Module 1: Introduction to Citizenship and Governance

State

Building blocks of the international system

Stateless Era

Period with no legal boundaries or governance.

Periphery

Parts of the world that remain ungoverned.

Agricultural Revolution

A shift that prompted humans to build settlements and communities. Era of small states but bigger periphery.

Age of Colonization

Prompted the shift from small states to an expansion towards the periphery. Era of navigation to ungoverned areas rich with natural resources.

Nation-State Era

Period characterized by governed territories and states. Era where human beings are domesticated, and governments run the world.

Westphalian System

European system emphasizing state sovereignty.

Elements of a State

Territory, population, government, and sovereignty.

Territory

Includes air, land, and sea.

Population

Encompasses the citizens of a state.

Government

Administrator that makes sure the state is well-run & managed.

Three Inherent Powers of the Government

Taxation, Police Power, Eminent Domain

Taxation

Power of government to collect taxes

Police Power

Power of government itself to create, implement, and enforce our laws with the intent to protect its citizens and territory

Eminent Domain

Power of government to confiscate/acquire property based on certain conditions

Conditions of Eminent Domain

Public Use, Just Compensation, Due Process for Acquisition, Necessity

Sovereignty

Independence and autonomy, self-determination. Recognized by the population (internal), and recognized by other states (external).

The Philippine National Territory

Archipelago. Encompasses terrestrial, fluvial, aerial domains, and other territories where we have sovereignty/jurisdiction.

Elements of the Territorial Sea

Consists of the seabed (under the sea), subsoil (beneath the soil), insular shelves (shallow parts of the ocean), and other submarine areas.

Territorial Sea (12 NM)

Philippines has full sovereignty, while others are granted innocent passage (no aggression/non-permitted activities, no stops).

Contiguous Zone (24 NM)

Philippines does not have full sovereignty, but can enforce the law here.

Exclusive Economic Zone (200 NM)

Philippines has exclusive rights over resources. Others have freedom of navigation, exploitation but with permission.

Social Contract

Transaction between the people and the government.

The Philippine Government

Prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. Public office = public trust.

Three Departments of the Government

Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary

Legislative Branch

Lawmakers. Congress of the Philippines; Senate and the House of Representatives.

Senate (Upper Chamber)

• 24 senators

• Can serve up to 2 consecutive terms

• Each term lasts 6 years

House of Representatives (Lower Chamber)

• More than 300 officials

• Can serve up to 3 consecutive terms

• Each term lasts 3 years

Executive Branch

Law implementors and enforcers. Consists of the President, VP, Cabinet Secretaries (Executive Branches).

Judiciary Branch

Law interpreter & controversy Settler. Consists of Supreme Court and Lower Courts.

Presidential System

• Term: 6 years 

• No reelection, implemented after Marcos’ long dictatorship to prevent the abuse of power

• 17 presidents thus far

Roles and Powers of the President

• Chief Executive: Heads the executive branch, but is equal to the legislative and judicial branches.

• Commander-in-chief of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)

• Architect of Foreign Policy

• Pardoning Power

• Power to Veto

• Power to Appoint (cabinet secretaries, key officials in various governments),

• Others: Executive issuances, aliens, eminent domain, ill-gotten wealth, general supervision to LGUs)

Architect of Foreign Policy

Power to deport undesirable aliens, foreigners from the country; can also convert temporary VISAs to permanent ones.

Line of Succession

President -> VP -> Senate President -> Speaker of the House of Representatives

Filipino Citizenship

• Natural-born citizen, at least one parent is Filipino

  • Jus sanguinis: on the basis of blood

• Filipino citizens during the adoption of the 1987 Constitution

• Naturalization; many pathways to naturalization, such as:

  • Example: Living in PH for at least ten years

The Philippine Sovereignty

Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

Duty to protect the people and the state and to secure the sovereignty of the state and territorial integrity.

Independent Foreign Policy

Protection of national sovereignty

Republic of the Philippines

Philippines is a democratic (process) and republican (structure) state

Democratic Process

• Origin: Greece (demos + kratos = people power)

• Power to Vote, Suffrage

• Universal Participation

  • Inclusive; if you are 18 and Filipino, you are eligible to vote and participate in public affairs

• Protection on individual liberties & upholding human rights

Suffrage

Citizen participation in policy making, decisions affecting our land

Republican Structure

• Origin: Rome (res publica = public affair)

• Representative democracy (Public office = public trust)

• Separation of powers

• Equality of government branches (to prevent abuse of power)

• Rule of law and constitutional governance

  • It is not government officials who are above us. The people and government are equal

  • It is the law that is above us all

Visions of the Republic

• Just and humane society

  • Everyone is treated fairly

  • No one is above the law

  • Individuals are treated humanely, regardless of what they’ve done

• Common good is promoted

  • Rights and services are distributed equally across all backgrounds

• A government that embodies our ideals and aspirations

• Patrimony (land & natural resources, cultural heritage) is protected

• Posterity: Democracy and independence of the present & future

• Respect for the rule of law

  • Law applies to anyone from any background of life

• Regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace