Lesson 2:Midterm (RPH)

• According to legality or constitutionality

  • De jure Government (government of right; the legal, legitimate government of a state and recognized by other states but which actually cut off from power or control)
  • De facto Government (a government which unlawfully gets the possession and control of the rightful and legal government and maintain itself there by force and arms)
• De jure


  Has a rightful title but no power or control, either because the same has been withdrawn from it or because it has not yet actually entered into the exercise thereof
• De facto


  Actually exercises power or control but without the legal title
• According to concentration or distribution of governmental powers

  • Unitary (power is concentrated in one supreme organ from which all governing authorities derive their power and existence)
  • Federal (a system of dividing up power between the central or national government and local governments that are connected to one another by the national or central government)
• Differences between Federal and Unitary form of government

  • In federal, powers are distributed between the central and state government, there is an independent judiciary to resolve conflicts, citizens have to obey two sets of laws, constitution is the outcome of an agreement and can only be amended by a special procedure, separate legislatures at the central and state levels, fear of separation, no stability, rigid constitution, territory is united in diversity, democratic, political awareness
  • In unitary, all powers are concentrated in one central authority, no mechanism to resolve conflicts, unitary system of law prevails, constitution is not the outcome of an agreement and can be changed by its own supreme authority, supreme central legislature, promotion of national integration, stable government, flexible constitution, territory is not diverse, non-democratic in nature, no political awareness
• Pros and Cons of Unitary Government

  • Pros: Uniform laws, policies, and enforcement, less duplication of services, stability
  • Cons: Out of touch with local concern/s, slow in meeting local needs, bureaucracy
• Pros and Cons of Federal Government

  • Pros: Government close to citizens, suited to geographically large nation, solution to endemic problem
  • Cons: Component units often lack the resources, corruption and incompetence, overly bureaucratic and costly
• According to the relationship between the Executive branch and the Legislative branch of government

  • Presidential (a democratic and republican government in which a head of government leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch)
  • Parliamentary (the powers of the executive and legislative branches are intertwined, the real executive power is vested on a cabinet composed of members of the legislature)
• Pros and Cons of Presidential Government

  • Pros: More choice on leadership, higher level of accountability, clear separation of powers
  • Cons: Abuse of power, charisma rather substance and policies, set terms, rigid
• Pros and Cons of Parliamentary Government

  • Pros: Quicker legislative action, anytime the PM can be removed upon a vote of no confidence, power is unified under a majority party, clear line of responsibility and accountability
  • Cons: Absence or unclear separation of powers, no check on legislative power, public has less choice over leadership, concentration of too much power