TRENDS

• Democracy


  A system of government where power is vested in the hands of the people, either directly or through elected representatives
• Importance of democracy


  • Promotes fundamental human rights and freedoms
  • Allows peaceful resolution of conflicts and ensures accountability of leaders to the citizens
  • Fosters social and economic development by encouraging participation, innovation, and diversity of ideas
• Democratic practices


  • Engages diverse perspectives, explores concerns and assumptions, transforms conflict and disagreement, and works collaboratively to find creative solutions and constructive change
  • It is a set of principles and practices that guide how people interact and work together everyday to improve their community and to create a more just society
  • Involves informed community members
  • Involvement in decision-making by those most likely to be affected by the outcome
• Participatory democracy


  • Embraces a bigger involvement of members in the political system
  • It allows citizens involvement and larger representation of politics
  • It gives opportunities to everyone within the system to make decision-making that will promote empowerment and betterment in the entire structure
• Representative democracy


  • Is grounded on the values of elected officials representing the majority
  • A system where voters choose their lawmakers or representatives who will be accountable to them for their state rulings and so in this case legislative decisions are quick and fast
• Election


  The means by which people choose their officials
• Plebiscite


  The vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law submitted to them
• Plebiscite example


  • Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) (January 2019)
  • The BOL aimed to create an autonomous political entity known as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
• Referendum


  The submission of a law passed by the legislative body to the people for their ratification or rejection
• Referendum example


  • The 1987 referendum was held on February 2, 1987 which allowed Filipino citizens to vote on whether to approve or reject the proposed Constitution to replace the 1973 Constitution that was in place during the martial law period. The new Constitution, also known as the "1987 Constitution" or the "Constitution of the Fifth Republic," aimed to establish a democratic government with safeguards against abuses of power, restore democratic institutions, and promote human rights and social justice.
• Initiative


  A method in which people directly propose and enact laws
• Initiative example


  • People's Initiative for Clean Elections" (PICE) in 1997. This initiative aimed to gather signatures to enact the Republic Act No. 8436, also known as the "The Automated Election System Law," which mandated the use of automated systems in Philippine elections. Citizens and various advocacy groups mobilized to collect signatures in support of automated elections.
• Recall


  A method by which an elective local official may be removed from the office during his tenure
• The CEO of XYZ Corporation held a town hall wherein all employees expressed their concerns regarding their employment

  PARTICIPATORY
• Being the class president, Diane asked for suggestions from all members of class regarding their Year-end party

  PARTICIPATORY
• Councilor Mark proposed a new ordinance to launch a livelihood project for his constituents living in the esteros

  REPRESENTATIVE
• Alex, as a street sweeper, regularly attends the monthly Brigada Kalinisan meeting with their mayor

  PARTICIPATORY
• The President submitted to the UN tribunal the country's protest against China regarding the disputed island in the WPS

  REPRESENTATIVE