POLGOV

• Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote for qualified citizens in the election of certain national and local officers of the government and the decision of public questions submitted to the people
• 1. a mere privilege - suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but merely a privilege to be given or withheld by the law-making power subject to constitutional limitations
• A political right - suffrage enables every citizen to participate in the process of government to assure that it can truly be said to derive its powers from the consent of the governed
• Election - it is the means by which the people choose their officials for definite and fixed periods and to whom they entrust, for the time being as their representatives, the exercise of powers of government.
• Plebiscite - it is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law of enactment submitted to them. It is likewise required by the Constitution to secure the approval of the people directly affected before certain proposed changes affecting local government units may be implemented
• referendum - it is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the national or local legislative body to the voting citizen of a country for their ratification or rejection
• Initiative - it is the process whereby people directly propose and enact laws
• Recall - it is a method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people after registration of a petition signed by a required percentage of the qualified voters
• Qualifications

  1. citizen of the philippines
  2. not otherwise disqualified by law
  3. at least 18 years of age
  4. have resided in the philippines for at least 1 year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote for at least 6 months
• Recruiting political leaders - politicians - people who possess talents and skills relevant to electioneering-are chosen. These skills may not be necessarily related to what politicians are required to accomplish their functions.
• 2. Making governments - in countries where the executive is elected, elections directly make the government. In parliamentary governments, elections are an avenue in the formation of these governments
• Providing representation - Elections become the means through which people's demands are channeled to the government. Elected officials are considered the link between the government and the people.
• Influencing policy - elections may hinder the government from pursuing unpopular policies. At times when a single issue dominates the electoral campaign, elections may directly influence policy.
• Educating voters - elections provide the electorate with abundant information during the campaign period and voting process
• building legitimacy - elections justify a system of rule and thus help in fostering legitimacy. Elections also mobilize active consent by encouraging citizens to participate in politics through elections.
• Strengthening elites - elections can also be a vehicle through which the political elites can manipulate and control the masses
• an electoral system - is a set of rules that govern the conduct of elections. electoral systems are the ways by which voters are translated into seats in the legislature or any other areas
• majoritarian - usually offer the voters a clear choice of potential administration, invest wining parties with a policy mandate, and help promote a strong and stable government.
• proportional electoral systems usually give the government a broader electoral base, promote consensus and cooperation among several parties, and establish a healthy balance between the excecutive and legislature
• a political party is defined as an organized and presumably durable association, either of individuals or of distinguishable groups of individuals, which endeavors to place its members in governmental offices to bring about the adoption of favored political policies or programs
• one-party system - only one party dominates and there is no political competition between parties.
• Bi or two-party system - the earmark of a two party system is the existence of two major political parties that are so strongly supported that one or the other ordinarily emerges as the victor in elections and consequently gains mastery of the government
• Multiparty system are featured by the presence of a fairly large number of parties with compete with one another on relatively equal terms