POLITICS AND

GOVERNANCE:
KEY CONCEPTS
What is Politics?
Politicsis both the art and
science of government
actions that create policies
or laws that affect citizens
like us.
What is Governance?
Governance focuses on the
actions and activities by
which the government
directly influences our lives.
THE DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
 IT
MEANS THAT POLITICIANS AND CITIZENS
INFLUENCE EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER IN
MAKING POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTING DECISIONS
THAT WILL BENEFIT THE SOCIETY.
 AS
CITIZENS, WE MUST KNOW AND BE AWARE OF
THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS AND ROLES OF
GOVERNMENT,AND THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES
THAT DEFINE OUR PARTICULAR TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL SYSTEM.
 POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

 Politics
is commonly defined as the process that
determines the distribution of power and resources.
 Political
science is a branch of social sciences that
deals with the study of the politics.
 Itdeals with the systems of the government and
the analysis of political activity, political behavior,
and political theories and practices.
 POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

 Political
Scientist are the people who devote their
academic careers to the study of political science.
 Politicalscientist measure the success of
governance and specific policies by examining
various factors such as social and political
stability, justice, material wealth, peace, and
public health.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

in an academic field, political science

has evolved into a discipline that has
developed the following branches:
Political theory, Comparative politics,
Public administration, International
relation, Public law and Political
methodologies
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political theory is concerned with the

study of ideas and contributions of a
classical thinkers such as Aristotle, Plato,
Cicero, and many others.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Comparative politics compares and

analyzes the various types of
constitutions, political actors, legislature
and associated fields among the
countries, as well as the single country
over a period of time.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Public administration is the study of

the implementation of government policy
and public service.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

International relation deals with the

political-economic interaction between
nation-states as well as
intergovernmental and transnational
organizations.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Public law is a field of law that

studies the relationship between
the government and citizens.
 FIELDS OF STUDY AND BRANCHES OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political methodology is a branch of

political science that uses quantitative
methods to describe and define political
phenomena.
 Key concepts in Political Science

State is defined as an organized

political community living under a
government.
It is composed of the following
elements: population, territory,
government, and sovereignty.
 Key concepts in Political Science

 Population- people that compose the state

 Territory- place where the people that compose
the state is located(it includes the land, natural
resources and air space located within it ).
 Government- the system that administers or
controls the state.
 Sovereignty- the ability of the state to govern
itself without outside influence or interference.
 Key concepts in Political Science

 Legitimacy- the right of the government to exercise

power and authority, and also refers to the
recognition given to a state by foreign governments
and international government.
 Governance- all actions and activities related to
governing
 Ideology- a set of ideas and beliefs that define the
views and actions of individuals, groups, and
institutions.
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Politicsin Greco-Roman Times
Medieval and Renaissance Political
Thought
The Age of Enlightenment up to the 19th
century
Modern Political Science
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE: Politics in Greco-Roman Times
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE: Medieval and Renaissance Political
Thought
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE: The Age of Enlightenment up to the
19th century
THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE: Modern Political Science
Basic Types and Forms of
Government
Basic Types and Forms of Government

 Themajor types of governments according to classical

arrangement are monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.
 Monarchy refers to government ruled by a single person.
 Thesole ruler in a monarchy is called a monarch but
maybe known by various terms such as king, sultan, and
prince.
 Constitutional monarchy- whose rules is defined and
limited by a constitution.
Basic Types and Forms of Government

 Aristocracy or Oligarchy refers to the rule by a

small group of people
 Direct democracy refers to the rule of the people
who directly participate in all government
activities.
 Representative or republican democracy –
where citizens elect representatives who will
defend their interests in the government.
Basic Types and Forms of Government
 A Presidential system recognizes the president as the highest official and head
of the executive branch.
 A Congressional system
 A Parliamentary system
 A Presidential-parliamentary system
 A Federal government
How is a government formed