politics and governance pt2

• Governance has been defined as “the rules of the political system to solve conflicts between actors and adopt decisions (legality)”
• Politics affects our daily life more than we know. It is the science of optimum allocation of resources for the betterment of everyone and requires great understanding and skills
• Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by political leaders for the well-being of their country’s citizens or subjects
• Participation is important to exercise rights
• Bertolt Brecht: '“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”'
• Protect the constitution; know the difference of revisions and amendments
• Governance


  The manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development
• The common man needs to have a basic grasp of politics, especially in a democracy, which is a system of checks and balances run by both citizens and the government
• Etymology of Governance


  The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more originally from the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means “to steer.” Governance refers to the manner of steering or governing, or of directing and controlling, a group of people or a state
• Rule of Law

  Democracy is essentially the rule of law. It is through the law that people express their will and exercise their sovereignty. The government is of law and not of men, putting no one, however rich and powerful, above the law
• Good governance requires participation of different sectors of society, active involvement of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process, and an enabling environment for effective dissemination of pertinent information
• If there are no laws governing the government, everyone will just do as they please
• Good governance


  • Requires institutions, processes, and actors to deliver and meet the necessities of society in a way that utilizes available resources well
• The absence of the rule of law leads to anarchy
• Responsiveness


  • Means that institutions and processes serve all stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner, protecting the interests of all citizens
• Consensus-Oriented Governance


  • Decisions are made after considering different viewpoints of society's actors, requiring a strong, impartial, and flexible mediation structure to reach compromises and broad consensus
• Protect the constitution

  Understand the difference between revisions and amendments
• Rule of law

  Demand that people and civil society habitually obey the law and that the government acts within the limits of prescribed powers and functions
• Effectiveness and Efficiency

  • Effectiveness involves meeting the needs, while efficiency involves the proper utilization of resources to ensure the best possible results for the community
• Transparency


  • Indicates that people are open to information regarding decision-making processes and their implementation, and that transactions involving public interests are fully disclosed and accessible to the people
• Accountability


  • Means answerability or responsibility for one's actions, based on the principle that every person or group is responsible for their actions, especially when affecting public interest, and have an obligation to explain and be answerable for the consequences of decisions and actions made on behalf of the community
• Equity and Inclusiveness

  • All members of society, especially the most vulnerable or grassroots level, must be considered in policy-making to ensure no one feels alienated and everyone has a stake in society