Supplementary learning material in politics and governance with emphasis on Philippine electoral process and party system

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Module Title:
Elections and Political Parties
Introduction:
Election is a decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple
individuals to hold public office for a specific duration of time. In the Philippines, election begins from
the nomination of prospective candidates who shall run for office, whether national or local, moving
towards the registration of qualified voters until the election day balloting. However, a huge number of
Filipinos, most especially first time voters and the youth, are found to have very less orientation about
the kind of elections and the accompanying party system that prevail in the Philippines today Hence,
this module presupposes effective dissemination of relevant information that will help “YOU”, senior
high school learners, understand the nature of Philippine elections and party system.
Most Essential Learning Competency and Learning Objectives:
Generally, at the end of the lesson, you are expected to analyze the nature of elections and
political parties in the Philippines (HUMSS_PG12-IIc-d). Particularly, the following leaning objectives
are attained:
1. Define elections and political parties.
2. Discuss the importance of elections and political parties in the electoral system.
3. Analyze the functions of elections and political parties in the entire spectrum of Philippine
political system.
Vocabulary List:
Election. An act of expressing a voter’s choice among political candidates for a public office.
Electoral System. A set of rules that determine how election is conducted and how its results
are determined.
Political Party. An organized group of people who shared the same political ideology or
positions and who field political candidates for elections.
Party System. A concept in contemporary democracies that recognizes political parties as
major components of the political system.
Pre-test:
Directions: Fill in the blanks with appropriate word or group of words that will complete the sentences.
1. To participate in the election, a qualified voter must ____________ before the COMELEC.
2. Election, other than the process of selection, is also about _________________ process.
3. In the Philippines, voting is done personally by ________ balloting.
4. The political party is where potential ______________ are trained.

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5. Political parties _____________ the people especially the uninitiated and uninformed.
Learning Activity/Input: (Please read )
Election Defined. An election is an act of expressing a voter’s choice among political
candidates for a public office. This act of selecting public officials is the final phase of the electoral
process which involves the nominating process, registration, and election day procedures. It is one of
the most effective institutions of direct democracy and an interesting and exciting phase of the
democratic process.
Classifications of Election
Direct Election. It is an act of selecting public officials by direct vote of the people, example:
the Presidential and Vice Presidential election in the Philippines on May 9, 2016 or the mid-year
election of 2019 in the Philippines
Indirect Election. Is the act of choosing public officials by the representatives of the people,
example: The election of the President and the Vice President of the United States by the electoral
college or the election of the Chancellor by the Bundestag in Germany.
The Electoral Process
1. The Nomination Process. This is the process by which an aspiring candidate can get himself
on the ballotduring the election day balloting. Nomination can be possible through the following
means; nomination by party convention, nomination by party caucus, nomination by primary
election, nomination by petition, and nomination by the candidate himself.
2. The Registration Process. This is the process of preparing the list of qualified voters; a
necessary procedure to prevent fraud in the conduct of election. In fact in the Philippines, a
carefully designed permanent registration system is thought to be the best safeguard against
irregularities in the conduct of registration.
3. The Election Day Balloting. This is the judgment day; the day when the electorate (qualified
voters) go to the polls to casttheir votes in favor of a candidate of choice. Therefore, this is the
most crucial phase of the whole electoral process since it is through this event that the voters
act as political sovereigns making supreme decision as to who will win the election.
1.
Who are qualified to participate in the election?
According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
Article V, Section 1, (Suffrage), the following
qualifications must apply;
1. Filipino citizens
2. At least 18 years old
3. Residence in the Philippine for 1 year and in
the place where he/she desires to vote for 6
months immediately preceding the election
4. Registered voter
Reminder:
No literacy, property or other substantive
requirementshall be imposed in exercise of
suffrage.
Suffrage is the right and obligation ofthe
people to vote and to participate in the
disposal ofpublic questions that require
people’s decision.

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Functions of Elections
1. Reorganize the government
2. Select elective government officials who shall
 Administer the affairs of the government
 Determine and formulate public policies
 Enact laws
3. Generate peoples participation in decision making
4. Provide an opportunity for change in the government
Other Institutions of Direct Democracy (De Leon 2011)
1. Plebiscite. It is the name given to people’s vote expressing
their choice in favor or against a proposed law or public issue
submitted to them for the purpose of generating people’s
consent.
2. Referendum. It is the submission of a proposed law or part
thereof passed by the national or local legislative body to the
electorate for their ratification or rejection.
3. Initiative. It is the process whereby the people directly
propose and enact laws.
4. Recall. It is a method by which an elective public official may
be removed from office during his/her tenure or before the
expiration of his/her term.
Political Party Defined. It is an organized group ofindividuals who agree on common political
principles and platform in seeking to control the powers of government to serve national interest and to
enjoy the benefits derived from such control (Ayson and Reyes).
Elements of Political Party
1. Organization based on common political principles
2. Participation in the election, national and local
3. Agreed party platform or program
Types of Party System
1. One Party System. Only one party exists in the state. The single party is integrated with the
government and it is the political machinery of the state, like; China, People’s Republic of
Korea, and Vietnam.
2. Two – Party System. There are two major parties in the state with nearly equal membership
and political strength, such as; United States of America, Great Britain and Australia.
3. Multi – Party System. There are more than two political parties with corresponding
membership, identity or label, ideology, programs and policies, for instance; India, Indonesia
and Philippines.
Functions of Political Parties
1. Educate the people on public issues and qualification of political candidates
Reminder:
There are 2 typesof government
officialsinthe Philippines;one,
elective publicofficials,those chosen
by the people inapolitical contestor
electionandtwo, appointive public
officials,thosehiredbyqualificationin
the civil service.
Reminder:
In the Philippines,thenational
legislatureiscomposedof2
chambers;theHouseof
Senateand the Houseof
Representativeswhilethe
locallegislativebodyis
composedoftheSangguniang
Pambayan,Panglungsodand
Panglalawiganin
municipalities,citiesand
provincesandthe Barangay
Councilinbarangays
Reminder:
A party platform is a set of goalwhich
supportedby a politicalpartyor individual
candidateforthe purposeof generatingthe
supportof the electorate(voters).

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2. Provide leadership in the government and training for aspiring elective public officers
3. Provide a wide range of public policy for the government
Learning Task 1:
Directions: Analyze the sentences carefully. Write YES if the statement describes Philippine elections
and (1-5) and political party (6-10) while NO if it does not. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Philippine election adopts the secret balloting to secure the secrecy and sanctity the votes.
2. National and local elections are held simultaneous every after four years.
3. An election can be held anytime when a vacancy occurs.
4. Filipinos abroad are given opportunities to vote during elections through absentee voting.
5. Filipinos who cannot read and write are disqualified to vote during elections.
6. Political parties are established from the grassroots to the central or national areas.
7. Political parties do not subscribe to any form of recruitment strategy to generate membership.
8. President Rodrigo R. Duterte is the political leader of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)
9. The political party provides funding for party candidates who are running for elections.
10. The political party is a potential source of government leadership and is effective training
prospective government leaders.
Learning Task 2:
Directions: Using the matrix below, distinguish a political party from an ordinary group. You can use a
word or group of words to define the difference.
Indicator Political Party Ordinary Group
1. Purpose oforganization
2. Number of members required
3. Nature of membership
4. Scope of the organization
5. Governmentparticipation
Learning Task 3
Directions: Read and analyze the questions carefully. Answer each with 2 – 3 sentences only. Make it
short and simple (MISS). Your answers will be scored using the following rubric;
Criteria 5 2 0
Relevance It makes sense Does not make
sense
No Answer
Organization of thought Consistent Inconsistent No Answer

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1. Why is election together with plebiscite, referendum, initiative and recall, called an institution of
direct democracy? -
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
2. Based from your understanding of the functions of elections, how do you find Philippine
election in terms of people’s
participation?_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
3. Case Analysis. During the May 11, 1992 National Election ofthe Philippines, the people have
seen political parties, forming alliances to support specific group of political candidates while
maintaining the loyalty ofeach member to his/her party. Do you think this behavior is politically
correct? Why or why
not?________________________________________________________________________
________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________
___________________________________________________________________________
___
4. Considering our experience,do you think itis advantageous to have multiple parties competing
during elections in our country? Why or why
not?__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________
Post-test:
Directions: Fill in the blank with appropriate word or group of words that will complete the sentences
considering the nature of elections and party system. Write your answers on a separate
answer sheet.
1. Elections could be director indirect. Itis directif the selection is made personally by the people
while indirect if made by the _______________________.
2. In the Philippines, there are two types of election; first is the ____________ election and the
other is the local election.
3. Liberal Party, Aksyon Demokratiko, People’s Reform Party, and Nacionalista Party are
examples of ___________________ system.
4. One of the salient features of political party is the presence of a ________________ that
constitutes its goal.
5. According to political analysts in the Philippines, “as long as elections remain important,
__________________ will remain vital components of the political system.

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Assignment:
Directions: Interview a registered voter in your household and ask him/her “what benefits do people get
during elections”. Write the answer on a separate sheet of paper, after which, write your
one-paragraph reflection aboutit. The rubric used in LT3 will also be applied in appreciating
your outputs.
References:
1. Florentino C. Ayson and Dolores A. Reyes. Fundamentals of Political Science. National Book
Store, Inc.. 24K Printing Co., Inc., Marulas, Valenzuela, Metro Manila. (1993)
2. Hector S. De Leon and Hector M. De Leon Jr. Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Rex
Book Store (ISBN 978 – 971 – 23 – 6007 – 7). Manila, Philippines. 2011 Edition.
Prepared by:
RICARDO M. GAMUROT JR., MT II
San Agustin (Stand Alone) Senior High School
Schools Division of Iriga City