4. SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVE
1. Identify the nature and scope of
election
2. Determine suffrage as a privilege
given by the government.
5. Election and Suffrage
Election is the formal process of selecting a
person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a
political proposition by voting. It is an integral to
democratic governance. Through the mechanism of
elections, politicians are held accountable for their
actions, and are compelled to introduce policies that
are reflective of and responsive to public opinion.
6. In the Philippines, the plurality system has
been enshrined in the 1935, 1973, and 1987
constitutions. Under the 1987 constitution, all
elective officials – president, vice-president,
senators, members of the House of
Representatives, local chief executives and local
legislators – are chosen by a direct vote of the
people through a ‘first-past-the-post system.
8. Suffrage as a mere privilege
Suffrage is not natural right of the citizens but
merely a privilege to be given or withheld by
the law-making power subject to constitutional
limitations. It is granted to individuals only upon
the fulfilment of certain minimum conditions
deemed essential for welfare of society.
9. Suffrage as a political right
It’s a right conferred by the
Constitution enabling every citizen to
participate in the process of government
to assure that it derives its powers from
the consent of the governed. ( Art. II.
Sec. 1.)
11. ➢ Election
– Strictly, 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.
12. Plebiscite
– The vote of the people expressing their choice
for or against a proposed law or enactment
submitted to them. In the Philippines, the term
is applied to an election at which any proposed
amendment to, or revision of, the Constitution
is submitted to the people for their ratification.
13. ➢ Referendum
– It is the submission of a law or part
thereof passed by the national or local
legislative body to the voting citizens
of the country for their ratification or
rejection (see Art. VI. Sec. 32.);
14. ➢ Initiative –
The process whereby the
people directly propose
and enact laws.
15. ➢ Recall –
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 petition signed by a required
percentage of the qualified voters. (see Art. X,
Sec. 3)
16. Qualifications of voters.
1. A citizen (male or female) of the Philippines;
2. Not otherwise disqualified by law;
3. At least eighteen (18) years of age; and
4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least
(1) year and in the place wherein he proposes to
vote for at least six (6) months preceding the
election.
