CHAPTER 1

INSTITUTIONS & SERVICES

LESSON 1: A Deeper Look into the

State and Government
1. As a citizen, do you really care about the
state?
2. Are you contributing something for its
benefit?
3. Are you aware of some functions of the
government?
 It is a community of persons, more or
less numerous, occupying a definite portion
of the earth’s surface, having its own
government, through which the inhabitants
render habitual obedience free from outside
control.
The four elements of the state -
people, territory, government, and
sovereignty
People
It is important that the community of
persons is composed both of males and
females for purposes of reproduction. It
is through reproduction that the state
can continue to exist. However, there is
no requirement as to the number of
people living in a territory for it is to be
classified as a state.
Territory
It should be fixed and bounded portion of
the earth’s surface. The inhabitants have the
responsibility to protect and conserve the
natural resources which are vital for people to
live.
Furthermore, the people must be able to
defend their state from invaders, and in doing
so, the use of force must be justified.
Our national territory “comprises the
Philippine archipelago, with all the islands
and waters embraced wherein and all other
areas over.
Our national territory “comprises the
Philippine archipelago, with all the islands
and waters embraced wherein and all other
areas over which the Philippines has
sovereignty and jurisdiction, including its
terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains,
consisting of seabed, the subsoil and other
submarine areas. The waters around,
between, and connecting the islands of
archipelago, regardless of their breadth and
dimensions, form part the internal waters of
the Philippines” (Article 1 1997 Constitution)
Government
It is the body where the people, through
their representatives, can express their
desire. This is where the laws to be
implemented in the country are enacted.
The people should follow the laws and
respect authority.
You must remember that a state cannot
exist without a government for it is a vital
ingredient of the state.
Sovereignty
It refers to the supreme power of the
state to rule itself without interference
from other states.
This means that the state is an
independent entity where people enjoy
freedom. A territory is not state if it is
not independent.
The Concept of Nation
Nation refers to the people who
have common origin, language, beliefs,
and customs. The people who are bound
together by such commonalities believe
that they are one. Unlike a state which is
a political concept, nation is an ethnic
concept because its focus is the people
and their cultural commonality and not
government and sovereignty.
Here are some theories that would explain the
origin of states:
1. Divine Theory – It holds that the state was
created by God for the people.
2. Social Contract Theory – It holds that the
people have agreed to establish the state for
their common benefit.
3. Force Theory – It holds that the state was
established through the use of force in
order the people to follow.
Significance of a Government
It is in the government that laws are made
and policies and programs for the state are
formulated. It is also the government, through
the Armed Forces, that protect the National
territory and the people from invaders and
lawless elements.
In the absence of government, there will
be no organized society. There would be no one
to enact the laws and see to it that they are
implemented accordingly.
Forms of
Forms ofGovernment
Government
Government is known as the entity that
Government is known as the entity that
manages the affairs of the state. But each state is
manages the affairs of a state. But each state is
managed differently as well; Meaning, a form of
managed differently as well;
system of government varies in a country.
1. Democracy
a. Direct Democracy – It means that the
power of government is exercised directly by the
people.
b. Indirect Democracy – The power of
government is exercised by the people through
their representatives.
Examples: Switzerland, U.S, France, etc.
This is evident in republican states such as the
Philippines, United States, and Canada. The
citizens (registered voters) elect their
representatives and the latter govern the entire
state.
2. Monarchy
a. Absolute Monarchy – The power of the
government is in the hands of a king; He is
the absolute ruler. Historically, a king arose
from the so-called royal family. The
succeeding kings should come from the same
bloodline.
Examples: Saudi Arabia, United Arab of Emirates, and
Brunei
 b. Limited Monarchy – Also known as
constitutional monarchy. The power of
government is based on what is written in the
Constitution. Most the existing monarchies of
today practice this form.
Examples: United Kingdom, Thailand, & Malaysia

3. Aristocracy/Oligarchy
The power of the government is in the hands
of the so-called the few privileged class where the
wealthiest individuals belong. They own sizeable
lands and other properties. They can have
economic and social control that translates into
political power.
Some may claim to be democratic but in fact, it
is apparent that the elites are the ones
dominating the political arena.

4. Dictatorial/Authoritarian
The power of the government is exercised
and controlled usually by a single person or a
small group of persons. In this kind of
government, people do not enjoyed the freedom
being enjoyed in democratic societies such as
freedom of expression, speech, press, and
religion.
Examples: The Marcos Regime in The
Philippines, Cuba under Fidel Castro
As to how legislative and executive powers are
exercised:
1. Presidential
The following are the characteristics of a
presidential form of government:
a. The head of the state and the government is
the president who is elected by the people.
b. The executive is independent from the
legislative. This means that neither can
encroach on the authority of the other.
c. The executive is directly accountable to the
people. It is the people, through legitimate
process, who can remove the president.
2. Parliamentary
a. The head of the government is the prime
minister who is chosen by the members of the
parliament.
b. The executive is not independent from the
legislative or parliament.
c. The executive is directly accountable to the
parliament. The parliament is in fact remove
and change the prime minister.
Note: There are parliamentary systems in which
there are both a prime minister and president. The
powers to be exercised by them would vary
depending on the laws of the state.
A View on The Philippine Government
Under Section 1 Article 2 of the 1987
Constitution, “The Philippines is a democratic
and a republican state. Sovereignty resides in
the people and all government authorities
emanate from them.” This means that it is the
people who choose their representatives,
through elections, and such, the power of the
government really comes from them. The said
power is not inherent to the president or to any
government official.
Three Major branches of government:
Legislative
 It’s function is to enact, amend, or repel a
law.
 It may exercised nonlegislative power that is
vested upon the Constitution.
 For example : to investigate in aid of
legislation, to decide electoral controversies
involving their members through the so-
called Electoral Tribunal, to confirm
appointments made by the president, and
such other powers provided for by the
Constitution.
 Here in the Philippines, we have a bicameral
congress, consisting of the Senate and the
House of Representatives.

 The Senates is composed of 24 senators,

headed by the Senate President, who is
chosen from among the senators themselves.

 The senators and the district representatives

are directly elected by the people.

 The party-list representatives are chosen by

the parties who got elected by the people.
 Executive

 Is the one in charge in the

administration of the of the laws of the
state.
 Ensure laws are implemented.
 Headed by the president who is directly
elected by the people. He/she is
assisted by the vice president, who is
also directly elected, and by the cabinet
members who are appointed by the
president.
 Judiciary
 The branch of government that interprets the
law.
 According to the 1987 Constitution, the judicial
power is vested upon the Supreme Court and
with the lower courts. The Supreme Court is
compose of the chief justice with 14 associate
justices.
 Other courts of the Philippines: The Court of
Appeals, Regional Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
Courts, Municipal Circuit Trail Courts.
 Courts that handle specific cases such as Court
of Tax appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Shar’ia
Courts.
 What is Meant by Legitimacy?
In a democratic country such as
Philippines, legitimacy connotes that the
authority of the government is recognized by
the people. Recognition is important especially
in democratic countries since the government
should always be in accordance with the will of
the people for they are the one who
established it. This is manifested when the
force of the power and how power is exercised
is based on the supreme law of land, the
Constitution.
 Obedience of the governed follows
once they have given their consent or
recognition to the government.
Absence of consent and obedience is
detrimental to the very existence of the
government and thereafter to the state as a
whole. When people in general do not obey,
there is a propensity that the government
will use force upon them to ensure
submission.
 In democratic countries like the Philippines,
legitimacy should extend to the group of people
managing the governmental affairs, that is, from
the president down to the lowest ranking of
official of the state. Their acts should be in
agreement with the authority vested upon them
by the laws of the land. Otherwise, their right to
govern can be contested and be removed from
them.
People may recourse to rebellion, coup
d’etat, people power, or other direct actions of
the people if the governments legitimacy is
questioned. This in turn would create political,
economic, and social turmoil to the state.
THE END