Comprehensive Notes on State and Non-State Institutions

Overview of Institutions

• Definition and Nature

  • An institution is composed of formal rules, informal norms, or agreed-upon understandings.

  • These rules and norms constrain and prescribe the behavior and interaction of political actors with one another.

  • Institutions serve as the structural framework for social and political life.

• Main Functions

  • The primary function of an institution is to keep society in order.

  • They are established to implement specific tasks assigned to them.

  • Common examples include educational, economic, political, and social institutions.

State Institutions

• Definition of the State

  • According to Max Weber, the State is a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

  • It is defined as an organized political community living under a single system of government.

• Primary Functions of State Institutions

  • Creating and enforcing law.

  • Maintaining peace and security.

  • Protecting the rights of the citizens.

  • Providing public services.

  • Collecting taxes and managing public funds.

• Structure of State Institutions (The Philippine Context)

  • Three Branches of Government:

    • Office of the President (Executive).

    • Office of the Vice-President (Executive).

    • Congress of the Philippines: Comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives (Legislative).

    • Supreme Court of the Philippines (Judiciary).

  • Constitutional Commissions:

    • Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

    • Commission on Audit (COA).

    • Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

    • Civil Service Commission (CSC).

  • Local Government Units (LGUs): Administrative divisions of the country.

  • National Government Agencies: Examples include the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DepEd).

  • Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs): Examples include the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PAG-IBIG Fund, National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and Social Security System (SSS).

Non-State Institutions

• Definition and Characteristics

  • Non-state institutions are people and/or organizations that participate in international affairs and relations but are not affiliated with any state or nation.

  • They are often referred to as "stateless" because they are independent of any state control.

  • Despite their independence, they frequently collaborate with the government to implement various projects.

• Functions and Purpose

  • They operate to satisfy short-term, long-term, small-scale, and large-scale demands, whether tangible or intangible.

  • Each non-state institution assumes different functions based on a specific objective.

  • Broadly, they develop services essential for the progress of the members of society.

Major Forms of Non-State Institutions

• Banks

  • Financial institutions licensed to provide various financial services to different types of customers.

  • Examples include AMA Bank, BDO, BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank, China Bank, Citibank, DBP, EastWest Bank, Isla Bank, LandBank, Malayan Bank, Metrobank, PhilAm Savings Bank, PSBank, Robinsons Bank, and The Real Bank.

• Corporations

  • Owned by a group of people but possess a separate legal identity.

  • A key feature is that owners are not personally responsible for the corporation's debts.

  • They generate large amounts of capital for growth by offering:

    • Stocks: These determine the level of ownership within the entity.

    • Bonds: These allow an individual to earn interest.

• Trade Unions

  • Organizations composed of workers or employees from related fields.

  • The primary aim is to represent the interests and rights of members both in the workplace and within the broader society.

• Cooperatives

  • Composed of people with common interests who agree to work together.

  • They provide easy, safe, and affordable access to commodities, loans, and other services.

  • The goal is mutual empowerment with minimal government assistance.

• Development Agencies

  • Agencies that promote progress through project engagement, policymaking, and dialogue.

  • Active foreign agencies in the Philippines include:

    • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

    • United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

  • Financial assistance is also provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

• Civil Organizations (NGOs)

  • Created to expose the conditions of the marginalized sectors of society.

  • They use mass media as a platform to raise critical issues to the government.

  • They provide factual information on various realities to influence policymaking.

  • Specific examples include IBON Foundation, PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society), and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Comparative Analysis: State vs. Non-State Institutions

• Authority and Control

  • State: Backed by the government’s legal and political power.

  • Non-State: Independent; typically driven by market rules, voluntary contracts, or social norms.

• Primary Goal

  • State: Governance, public welfare, security, and the enforcement of law.

  • Non-State: Financial profit, specialized services, worker advocacy, or specific advocacy/charity.

• Funding Source

  • State: Funded by public funds, taxation, and state revenue.

  • Non-State: Funded by private capital, investments, donations, or membership dues.

• Examples

  • State: Government agencies, the Supreme Court, public schools, and the military.

  • Non-State: Private banks, corporations, trade unions, NGOs, and cooperatives.

Self-Assessment and Discussion

• Categorization Exercises

  • State Institutions: Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice.

  • Non-State Institutions: Family, Church, Private Business, Private Schools.

• True/False Analysis

  • The government is a state institution (True).

  • Non-state institutions are part of the official government (False).

  • Schools, churches, and businesses are examples of non-state institutions (True).

  • The main responsibility of state institutions is governance and public services (True).

  • Families are considered state institutions (False).

• Key Concepts Refined

  • The primary state institution responsible for governing the country is the government.

  • The family is the first institution where children learn values and behavior.

  • Schools are responsible for providing education to students.

  • Churches primarily teach values and beliefs based on religion.

  • State institutions work to promote the common good and welfare of the people.