Governance and Government - Quick Notes

Governance

  • Definition: Governance is the whole set of processes involving multiple actors through which a society addresses its collective problems and needs.

  • Origin: derived from the Greek word kubernaein (to steer).

  • Formal view: \text{Governance} = {\text{processes}, \ \text{actors}} \text{ addressing collective problems and needs}

  • Key idea: Coordination among many actors to manage social life and minimize conflicts.

Government

  • Definition: The government is the main actor in governance; a set of offices entrusted by the citizens of a state to make, enforce, and settle conflicts involving rules and regulations in the society.

  • Formal view: \text{Government} = {\text{offices}} \text{ entrusted by citizens to make, enforce, and settle conflicts involving rules}

  • Philippine context: In the Philippines, the government is \text{presidential in form} and \text{unitary in structure}.

  • Branches: Executive, Legislative, Judiciary

    • Executive: implements the laws of the land

    • Legislative: proposes, makes, and revises the laws of the land

    • Judiciary: interprets the laws of the land and settles conflicts regarding them

The Philippine Government (Structure & Form)

  • Form: Presidential in form; Unitary in structure

  • Branches:

    • Executive

    • Legislative

    • Judiciary

  • Common powers (special authorities):

    • Police Power: \text{regulate behavior (criminalize and punish)}

    • Taxation: \text{impose taxes to support government operations and services}

    • Eminent Domain: \text{take private property for public use and services}

Governance vs Government: Relationship

  • In governance, the government usually leads and supervises the process

  • Government uses its unique powers to help society settle collective needs and problems

  • Government leads governance due to duties to protect and promote citizens’ welfare and forward national interests

  • However, governance can be hindered when the government itself creates problems (e.g., corruption, extrajudicial killings, discriminatory laws, failure to duties)

  • Governance requires collaboration among all actors to be fair, inclusive, and effective

Governance in Action: Real-World Example

  • SWIMMING POOL REGULATIONS illustrate governance through rules, enforcement, and responsibilities:

    • ALL BATHERS MUST: Shower before entering the pool; wear bathing-caps; wash their feet in the footbaths

    • FORBIDDEN: Dive from the edge; bring dogs into the swimming-pool; bring balls or lilo-beds into the pool

    • OPENING HOURS: morning and afternoon sessions; Lifeguard on duty during opening hours only

    • The management declines all responsibility for accidents occurring outside opening hours

Why Governance matters

  • Most activities in society require coordination among actors to avoid conflicts and ensure orderly life

  • Governance involves handling conflicts, making decisions, and setting rules and regulations

Key Takeaways

  • Governance = processes and actors addressing collective problems and needs

  • Government = central actor with authority to make, enforce, and settle rules; leads governance but must work with others

  • Multiple actors (government, businesses, civil society, church, schools, media, citizens) participate in governance

  • In a unitary, presidential system like the Philippines, central powers and branches play specific roles, but governance effectiveness depends on collaboration and accountability

Role-Play and Exploration (Explore)

  • Role-Play Time 1: 3 groups; each group performs a 1- to 2-minute skit showing problems in a scenario (randomly assigned):

    1. A basketball game without any referee or official

    2. A busy street without any traffic rules/system

    3. An unmonitored clean river with plenty of fish free for everyone to exploit unlimitedly

  • Role-Play Time 2: After presentations, other groups assess and propose improvements

Explore: Causes and Real-Life Scenarios

  • Explore: What are the causes of the problems in the presented scenarios?

  • Explore: What other real-life scenarios demonstrate these problems?

  • Explore: How important is it for our social activities to have a governing body?

  • Explore: Based on the scenarios, how do you understand governance and government?

Essential Questions

  • Why is it important to have a system of governance in society?

  • Who should lead this system?

Wrap-Up

  • Governance: the total set of processes involving multiple actors and rules to address collective problems and needs; includes handling conflicts and setting regulations

  • Government: a set of offices entrusted by citizens to make, enforce, and settle conflicts involving rules; central actor in governance

  • In the Philippines: government is \text{presidential in form} and \text{unitary in structure}; common powers include \text{police power}, \text{taxation}, and \text{eminent domain}

  • Governance requires collaboration among all actors to be fair, inclusive, and effective

Challenge Yourself

  • Identify one sector (e.g., health, education, labor). What are the common governance problems of that sector in the Philippines?