1. Government 2. Kinds of Government a.

Dictatorship This type of government is where a person has imposed their will on the people by force. In this kind of government, ordinary citizens have practically no right to question or change their leaders. If they complain or publicly criticize their government, they will be arrested and punished as political prisoners. b. Aristocracy c. Democratic A democratic form of government is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In this kind of government, all the people, rich or poor, are equal before the law and are entitled to the protection of their rights. The people are the source of all powers of the government, and people can choose or elect their officials through elections. They can also publicly question or debate the policies of the government. It is the best form of government to safeguard the welfare and rights of the people. Democracies are called republics when the head of the state is an ordinary citizen and not a monarch or aristocrat. 3. State A state is a group of people, living in a definite territory, having a government of their own, and enjoying independence from other countries. 4. Four Elements of State A state has four elements, or else it would be an independent country. These are as follows:

1. People The people are the most important element of the state. Without people there can be no state. 2. Territory Territory is the second essential element of a state. There is no rule on the size of territory to make a state. 3. Government The third essential element of a state is government. Government is defined as the social organization through which the state carries out its will. The form of government may change from time to time, but the state remains the same. 4. Independence or Sovereignty Sovereignty or independence is the fourth element of a state. Sovereignty is the supreme power of the state to enforce its will upon its citizens through laws. It also means independence from the control of other states. The symbols of state sovereignty are its flag, seal, currency, and stamps. 5. Presidential and Parliamentary System of Government Both presidential and parliamentary governments are two different forms of government in modern democracies. A presidential government is based on the practice of separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The president is independent of the legislative or law-making body. He or she is elected by the people and is directly responsible to them. The president cannot dissolve the legislature or Congress. Under the 1935 and 1987 Constitutions, the Philippine government became presidential in form.

A parliamentary government is one where the executive and legislative branches are merged and united. The members of the executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet) are also members of the legislature. Usually, they are the leaders of the majority party in parliament. Under the 1973 Constitution, the Philippines was supposed to have a parliamentary government. But this was never implemented. Instead, President Marcos imposed a mixed presidential-parliamentary form of government, which in reality was an authority rule by one man. 6. State and Nation 7. Constitution The constitution is the most important law of a country because it contains the official declaration of the form of government, its structure and powers, and the rights and duties of citizens. 8. Kinds of Constitution 9. Advantages and Disadvantages of Written and Unwritten Constitution 10. Steps in Constitution Making 11. Requisite of Good Written Constitution 12. Government of Law and Not of Man 13. Preamble of the 1987 Constitution 14. Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines a. 1935 Constitution b. Philippine Government under Martial Law (September 21, 1972) c. 1973 Constitution d. 1986 Provisional Constitution

e. 1987 Constitution 15. Three essential Powers of State