office until they reached 70 years or become incapacitated
● Until dismissed by members of the SC for a probable cause

RENDERING COURT DECISIONS

→ Once a decision is reached, a Supreme Court (SC) Justice is assigned to write an opinion
→ The opinion is certified by the Chief Justice and served on the parties concerned
→ Dissension and abstentions must be explained
→ The view must explain facts of law
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT
● encompasses provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays
● Local Government Units (LGUs)
● concept of decentralization
- local sectors of government are given powers and adequate support by the
national government in managing their local affairs
- transfer of power and authority from central institution to lower or local levels
of a government system
- THREE FORMS OF DECENTRALIZATION
Devolution
- transfer of power and authority from the national government to
government units (LGUS)
- seen as political and territorial
Deconcentration
- the transfer of power, authority or responsibility or the discretion to
plan, decide and manage from central to local levels; administrative
and sectoral
Debureaucratization
- transfer of some public functions and responsibilities, which
government may perform, to private entities or non-government
organizations (NGOs)

● The LGUS are given a portion of the national budget but are also authorized to
identify sources of revenue through local taxes and other sources of income.
● have local councils (legislative body) - creates laws that comply with national laws
● Article X of the 1987 Constitution
- the national government should also grant Local Autonomy to the local
government
● Local Government Code of 1991
- primary bases for the organization and administration of local government
units in the country
- outlines the means by which a local government unit is identified and
organized, as well as provisions for law enforcement, local taxation, fiscal
management, and coordination with the national government
● The LGUs are subject to supervision by the President, through the Department of
Interior and Local Government. ( DILG).
● The DILG also assists LGUs in terms of law enforcement, legislation, and recovery
from calamities.
● Tabajen and Pulma (2016) - "self- governing"
● granting of more powers, authority, responsibilities and resources by the national
government to local government units in order to be self-reliant and active partners

BARANGAY GOVERNMENT
● basic unit of local government in the Philippines
● where governance directly relates to the concerns of citizens and communities
 ● government programs and policies are applied and directly impact the lives of
citizens
● forum where citizens are able to directly express their opinions and give suggestions
to public officials
● must have a population of 2000 pesos
● activities such as the implementation dispute settlements
● serves as the executive, legislative, and arbitration body of the barangay
● PUNONG BARANGAY
- chief executive
- enforcement of laws and ordinances
- maintaining peace and order
- supervising the planning of barangay annual and other financial concerns
- leading meetings with the other members of the Barangay Government
● BARANGAY SECRETARY
- keeps and updates the records of the meetings of the barangay gov’t
● BARANGAY TREASURER
- releases and keeps track of the barangay’s government funds
● SANGGUNIANG BARANGAY
- legislative council - composed of 7 members
- formulations and passage of ordinances and budget plans
- establishing and promoting barangay cooperatives
- organizing lectures on literacy and health
- authorizing the Punong Barangay to sign contracts on behalf of Barangay
● LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA
- Lupon - serves as the dispute settlement and conciliation body of the
barangay
- Composed of 10-20 members led by the Punong Barangay
- address some legal issues in cases brought before them
- forwards cases where conciliation has failed to the appropriate courts
● SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
- youth council of the barangay
- conducts program aimed at promoting the welfare of the youth
- composed of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and seven Council Members

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
● Bayan
● collection of barangays
● must earn an average annual income of 2,500, 000 pesos for at least 2 years
● a population of at least 25, 000
● must have a territory with adjacent lands of at least 50 square kilometers
● MUNICIPAL MAYOR
- chief executive of the municipal gov’t
- primarily in charge of the implementation of government policies and
programs within his/her jurisdictions
- promulgation and enforcement of laws within the jurisdiction
- appointing officials to the municipal government
 - planning the budget proposal of the government
- visiting the constituent barangays of the municipality every 6 months
● MUNICIPAL VICE-MAYOR
- second highest official
- replace the Mayor should latter vacate the position
- presiding officer of the legislative body of the municipal gov’t
● SANGGUNIANG BAYAN
- tasked with the formulation of ordinances in the Municipality
- approval of proposed budgets for gov’t projects
- evaluate the ordinances approved by the Sangguniang Barangay
- determines if these are in line with the powers and responsibilities of the
Barangay Government
● MUNICIPAL TREASURER
● MUNICIPAL BUDGET OFFICER
● MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
- responsible for the other tasks related to the administration of municipality

CITY GOVERNMENT
● made up of group of barangays
● distinguished by a higher rate of economic growth and a larger population and
territory
● must have an average annual income of 20,000,000 pesos for at least two years
● a territory with adjacent lands at least 100 sq. kilometers
● must have a population of at least 150, 000
● categorized as component city (cc), independent component city (ICC), highly
urbanized city (HUC)
● COMPONENT CITY
- considered part of a province
- elected provincial officials
- Legazpi City, Isabela City
● INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITY
- administratively independent from the province
- does not elect provincial officials
- Naga City and Ormoc City
● HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY
- independent city
- has a bigger population (at least 200,000)
- has an income (50,000,000 pesos for a year)
- Metro Manila, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City
● CITY MAYOR
- head of the city gov’t
- doesn’t prepare the budget for projects of the city gov’t
● VICE MAYOR
- second highest official
- presides over the legislative body
● SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD
 - composed of councilors, representatives from the youth

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
● local gov’t unit comprised of municipalities and cities
● must have an average annual income of 20,000,000 pesos
● must have a territory with adjacent lands at least 2,000 sq. kilometers\
● must have a population of at least 250,000
● GOVERNOR
- chief executive of the province
- monitor the admin. of component cities and municipalities in the province
- ensure the implementation of laws and ordinances
- create provisions for public service
- directs the formulation of provincial development plans and implements them
● VICE-GOVERNOR
- assists the Governor
- presiding officer of the provincial legislative body
● SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN
● PROVINCIAL TREASURER
● HEALTH OFFICER
● PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
- assist the Governor in administering the province and implementing policies
and development programs

REGIONALIZATION
● Regions
- country is divided into administrative units
- composed of provinces that share common territory
● intended to promote growth and development throughout the country by identifying
significant concerns and problems within each region
● formulating development plans that address them
● do not have separate local gov’t units
● REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS
- oversees economic planning and the implementation of development
program
● REGIONAL AUTONOMY
- entitled to a certain degree of political integration
- development policies and project address their distinct need
- conform to the particular culture of the region
- exercise certain gov’t powers
(1) organizing their own administrative bodies
(2) managing their funds, ancestral domain, natural resources
(3) developing their tourism, educational policies
- doesn’t correspond to the total ind. from the state
- under the authority of the Phil. Nat’l Gov’t
● CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR)
- established in 1987
 - composed of provinces located
- administrative region
- doesn’t have its own regional gov’t yet
● AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM)
- led by the regional governor and vice-governor
(1) performs tasks similar to those heads of other local
- supported by the ARMM Cabinet
(1) pertain to safety and security
(2) maintenance of the records of the regional gov’t office
(3) counterpart of the Nat’l Cabinet
Executive Council
- advises the governor regional governances
- approves projects to be implemented
- composed of Vice-Gov. and three dev. Govs representing Muslims and
Christians
Legislative (Reg. Legis. Assembly)
- enacts the law to be implemented
- approves the application of the ARMM Cabinet Members
- evaluates budget proposal sub. by the government.
BBL
- product of dialogues between nat’l gov’t and rebel group
- aims to convert the ARMM to the BAR
- grants powers to the regional gov’t - exercising powers of the nat’l
gov’t
 SUFFRAGE, ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES

SUFFRAGE
right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the election of public officers
the right to vote in a political election
often conceived in terms of elections for representatives
applies equally to referenda and initiatives
“practical question of whether a question will be put to a vote"
Article 2 Section 1 (1987 Philippine Constitution) - "Suffrage may be exercised by all
citizens of the Philippines, not otherwise, disqualified by the law who are at least
eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one
year and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months
immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive
requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage."

Views on Suffrage
1. A mere privilege - a privilege to be given or withheld by the law
2. A political right- enables a citizen to participate in the process of government

Scope of Suffrage
1. Election means by which people choose their officials
2. Plebiscite- vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law
submitted to them
3. Referendum - submission of a law passed by the legislative body to the people for their
ratification or rejection
4. Initiative - a method in which people directly propose and enact laws
5. Recall a method - an elective local official may be removed from office during his tenure
Age Qualification
Human beings have the maturity, experience, education and sense of judgment that will
enable them to vote with a reasonable degree of intelligence.

Residence Qualification
- a person can familiarize himself with the needs and conditions and the personalities
of the nation and locality
-
Persons Disqualified to Vote
- Those who have been sentenced to suffer imprisonment for not less than 1 year
- Those who committed any crime involving disloyalty to the government such as
rebellion and sedition
- Those declared as insane or incompetent person
-
Sec. 2 Art. 2 (1987 Constitution)
"The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as
well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad. The Dr 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."

Secrecy and sanctity of the ballot

- to ensure that the voters shall exercise their right freely
- to secure a fair and honest count of the ballots

Absentee Voting System

Filipinos who, by force of circumstances, temporarily work and reside abroad but maintain
their love and loyalty to their native land are still part of our Republic; they are also affected
by the quality of public officials and policies of the government.

Election
➤ a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to
hold public office
➤ usually used in Democratic nations - elected officials are accountable to the people, and
they must return to the voters at prescribed intervals to seek their mandate to continue in
office
➤ Under the Constitution, elections for the members of Congress and local positions
(except barangay officials) occur every second Monday of May every third year after May
1992, and presidential and vice-presidential elections occur every second Monday of May
every sixth year after May 1992.
➤ Majoritarian/Plurality - type of an electoral system provided by the 1987 Constitution
- the country’s national and local elective officials win thru a plurality
of votes

Electoral System
➤ A set of rules and regulations governing the voting process.
➤ A vital pillar of democracy-shapes the nature of representation in any system of
government
-structure the arena of political competition
➤ far-reaching implications to governance have been recognized
➤ transforms the votes cast in elections into seats won by parties and candidates
➤ has an influence on the way district boundaries are drawn, how voters are registered, the
design of ballot papers, and how votes are counted, etc.
➤ type of party system that develops (relative sizes of political parties in parliament) which
heavily influenced by the choice of electoral system

Party System (Tabajen and Pulma, 2016)

➤ referred to as the interactions of parties with each other
➤not equated to parties
➤seen as macro perspective whereas parties are micro perspective just focusing on the
particular party
➤the life of a political system depends upon the kind of party system it has
➤describes a relatively sound system of political party and voter alignments, electoral rules,
and policy priorities that dominate a Democratic political system's electoral process for
some delimited period

Classification of Party System

1. The two-party system - the major alternate with each other in the exercise of political
power
2. The multi-party system - more than two political parties fight in an election
- no single party gets the majority control of power
➤ Pluriform Multi-party System - The Philippine politics takes place in an organized
framework of a presidential election.
3. The one-party system - only one political party holds power either because or because it
suppresses all other groups

Political Party
➤ seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy
become public policy
➤ aims to attain and maintain political power within government, usually by participating in
electoral campaigns
➤ mobilize voters on behalf of a joint set of interests, concerns and goals
➤ any aggrupation of persons who come together on how well the best interest of the
people might be served
➤ any group providing label upon which candidates run for public offices

Party Functions
➤ Organize the Competition - exist primarily as an organizing mechanism to win elections
- gains control of the government
➤ Unify the Electorate
- helps unify the electorate and moderate conflict, at least within the party
- have a strong incentive to fight out their internal differences but come together to
take on the opposition

➤ Inspire and Inform Voters.

➤ Translate Preferences into Policy
The European model of party government - responsible party system
- assumes that parties discipline their members through their control over
nominations and campaigns
➤ Provide Loyal Opposition
- the party out of power carefully monitors and comments on the actions of the party
in power, providing accountability
- When national security is at issue or the country is under attack, parties restrain their
criticism
➤ Organize Government - Congress is organized along party lines
➤ Help Govern - Political parties serve as checks and balances in governance
- Act as Watchdogs
- vigilant in every government activity
➤ Nominate Candidates - provides best leaders to choose from to hold elective positions
➤ Ensure Candidate Quality.

Functions that political parties must perform (Heywood, 2002)

1. Representation
- the capacity to respond and to articulate the views of both members and voters
2. Elite Formation and Recruitment
- the ability to mold the political elite tasked to govern the body politic
3. Goal Formulation
- the development of programs of government with a view of attracting popular
support
4. Interest Articulation and Aggregation
- the task of combining and harmonizing different demands
- expressing them into coherent policy formulation
5. Socialization and Mobilization
- the formation of a national agenda and the creation of public discourse to raise
political awareness
- build the necessary values and attitudes that would constitute a larger political
culture
 CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Concept of Civil Society
● defined by the United Nations (UN) as the "third sector" of society, along with
government and business
● comprises organizations and non- governmental organizations
● advances the organization's ideals, and helps support its work, the UN recognizes the
importance of partnering with civil society
● seen as a social sphere separated from both the state and the market
● reports that the increasingly accepted understanding of the term civil society
organizations (CSOs) is that of non-state, not- for-profit, voluntary organizations
formed by people in that social sphere
● a broad range of organizations, networks, associations, groups and movements that
are independent of government and that sometimes come together to advance their
common interests through collective action
● community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity
● can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and
business, and including the family and the private sphere
● "web of human relationships made of individual people, their networks, organizations,
and in situations around which social community life is built. It is dynamic, adaptive,
at times nebulous, at times well structured, though much of it is informal." (Lederach,
2001).
● national and formal structures of official political governance
● NGOs, and non-profit organizations, advocacy networks, public policy networks and
religious organizations, charities, development NGOs, community groups, women's
organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions,
social movements, coalitions and advocacy groups.
● Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) include NGOs, trade unions, faith-based
organizations, indigenous
● covers all institutions and groups engaging each other in the democratization
process, e.g., the Church, business groups among others
● The Third World Studies Center (1997), the civil society has demonstrated their
potential as independent power centers and agents of change
● Civil Society (Krut, 1997) - crucial to democratization because it enables and widens
participation, protects citizens from the abuse of state power, and guarantees the
political accountability of the state
● a protector and guardian, change- advocate and dispenser and generator of social
wealth and welfare
● Society prevents the state from abusing its powers and at the same time prods it to
do better by being accountable and transparent (Putnam).
● Further, a vibrant civil society leads to better government.
● David (1997) - civil society aims to transform unequal power relations in six spheres:
country and class; sector and species; generation and gender.
● NGOS (Non-Governmental Organizations)
- non-profit making, non-violent organizations
- seek to influence the policy of government and international organizations
and to complement government services (such as health and education)
 - vary in size, scope of activity and goals
- may operate nationally or internationally.
● The Philippines is usually described as an active civil society type where thousands
of voluntary organizations addressing various concerns dot the country's socio
political landscape

Functions and Contributions of Civil Organizations in Peacebuilding

● Protection
● Monitoring
● Advocacy and public communication
● Social cohesion
● Intermediation and facilitation
● Service delivery
 CONCEPT OF CITIZENSHIP, ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND ITS IMPORTANCE
CITIZEN
● Tabajen and Pulma (2016), a member of a democratic community who enjoys full
civil and political rights and is accorded protection inside and outside territory of the
State
● may be regarded by all nations either born in their territories or born of their citizens,
or it could be both
CITIZENSHIP
● Citizenship indicates membership in a political society in which membership implies,
reciprocally, a duty of allegiance on the part of the members and duty of protection
on the part of the state

HOW CITIZENSHIP IS ACQUIRED

● Involuntary Method
- Membership in a nation is largely involuntary; that is most people initially
become citizens of a nation and subject to its rules without any deliberate
choice or conscious act. (Ranney, (1995) as cited by Tabajen and Pulma,
(2016))
- By birth because of blood relationship, meaning your parents are citizens of
the state (jus sanguinis) or place of birth, meaning you are born in that state
(jus soli)
● Voluntary Method
By naturalization
- an act of formally adopting a foreigner into the political body of the
state and clothing him with the rights and privileges of citizenship
- a voluntary method of acquiring citizenship renouncing his former
citizenship and embracing a new one

OBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENS
1. Loyalty or have a sense of patriotism
2. Obeys law
3. Participation in political processes

CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES

1. Those who are citizens at the time of the adoption of the 1987 Constitution.
2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines.
3. Those born on January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers who elect Philippine citizenship
upon reaching the age of maturity.
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law

● Natural-Born Citizens
- those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform
any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship
Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens/foreigners shall retain their citizenship unless
by their act or omission they are deemed, under law, to have renounced it.
 ● Dual Citizenship
- a situation in which a person simultaneously owes, by some positive act,
loyalty to two or more states
- arises because our laws cannot control the laws of other countries on
citizenship

ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
● refers to a philosophy espoused by organizations and educational institutions which
advocates that members of charitable organizations, companies or nation-states
have certain roles and responsibilities to society and the environment, although those
members may not have specific governing roles
● articulation of the debate over rights versus responsibilities.
● If a body gives rights to the people under its remit, then those same people might
have certain responsibilities to uphold.
● one who fulfills both their rights and responsibilities in a balanced way
● combination of rights and obligations that link individuals to the state, including
paying taxes, obeying laws, and exercising the full range of political, civil, and social
rights
● Active citizens use those rights to improve the quality of political or civic life, through
involvement in the formal economy or formal politics, or through the sort of collective
action that historically has allowed poor and excluded groups to make their voices
heard
● a "concept that covers both the rights and responsibilities of citizens
● include participation and belonging to a caring community
● advocates urge people to pursue the public good above the narrower interests of
their private lives
● encourage people to be more involved in their neighborhoods, their social groups and
the global community to change the world for the better
● citizens taking opportunities to become actively involved in defining and tackling the
problems of their communities and improving their quality of life
● someone who cares about their community enough to change it
● a person who is involved in the community

IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

(1) A face-to-face meeting with neighbors can create a sense of community and
belonging. As Vancouver community activist Charles Dobson wrote, "A culture that
promotes privacy is good for business, but it's not good for people." Involvement in
community can also reduce loneliness and social isolation.
(2) By working in groups, people can solve problems that might have otherwise
overwhelmed them individually. As well, local residents can appreciate neighborhood
needs better than municipal government workers and bureaucrats.
(3) Some governments and nongovernmental organizations encourage civic
engagement by groups that are often under-represented in legislatures, such as the
poor, youth, women, immigrants and racial and sexual minorities.
(4) While active citizenship asks people to look at the greater good, there is also an
element of personal fulfillment.
Active citizenship allows for:
● Participation in the community
● Empowering people to influence the decisions which affect their lives
● Knowledge and understanding of the political, social, and economic context of their
participation so that they can make informed decisions
● Able to challenge existing structures
 Issues and Programs Related to Political Involvement and Youth Empowerment

The Concept of Political Involvement

● Political participation refers to voluntary activities undertaken by the mass public to
influence public policy, either directly or by affecting the selection of persons who
make policies.
● voting in elections, helping a political campaign, donating money to a candidate or
cause, contacting officials, petitioning, protesting, and working with other people on
issues
● a broad range of activities through which people develop and express their opinions
on the world and how it is governed, and try to take part in and shape the decisions
that affect their lives
● primarily expressed in choosing or voting for political leaders or government officials
and influencing government action, to a much wider understanding, such as citizens
involving themselves in making and implementing public policy through individual
and collective actions
● campaigning, establishing contacts with groups and institutions, mass actions and
protest
● enhanced through voter education, awareness of citizen's rights and responsibilities,
lobbying and advocacies
● aimed towards the development of more informed and empowered citizens

The Concept of Youth Empowerment

● a process where children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their
lives
● addressing their situation and then taking action in order to improve their access to
resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values, values,
and attitudes
● aims to improve quality of life
● an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability,
authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and
the lives of other people, including youth and adults
● It is also emphasized in en.wikipedia.org that there is a difference between youth
empowerment and youth development.
- Development is centered on developing individuals.
- Empowerment is focused on creating greater community change that relies
on the development of individual capacity.
-
Programs and Issues Related to Political Participation and Youth Empowerment Programs
on Youth Empowerment

● Youth empowerment is achieved through participation in youth empowerment

programs.
● often addressed as a gateway to intergenerational equity, civic engagement and
democracy building
 ● ACTIVITIES: youth-led media, youth rights, youth councils, youth activism, youth
involvement in community decision-making, and other methods
● a central tenet of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which
every country in the world has signed into law

Education and Awareness of Issues

● As emphasized by Joven (2017) the basic form of participation for citizens who are
not in their voting age yet, is education and awareness of issues.
● Education by itself is already a right and a duty for every citizen.
● It provides citizens the opportunities to become knowledgeable about their
government and society, have an awareness of the prevailing conditions that affect
them, and discuss important issues that are related to governance.
● In addition, according to him, education provides the necessary skills to engage in
more meaningful participation in government and become more productive, informed
and discerning citizens. It also helps them use their talents and abilities to uphold
their personal welfare, as well as address the needs of their community and their
country.
● Awareness of issues - knowing the basic facts related to them and weighing opinions
on them
● Engaging in discussion and having a balanced view on issues help citizens clarify
their personal views on them
● Views based on balanced and accurate information help citizens decide on the
proper course of action to take, thus enabling them to engage in the government
more effectively and contribute to addressing the issues and problems that affect the
country.
● A critical analysis of views requires examining facts and claims to determine their
truthfulness and validity.

Awareness of Rights and Responsibilities

● Citizens must be aware of their rights and responsibilities to be able to properly
promote and uphold them, wherever they may be.
● Awareness of rights and responsibilities - enables citizens to identify and address
instances of misuse and abuse of rights, as well as define the means by which they
can engage with the government and help achieve its goals

1987 Constitutional Commission

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,
nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be
inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause
to be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the
complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be
searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except
upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise, as
prescribed by law.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for
redress of grievances.

Active Participation in Political Causes

Citizens can also actively participate in politics and governance through the following:
1. Advocacies
- refers to the activities undertaken by individuals and groups that promote a certain
cause, in order to influence the decisions of the government regarding social,
economic, and political issues
2. Lobbying
- a political action where citizens and groups directly engage with legislators in an
attempt to influence policy making.
3. Mass Action
- refers to the collective behavior of large groups of people that may or may not require
planning or coordination among its participants
4. Social Action
- refers to mass actions that are directed towards a specific goal

Responsible Voting
● Voting, or the exercise of suffrage - basic and most common act of political
participation
● The right to choose the country's leaders and government officials requires citizens
to make careful and informed decisions, and to determine the possible effects of
their choices not only on their personal lives but also on their communities and the
nation in general.
● Voters must be aware of prevailing social and political issues so they can evaluate
the specific platforms of political candidates.
● They must elect candidates who embody and uphold democratic ideals, and whose
plan of action or platform is the most attainable and beneficial to the state.
● One means to determine the "perfect candidate" during elections is scrutinizing his
or her background and track record.
● He or she must have a clean record of service.
● He/she must possess the required experience and must exhibit administrative
capability.
● Citizens must also keep themselves informed of issues and developments during the
campaign period by watching the news and attending political debates and forums.
● This will serve as an additional means for voters to evaluate candidates and
determine who will be the most effective leaders of the country.
Combating Graft and Corruption
● Graft and corruption have significant effects on public services and infrastructure, as
the misuse of funds often results in substandard infrastructures and services, which
have detrimental effects on the citizens.
● Eliminating corruption in the government, therefore, will result in economic gains as
resources become more efficiently utilized and maximized to improve government
services.
● As citizens, we must take steps to continually call on our government to address
corruption and ensure that all public funds are utilized for the welfare of the people.

Empowering Various Sectors of Society

● Empowerment - act of granting citizens the authority to address the problems they
face, make sure that their rights are respected, and participate in government affairs
● As citizens we can help empower these sectors by directly participating in
government programs that address the various problems these sectors face and
threaten their empowerment.
● Moreover, we can also engage with organizations that work to solve social problems
and address the needs of these sectors.
● Information dissemination and advocacy is another effective means to raise
awareness about the plight of these sectors, and this is made easier through social
media and other forms of communication technology.
● Technology offers means for advocates to organize themselves, coordinate their
actions and projects, and engage with other organizations and institutions that can
help them contribute to the protection of the rights of their fellow citizens.
Empowering Women
- women are one sector which still faces several challenges to their
empowerment, some of these are domestic violence, low rate of participation
in the labor force, in politics and government.
- In order to address these issues and other challenges faced by women, the
Philippine Commission on Women was formed.
- The Magna Carta for women - protects the rights of women and mandates
the increased participation of women in the government as well as the police
force.
- The Department of Trades and Industries also provided livelihood projects for
women.
Persons with Disabilities
- According to the National Economic Development Authority, many of them
relied on self-generated jobs to gain income, and although they are literate,
most of them still lack the necessary assistive devices for reading and
writing, such as Braille boards and hearing aids.
- The government tried to address these problems by promulgating the Magna
Carta for Disabled Persons - intended to help the PWDs gain more access to
assistive facilities, as well as to grant the sector the power to take part in
formulating government projects that will benefit them
The Indigenous Peoples
 - have been subject to many abuses such as military violence, either being
killed or being displaced.
- Poverty is also an issue that confronts the IPs.
- Apart from poverty and violence, however, one of the most notable issues
confronting the indigenous communities is the violation of their rights to their
ancestral lands.
- It is believed that these ancestral lands are being sold to foreign corporations
without the consent of the indigenous communities.
- To respond to all of these challenges and to empower the IPs, the government
enacted the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) in 1997 - grants the
indigenous communities the power over their ancestral properties and their
right to self-determination.
Environmental Awareness and Action
- Environmental issues nowadays are among the most crucial social and
political issues that need attention.
- Stronger typhoons, massive floods, more devastating earthquakes,
widespread droughts and many other natural calamities are being
experienced all over the world.
- We, as citizens of the world, can help address these challenges by actively
participating in protecting, sustaining and restoring our environment.
- The most basic individual actions that we can do are responsible waste
disposal - and waste segregation - refers to throwing waste in the proper
garbage bins or receptacles