Local Government and Philippine Electoral Systems Reviewer

Vocabulary flashcards covering Philippine local government concepts, history of power, decentralization, LGU viability requirements, electoral processes, and the party-list system.

Local Government

The lowest tier of public administration within a sovereign state responsible for managing affairs and the needs of a specific geographic community such as towns, cities, countries, and municipalities.

Subordinate Status

The characteristic of local governments operating within a larger state or nation, using powers and functions specifically assigned to them by the state.

Decentralization

The process of transferring authority and decision-making from a central government to agencies closer to the public.

Centralization

A model historically rooted in Spanish and American colonial regimes that concentrates decision-making, funding, and major public works in national government departments based in the capital region.

Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160)

A landmark law that devolved essential services such as basic health, agriculture, and social welfare to LGUs, aiming to empower local leaders and increase citizen participation.

Devolution

Political or territorial decentralization involving the transfer of political, administrative, and fiscal authority to independent, sub-national government units like LGUs.

Deconcentration

Administrative decentralization involving the redistribution of administrative responsibilities to regional or field offices within the same national agency.

Debureaucratization

Civil society privatization involving the transfer of public functions and responsibilities from the government to private enterprises, NGOs, or civil society organizations.

Imperial Manila

A political term used to describe the extreme centralization of power, wealth, and decision-making within the National Capital Region (NCR).

Mandanas-Garcia Ruling

A ruling that expanded the LGU tax baseline from only internal revenue (BIR taxes) to all national taxes, including Bureau of Customs duties, while maintaining a 40% share for LGUs.

Executive Order No. 103

An executive order extending the full devolution transition deadline to 2027 for cities and 2028 for provinces and municipalities.

Unitary State

A form of government where ultimate constitutional power is held by the central government (e.g., Malacañang), even while using decentralized laws to distribute responsibilities to provinces.

Autonomous Region

A subnational administrative division with self-governance, local law-making power, and control over its own cultural and economic affairs under a national government, such as BARMM.

Provinces

The highest primary level subdivision of local government in the Philippines that groups together municipalities and component cities to deliver province-wide services and implement regional policies.

Cities and Municipalities

The second highest primary level subdivision of local government in the Philippines exercising authority over health, safety, welfare, zoning, local policing, and infrastructure.

Barangays

The lowest level of local government in the Philippines that serves as the primary planning and implementing unit designed for direct, neighborhood-level governance.

3 Pillars of Viability (Criteria)

The essential criteria required for creating or altering an LGU: Income (certified by BLGF), Population (certified by PSA), and Land Area (certified by DENR - LMB).

Creation (LGU)

The formal legal process by which a new political subdivision like a province, municipality, city, or barangay is established.

Merger (LGU)

The legal process that combines two or more neighboring local government units into one single administrative body, requiring a legislative enactment and a majority approval in a plebiscite within 120 days.

Division (LGU)

The process of splitting an existing LGU into two or more distinct LGUs, provided every resulting unit independently meets the minimum legal criteria for income, population, and land area.

Conversion (LGU)

Upgrading an LGU's legal status to a higher tier (such as Municipality to Component City), which typically leaves territorial boundaries unchanged while increasing authority and tax allocations.

Plebiscite

A special local election scheduled by COMELEC where registered voters in affected areas vote 'Yes' or 'No' to approve or reject proposed LGU boundary changes, creations, mergers, or constitutional amendments.

Suffrage

The right to vote; a privilege granted by the State to persons or classes most likely to exercise it for the public good.

Referendums

The power of the people to approve or reject legislation through an election pursuant to Sec. 3(c), R.A. No. 6735.

Initiatives

The electoral process where voters propose and enact legislation through an election called for that specific purpose under Sec. 3(c), R.A. No. 6735.

Recall

The termination of the official relationship of a local elective official due to loss of confidence before the expiration of their term through the electorate's vote pursuant to Sec. 69 of the Local Government Code.

Party-List System

A mechanism for electing representatives to the House of Representatives where voters select registered sectoral, national, or regional organizations to give marginalized sectors a voice in national governance.

Republic Act No. 7941 (The Party-List System Act)

The law governing registration requirements, election procedures, qualifications, seat allocation, and rights of party-list organizations in the Philippines.