National University–Manila | Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science

FUNDAMENTALS OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Professor: EDWIN D. CABANERO
Transcribed by: JOHN VER B. ORONGAN

OUTLINE
• L1: The Nature and Scope of Political • L2: Concepts: Meaning and Nature L3: Classification of Government
Science of the State o Number of Rulers
o What is Political Science? o Definition of State o Relationship of Executive and
o Meaning of Political Science o Origin of the State Legislative
o Fields of Political Science o Definition of Nation o Degree of Control of the National
o Methodology of Political Science o State vs. Nation Government
o Meaning of Politics o State vs. Government o Recognition of the State and its
o Approach to Study of Politics Government
o Verifying View of Politics
o Images of Politics in the Philippines

III. FIELDS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

• Political Theory also called as Political Philosophy, it

consists of philosophical system and theories on the
origin, form behaviour and purpose of the state.
• Public Law focused on the study of legal rules and
principles governing states, governments, and individuals
I. WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE? as they relate with one another.
• Government studies the structure and functions of both
Political Science is a systematic of the state and the national and local governments within the context of one
government. Political comes from the word “polis” which state or country.
means a “city” or “state”. Science on the other hand comes • Comparative Government focuses on analyzing the
from the Latin word “scire” which means “to know”. similarities and differences among states relative to their
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of
II. MEANING OF POLITICAL SCIENCE Government.
• International Relations focuses on the study of foreign
• Catlin defined Political Science as the study of the act of policies of countries, international organizations, and
human and social control. international law.
• Public Administration is an actual management of the
• Laswell said that Political Science is the study of shaping government in the realms of administrative organization,
and sharing of power. He also refers it to the study of personnel and human resource management, fiscal
activities of the government determining who gets what management, and management of public relations.
and how (1935). • Public Policy concerned with the assessment and
evaluation of the various policies pursued by the
• Castaneda enunciated that it deals with the allocation government in different areas like Defense, Health, and
and transfer or power in decision-making, roles and Education.
system governance, political behaviour, and public • Political Dynamics focused on the influence of different
process (2010). societal forces in the political action and decision-making
of the state.
• De Leon defined it as the association of human beings • Government and Business gives emphasis to
into a political community, one, organized under a Governmental exercise of corporate or business function
government and law. as well as its regulatory function affecting the national
economy.
• Legislature focused on the important role played by the
legislature in making laws.

1
• Geopolitics delves on critically analyzing the influences VI. APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF POLITICS
of population, resources, and the physical environment of
a country on its local and international politics. TRADITIONAL APPROACH
—Political Science are idealistic, philosophical, and utopian.
IV. METHODOLOGY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
1. Historical Approach
Political Science like other fields can also be studied by —emphasizes the use of past events to analyze and
employing different methods usually used by political scientist explain political reality.
to understand certain political phenomena in the society. 2. Institutional Approach
—concerned with the study of formal structures and
Empirical Method institutions like the three branches of Government.
or also called as observational method is based on the 3. Legal Approach
observation and capturing experiences of various political —concerned with the judicial process, courts, quasi-
institutions and their processes. This empirical method may judicial bodies, administration of justice, and legal
also be used in determining the voting behaviour of the principles.
electorate to predict the outcome of an election winner. 4. Behaviour Approach
—concerned with the individual and group as a citizen
Historical Method and voter.
employed by the political scientists to explain the present 5. Political Economy Approach
political phenomena, political institutions, and processes. This —concerned with the relationship between
method relies on facts from the past to explain the present and economics and politics.
possible developments within state. 6. Sociological Approach
—is when the state is more social than that of political
Comparative Method institutions.
employed by the political scientist in providing solutions to
certain political problems by looking into contemporary MODERN POLITICAL SCIENCTIST
institutions and processes of different countries. —Political Science as a systematic study of politics.

Analytical Method 1. Systems Approach

employed the analytical method by looking at the cause-effect —uses input and output analysis.
relationships between two or more variables. 2. Structural Functional Approach
—treats the society as a single inter-related system
V. MEANING OF POLITICS where each part of the system has a definite and
distinct role play.
— The capacity to say no to something dangerous and 3. Communication Theory Approach
inimical to the interest of the public. (Salonga 1995) —tries to investigate how one segment of a system
— Politics is everywhere. (Lasswell in dahl 1986) affects another by sending messages or information.
4. Decision Making Approach
Main Traditions in defining Politics —tries to find out the characteristics of decision
makers as well s the type of influence the individuals
> Politics-as-war have on the decision makers.
Is a race of power among greedy individuals and groups.
VII. VARIFYING VIEW OF POLITICS
> Politics-as-process
Described as the procedures and processes by which offices, > Politics as Science – Activities and measures enacted by
power, and goods are distributed ass well as winners and the state are products of scientific methods of inquiry and
losers are created. research based on empirical observations of facts.

> Politics-as-participation > Politics as Art – When one gets what he wants or gets
In democracy, sovereign power resides to the people. People things done without reference to power and authority
decide on matters that affect their lives. pertaining thereto, then politics can only be at its best shape
as an art. (Dannug and Campanilla)
 VIII. IMAGES OF POLITICS IN THE PHILIPPINES Elements of State

Boardroom Politics involves decision-making by business People –

executives and professionals with crucial consequences for The people in a state must be sufficient in number and
the people. capable of maintaining its existence.

Bureaucratic Politics involves rule making and adjudication Territory –

by Government bureaucrats. No specific area is required but the territory must be enough
to provide for its maintenance, development, and growth.
Congress Politics involves the making of policies by
senators and congressmen that affects both private and Government –
public interests. A stable government with great number of inhabitants is
rendering continuous obedience.
Chief Executive Politics dominated by the President of the
Philippines and local government executive. Sovereignty –
It is the right to exercise the functions of the state to the
Courtroom Politics consists of orders and decisions made exclusion of another state.
by prosecutors, justices, and judges in reply to various interest
groups and aggrieved individuals. • Four Kinds of Sovereignty (PH)

New-born Multi-media Politics refers to the shaping of o Legal Sovereignty

public opinion on issues of concern in society by the the authority which has the power to issue
newspaper, television, radio, and other forms of mass media. final commands.

Faith-based Politics pertains to decision made by leaders o Political sovereignty

and members of religious groups and congregations, which the power behind the legal sovereign, or the
have political implications. sum of the influences that operate upon it.

Game of the General Politics involves premeditated actions o Internal sovereignty

and decisions of Police and Military officers and men to effect refers to the power of the State to control its
changes in the political arena. domestic affairs.

Civil Society Politics refers to pro-active lobbying by cause- o External sovereignty

oriented groups, people organizations, and non-governmental is the power of the State to direct its
organizations to influence decision-making by government relations with other States.
leaders.
II. ORIGIN OF THE STATE (THEORIES)
X-Men Politics are not directly taken part in politics but are
actively engaged in fixing self-serving political decisions Divine Right Theory
exemplify this image of politics. State was created by God. And those who were given the
power and authority was ordained by God. Who’s from this
theory rulers were claimed to be the descendants of God.

Force Theory
State was created through force, coercion, or conquest.

Natural Theory (Aristotelian Theory)

Called the organic theory referring to the perspectives of the
I. DEFINITION OF STATE ancient Greeks that the state is “man writ large”.

A community of persons more or less numerous, Patriarchal Theory

permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, Sociologist and anthropologist maintain that the state arose
independent of external control and possessing an organized through the process of evolution.
government to which the great body of inhabitants render Family > Clan > Tribe > Nation > State
habitual obedience. (James Garner)
3
Instinctive Theory ▪ Just Compensation
State was created because of natural inclination of men The full and equivalent of the property taken from
towards political association. its owner by the expropriator, and the gauge for
computation is not the taker’s gain but the
Economic Theory owner’s loss.
The states were organized to satisfy man’s economic needs.
■ Purpose and Objectives of the State
Social Contract Theory
Domestic Order and Tranquility.
Thomas Hobbes The Government performs essential functions like the
So, this is in a state of war with each other. You can maintenance of an effective police force to apprehend
do whatever you want instinctively to preserve your criminals and suppress domestic order violence.
life. But to evade this war against all, people agree to
create an entity higher than the people, better known Common Defense of The States.
as Leviathan or commonwealth. However, once this The Government builds a strong-armed forces for common
commonwealth was established, no one could defense and maintenance of foreign service to promote
question the authority of this government. peaceful and friendly relations with other nations-state.

John Locke Blessing Of Liberty and Justice.

Men are rational being capable of using the nature of Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the inalienable
man on their own good even with the absence of rights of man. The freedom of association, freedom of religion,
government. Also recognized that men need to and the rights of person accused of crimes should not be
establish a state to maintain peace and order, to subject to restraints.
provide their needs, have a venue for settling
disputes and to maintain and protect their right to life, Promotions Of General Welfare,
liberty, and property. The Government undertakes this by performing service
functions and other governmental activities relative to the care
Jean Jacque Rousseau of the general interests and well-being of the state.
Started his Social Contract Theory with the famous
line “Men are born free, yet everywhere are in chains.” Promotion Of Public Morality.
By nature, men are free, with impulses such as self- Governments should set one code of moral conduct for all,
preservation/self-love and pity/repugnance toward including public officers. It should set a high standard of
human sufferings. He theorized that the freer morality in running the affairs of the state.
government was direct democracy. Wherein people
could directly participate on the affair of their ■ Act of State
community or state. They could directly propose
policies or directly participate in the decision-making An act of state is an act done by the state in its exercise
of the state. of sovereign power through its government or its delegate
subject to the limits of the power vested in him. An act of state
Inherent Powers of the State cannot be questioned or made the subject of legal
proceedings in a court of law.
Police Power.
To enact and enforce laws and to regulate property and liberty III. DEFINITION OF NATION
in the promotion of the general welfare of the people.
a population having a common language and
Power of Taxation. literature, a common tradition and history, common
To impose and collect revenues for the operation of the customs, and a common consciousness of rights and
Government. wrongs, inhabiting a territory of a geographic unity.

Power of Eminent Domain.

This power enables the state to take property for public use STATE VS. NATION
upon payment of just compensation. State Nation
► Legal/political concept ► Ethnic concept
▪ Public Use ► One state may consist ► One nation may be
Can be identified with public purpose, public of one or more nations made up of several
interest, and public convenience. states
 STATE VS. GOVERNMENT Distinguishing characteristics of Presidential and
State Government Parliamentary system of Government
► Principal ► Agent Presidential System Parliamentary
Powers of the Government There is a fusion of power
► Abstraction ► Externalize the will of
are distributed to the between executive and
► Cannot exist without the state executive, legislative and legislative branches of
the government ► Can exist without a judicial branches of Government.
► Cannot be changed so state Government.
long as the elements ► Can be changed The Chief Executive who is Members of legislature are
are present also the head of the state, elected by people while the
as well as the members of Chief executive is elected
the legislature is elected by by the members of the
people. legislature, from the
majority party.
The Chief executive can be The Chief executive stays
removed from his office in power if he enjoys the
even before the end of his support of the majority in
term only through the legislature. He can be
impeachment. removed anytime when the
members of the law-making
body cast their vote of no
NUMBER OF RULERS confidence on him.
The Chief executive cannot The Chief executive can
■ Monarchy. A kind of government that has a single ruler. dissolve the legislature at dissolve the legislature.
any point in time.
□ Absolute Monarchy
Powers of the Government rest in a single ruler. DEGREE OF CONTROL OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

□ Limited Monarchy Unitary & Federal Government

Depended on the support of the most powerful
members of the nobility to retain their thrones. Unitary Government. The National Government has
considerable control over the affairs of its Local Government
□ Constitutional Monarchy Units.
Present day monarchs are nearly all symbolic rather
than actual rulers. Federal Government. A kind of Government wherein the
National Government has a minimal control over the affairs
■ Aristocracy. The power to govern rests on the hands of of its state.
the few called aristocrats.
Unitary Government Federal Government
■ Democracy. A government that is ruled by many. Has two levels of Has only one level of
Government which are Government which is
□ Direct or pure Democracy – The people involve Central Government and Central or National
themselves in policy making for the entire state. States Government Government.
Political powers are shared Political powers are held
□ Indirect Democracy – The people elect their by two levels of only by the Central or
representatives who are known to be as politicians Government. National government.
to represent them in policy making and Governance. The Constitution is RIGID The Constitution is
and CODIFIED. FLEXIBLE and
RELATIONSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE UNCODIFIED.
Has two different types of Has only one set of law
Presidential & Parliamentary System Law which are Central and (uniform) for whole country.
States Laws
Presidential System. The Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary are separated from each other and thus they Pros and Cons of a Unitary Government
perform different functions and enjoy different prerogatives. Pros Cons
It’s less confusing to the It can sometimes turn into a
Dual executive system/Semi-Presidential System citizens of the country. dictatorship with only one
⎯ A semi-presidential system or dual executive person in charge.
system is a system of government in which a The government is much
president exists alongside with a Prime Minster. smaller. It is very easy for
manipulation to occur.
Parliamentary. The mechanism used for governance and
policy making is Doctrine of Fusion of Powers.
5
 Emergency response time Individual states and
is much quicker. provinces cannot make
their own decisions for their
It is generally less locale.
expensive to run a unitary
government. There is the possibility for a
slower local response time
The structure of the legal to emergencies.
system is less complex.
Sometimes the needs of
Though there is only one the local people can be
governing body, the voice overlooked.
of the people is still heard.

With a unitary government,

everyone works for a
common goal.
Pros and Cons of a Unitary Government
Pros Cons
It creates a sense of local It creates confusion.
patriotism.
It encourages governments
It lessens the bureaucracy. to “pass the buck.”

It can provide evidence of It creates a wealth gap.

success…or failure.
It causes uncertainty.
It provides a better level of
stability from a political It can be used for leverage.
perspective.
It stops national policies
It encourages involvement. from being implemented.
It separates the powers of
the government.

RECOGNITION OF THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT

De Jure.
A legal Government and its relatively permanent and brings
about full diplomatic intercourse

De Facto.
A government in fact. It may not be legal government,
but it is the existing government at least for the time
being.