Introduction to the Study of Government

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INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

OF GOVERNMENT

Prepared by: ROHANIYA DALANDA


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The study of government is as

important as the study of history .

Three reasons why we

should our government1st,it would make us better

citizens of our republic.

The second reason is because

we are the government .


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We choose by means of elections

our national and local officials.

Finally, we should study our

government because it is our duty

to do so.Nobody can love the

Filipino better than the Filipinos

themselves said former PresidentJose P. Laurel.


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4 elements of state

1. People=is the most important element ofa state.

2. Territory=is the second essential elementof a state.

3. Government=is defined as the socialorganization through which the state carries

out its will. It came from the latin word

gubernaculum, which means ruder.


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A ruder=is a flat piece of wood or

metal attached to the stern back ofa ship in order to guide the ship of

state.

4. Independence or sovereignty=is

the fourth element of a state.

Sovereignty=is the supreme power

of the state to enforce its will upon

its citizens through laws.


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Origin of the state

Several theories about the origin of the state:

-Devine theory

-Social contract theory

-Force theory

Devine theoryis the oldest theory on how

states originated.


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Social contract theory became the most

important political theory 17thand 18th

centuries, replacing the devine theory.

Force theory- says that countries come and gobecause of force or domination by different

rulers.

Forms of governmentaccording to a greek

philosopher named Aristotle ( 384- 322 B.C).

this forms of government are as follows:

Monarchy, or rule by one person,

Aristocracy, or rule by a few persons,

Democracy, or rule by the majority ( most ) of

the the people.


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We shall look at tree more types of

government, namely:

=Constitutional monarchy.

=Dictatorships, authoritarian or totalitarian

governments.

=Modern democracies which may be either

a presidential or a parliamentary

government.


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A constitutional monarchy is ruled by a

monarch ( king or queen ) whos powers are

limited and not absolute. The monarch ischecked by other government officials and

by the rights of people.

Dictatorships, authoritarian and totalitarian

governments are states where a person or a

group of persons have imposed their will onthe people by force.

A democracy is a government of the people,

by the people and for the people.


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Presidential and Parliamentary

governments. Both presidential and

parliamentary governments are twodifferent forms of governments in

modern democracies. A presidentialgovernment is based on the practice of

separation of powers between the

executive, legislative and judicialbranches of government. The president

is independent of the legislative or law

makin bod .


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A parliamentary government is one

where the executive and legislative

branches are merged and united. Underthe 1973 constitution, the Philippines

was supposed to have a parliamentary

government. President Marcos imposed

a mixed presidential- parliamentary form

of government, which in reality was anauthoritarian rule by one month.


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Democracy or communism. According to the 1935

constitution, the Philippines is a republican state and a

democracy ( preamble and article II section 1). Democracy

has the following advantages or merits:

Democracy encourages all citizens to take an interest in

how a government is chosen in how it operates.

It gives people a sense of civic responsibility by making

them realize that the success or failure of the government

defends on them. In a democracy, the voice of the people

is the voice of God. ( vox populi, vox deix).

It reduces the danger of violent revolution or military

takeover because the people can make changes by

peaceful election or by constitutional amendments.


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Democracy also has its disadvantages

on faults: among of this are as follows:

Democracy is slow, fickle andextravagant.

Corrupt and dishonest officials maybeelected to power because the masses

barter their ballots for money or

promises by unscrupulous politicians.Democracy may lead to the rule of the

mob or rule of the ignorant.


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Communism - is the very opposite of the

democracy.

The best form of government. Philosophersand political scientists who study the state

have often discussed what is the best form of

government. In practice, if may be said thatthe best type of government is the one which

can best provide for the many needs and

interests of the people in that society,according to their customs and traditions.


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Introduction to the Study of Government