Philippine Politics and Governance

Vocabulary flashcards covering the pre-colonial, Spanish, American, and contemporary periods of Philippine politics, along with the executive, legislative, judicial branches, and local government units.

Barangay System

The basic, independent pre-colonial political system with authority within its own territory, led by a Datu through birth or valor.

Babaylan

Pre-colonial medicine women or high priestesses who held equal social standing with men in early Philippine communities.

Sultanate System

A centralized kingdom established in Sulu and Maguindanao by Shari'ful Hashem Syed Abu Bakr, bound by blood, religious ties, and Shari'a Law.

Reduccion

The Spanish colonial policy begun around 1565 of relocating local inhabitants into towns or Pueblos modeled after European towns.

Real Audiencia

The highest judiciary body in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial government, overseen by the Governor General.

Gobernadorcillo

The Spanish colonial official who governed the pueblos (towns), assisted parish priests, and supervised the construction of public infrastructure.

Polo Y Servicios

Compulsory forced labor imposed during Spanish colonial rule, from which the Cabeza de Barangay was exempted.

Propaganda Movement

An 1872–1892 campaign led by ilustrados such as Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, and Marcelo H. Del Pilar seeking peaceful political and social reforms from Spain through the newspaper La Solidaridad.

Kartilya ng Katipunan

The official document written by Emilio Jacinto that outlined the guiding principles, civic virtues, and values of the Katipunan.

Treaty of Paris of 1898

The agreement signed on December 10, 1898, by Spain and the United States that concluded the Spanish-American War and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines.

KALIBAPI

The political organization formed during the Japanese occupation to recruit and mobilize Filipinos into government service.

Filipino First Policy

An economic policy launched under President Carlos P. Garcia that prioritized Filipino entrepreneurs and businesses over foreign investors.

Executive Orders

Presidential issuances providing rules of a general or permanent character to implement or execute constitutional or statutory powers.

Administrative Orders

Presidential acts relating to particular aspects of governmental operations issued in pursuance of the President's duties as administrative head.

Proclamations

Presidential acts fixing a date or declaring a condition of public interest upon which the operation of a specific law or regulation depends.

Memorandum Orders

Presidential issuances dealing with administrative detail or matters of temporary interest concerning a particular officer or government office.

Memorandum Circulars

Presidential issuances on matters relating to internal administration addressed to departments or agencies for information or compliance.

Power of Eminent Domain

The authority of the state to seize or authorize the expropriation of private property for public use upon payment of just compensation.

Unicameral

A legislative body or system that consists of only a single chamber or house.

Bicameral

A legislative structure in which legislative power is vested in two separate chambers or houses (the Senate and the House of Representatives).

Privilege from Arrest

A parliamentary immunity shielding legislators while in session from arrest for offenses punishable by not more than six years of imprisonment.

Privilege of Speech and Debate

A parliamentary immunity that protects members of Congress from lawsuits for libel (written defamation) or slander (oral defamation) for statements made in session.

Ex Post Facto Bill

A constitutionally prohibited law that makes an action illegal and punishes a person retroactively before the act was legally classified as a crime.

Bill of Attainder

A constitutionally prohibited legislative measure that declares a person or group guilty of a crime and inflicts punishment without judicial due process.

Bicameral Conference Committee

A joint legislative committee made up of 8 Senators and 16 members of the House of Representatives formed to reconcile differing provisions between House and Senate bills.

Municipal Circuit Trial Court

A lower-level trial court in the Philippine judiciary that covers a territorial jurisdiction of two or more municipalities.

Sandiganbayan

A special collegiate court with exclusive jurisdiction over violations of anti-graft and corruption laws committed by public officials and employees in relation to their office.

Devolution

A political and territorial form of decentralization involving the transfer of powers, authority, and resources from the national government to local government units.

Deconcentration

An administrative and sectoral form of decentralization involving the delegation of responsibilities and management discretion from central departments to local field offices.

Debureaucratization

A form of decentralization involving the transfer of select public functions and responsibilities from government agencies to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private entities.