The document summarizes the evolution of government in the Philippines from pre-Hispanic times to the present. It describes the social class systems of early Filipino societies and the governments that were established under Spanish colonial rule, American rule, Japanese occupation, and independence. Key details include the establishment of the Katipunan secret society, various revolutionary governments, the implementation of commonwealth status, and the presidents that have led the country. It also provides an overview of the executive and legislative branches of the current Philippine government system.

1. “Philippine Politics & Governance”
Second Periodical Exam Reviewer
“Evolution of Government in the Philippines”
Pre-Hispanic Government Composed of social class system. Nobility
(Maharlika), chieftain, babaylans. Bagani (warriors,
maginoos, freemen or timawa. Serfs (Aliping
Namamahay). Slaves (Aliping Sagigilid).
 Nobility – Social Class that have
aristocracy.
 Freemen – Higher than the uripan
(Commoners, serfs and slaves).
 Aliping Sagigilid – a slave who could own
a property.
 Aliping Namamahay – servant that lived
around their master.
Government During the Spanish Period
(King Philip the 2nd
)
 King of Spain: King Philip the 2nd during the
16th century.
1. Spanish Viceroy in Mexico – an
official who runs the polity in the
name of the monarch.
2. Archbishop – most powerful in the
church and Philippines was
controlled by friars.
3. Bishops – ordained clergy
member.
4. Parish Priests – had a lot of
function for example; preacher,
tax collector, law enforcer and
more.
5. Governor-General – have
executive, administrative,
legislative and judicial powers.
6. Provincial Alcalde-Mayor
(Governor) – leads each province.
7. Gobernadorcillo (little governor) –
popularly called capitan who
carried out town responsibilities.
8. Cabeza De Barangay (barangay
Captain) – a Filipino official that
leads each barangay.
9. City Alcaldes (City Council) – the
principal of Spanish municipalities.
Managed police and security
matters.
10. Royal Audiencia – Supreme Court
of Philippines during the Spanish
period.

2. Government During the Revolutionary Era
(President Emilio Aguinaldo)
 The Biak-na-Bato Republic – November 1,
1897, a republic established by Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo.
 Katipunan Government - was the secret
society that participated the revolution on
August 26, 1896.
1. July 7, 1892, Andres Bonifacio
signed the covenant of the
Katipunan.
 Kataas-taasang Sanggunian:
1. Sangguniang Balangay
2. Sangguniang Bayan
3. Sangguniang hukuman
 The Dictatorial Government – Founded by
Emilio Aguinaldo on 24th of May 1898.
1. On June 12, 1898 the Philippines
proclaimed its independence.
 The Revolutionary Government – causing
a revolution in a government or social
system. A form of government whose main
tenants are popular sovereignty, rule of
law and representative democracy.
 The First Philippine Republic – the Malolos
constitution gratified Philippine
independence.
Government During the American Regime
(President Sergio Osmeña)
 The Military Government – military rule in
the Philippines began of august 14, 1898.
1. First military governor was
General Wesley Merritt.
 The Civil Government – inaugurated in
manila July 4, 1901, headed by a civil
governor.
1. Spooner Amendment – ended the
military regime in the Philippines.
2. The jones law of 1916 became the
new basic organic law for the
Philippines.
 The Commonwealth Government – a form
of government in transition towards
independence.
1. Established of the commonwealth
government of the Philippines
pursuant to an act by the united
stated congress on march 24,
1934, known as the Tydings-
Mcduffie law.
2. President Sergio Osmeña –
assured full powers and
responsibilities.
Government During the Japanese
Occupation (President Jose P. Laurel)
 The occupation – manila was occupied by
the Japanese on January 2, 1942.
 January 23, 1942 – civil government
known as Philippine executive commission
(PEC) was composed with Jorge B.
Vargas as chairman.

3.  The second republic – Jose P. Laurel was
elected as president.
1. The new republic was inaugurated
on October 14, 1943.
 October 14, 1943 – The so called
Japanese sponsored republic of the
Philippines or second republic was
established.
 The War is Over – intense fighting by the
Japanese took 3 weeks before they
surrendered on February 23, 1945.
 July 4, 1946 – proclaimed freedom from
the Japanese.
 August 17, 1945 – President Laurel
proclaimed the dissolution of the 2nd
republic.
Philippine Presidents 1. Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23,
1899 – March 23, 1901)
2. Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944)
3. Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943
– August 17, 1945)
4. Sergio Osmeña Sr. (August 1,
1944 – May 28, 1946)
5. Manuel A. Roxas (May 28, 1946
– April 15, 1948)
6. Elpidio R. Quirino (April 17, 1948
– December 30, 1953)
7. Ramon Magsaysay Sr.
(December 30, 1953 – March 17,
1957)
8. Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957
– December 30, 1961)
9. Diosdado P. Macapagal
(December 30, 1961 – December
30, 1965)
10. Ferdinand E. Marcos (December
30, 1965 – February 25, 1986)
11. Corazon C. Aquino (February 25,
1986 – June 30, 1992)
12. Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 –
June 30, 1998)
13. Joseph E. Estrada (June 30,
1998 – January 20, 2001)
14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
(January 20, 2001 – June 30,
2010)
15. Benigno Aquino III (June 30,
2010 – June 30, 2016)
16. Rodrigo Roa Duterte (June 30,
2016 – June 30, 2022)
17. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
(June 30, 2022 – present)

4. “Executive Branch of the Government”
Power of the President:
A. Executive orders – constitutional or statutory powers.
B. Administrative orders – governmental operations in pursuance of his duties as the
administrative head.
C. Proclamations – fixing a date or declaring a status or condition of public moment
or interest.
D. Memorandum orders – concern a particular officer or government offices shall be
embodied in memorandum orders.
E. Memorandum circulars – desires to bring attention of all or some of the government
agencies or departments.
F. General orders or special orders – acts and commands as the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
1. Power of control over the executive branch – control over all the executive
departments/bureau.
2. Ordinance powers, and offices – give executive issuances, which are
means to streamline the policy and programs.
3. Power over aliens – powers over Non-Filipinos in the Philippines.
4. Powers of imminent domain, escheat, land reservation and recovery of ill-
gotten wealth – authorize seizure of private property for public use with just
compensation.
5. Power of appointment – appoint officials provided by the constitution and
law.
6. Power of general supervision over local governments – mandate to
supervise local governments.
7. Other Powers – exercise powers enumerated in the constitution and law.
Line of Succession:
1. Vice President
2. Senate President
3. Speaker of the House of Representatives
Duties of the Vice President:
1. Assume a cabinet position should the president offered one.
2. Become a secretary concurrent to position of vice president.
3. Mandated to assume presidency in case death/disability of the president.
Cabinet Secretaries – Acts as the alter ego of the president.
Secretaries:
Executive Secretary: Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin
Agrarian: Conrado Estrella III

5. Agriculture: Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr
Budget: Amenah Pangandaman
Education: Sara duterte
Energy: Raphael P. M. Lotilla since
DENR: Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga
Finance: Benjamin E. Diokno
DFA: Enrique A. Manalo
Health: Maria Rosario Vergeire OIC
Justice: Jesus Crispin Remulla
DOLE: Bienvenido Laguesma
Defense: Carlito Galvez Jr.
DPWH: Manuel Bonoan
DOST: Renato Solidum Jr
DSWD: Eduardo Punay OIC
DILG: Benjamin Abalos Jr.
DTI: Alfredo E. Pascual
DOTR: Jaime Bautista
Tourism: Christina Frasco
Ched: Prospero E. De Vera III
Neda: SECRETARY ARSENIO M. BALISACAN
Local Governments:
 Facilities and research services - for agriculture and fishery activities.
 Social welfare services - which include programs and projects for women, children,
elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Social services and facilities that local government should provide:
• Health services, which include access to primary health care, maternal and
childcare, and medicines, medical supplies and equipment.
• Information services, which include job placement information systems and a
public library.
• A solid waste disposal system - environmental management system.
• Municipal/city/provincial buildings - cultural centers, public parks, playgrounds, and
sports facilities and equipment.

6. • Public Cemetery.
• Infrastructure facilities - such as roads, bridges, school buildings, health clinics,
fish ports, water supply systems, seawalls, dikes, drainage and sewerage, and
traffic signals and road signs.
• Public markets - slaughterhouses, and other local enterprises.
• Tourism facilities - and other tourist attractions; and sites for police and fire stations
and substations and municipal jail.
Local chief executives:
1. Province – provincial governor.
2. City – city mayor.
3. Municipality – mayor or municipal mayor.
4. Barangay Punong barangay (barangay chairman).
Provincial Governors:
 Exercise general supervision and control.
Municipal/City Mayors:
 Ensure delivery of basic services.
Brgy. Captain / Punong Barangay:
 The punong barangay, as the chief executive of the barangay government.
“Legislative Branch of the Government”
 It served as the law-making body of the government which has important functions
such as government appropriations, taxation, electoral tribunal, appointments of
key public officials, and other.
Qualifications of Senator:
1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2. at least thirty-five years old;
3. is able to read and write
4. a registered voter; and
5. a resident of the Philippines for not less than two
years before election day.
Qualifications of House Representative:
1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2. at least twenty-five years old;
3. is able to read and write; and
4. except the party-list representatives, a registered
voter and a resident for at least one year in the district
where s/he shall be elected.

7.  Senator – 6 years term, 12 members.
 House Representative – 3 years term, 200-250 members.
 Resolutions - convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of
Representatives
 Bills - are laws in the making.
Three different elements of Resolution:
1. Joint resolutions — require the approval of both chambers of Congress and
the signature of the President, and have the force and effect of a law if
approved
2. Concurrent resolutions — used for matters affecting the operations of both
chambers of Congress and must be approved in the same form by both
houses, but are not transmitted to the President for his signature and
therefore have no force and effect of a law.
3. simple resolutions — deal with matters entirely within the prerogative of one
chamber prerogative of one chamber of Congress, are not referred to the
President for his signature, and therefore have no force and effect of a law.
Process by which a law is made:
Roles and Functions of Members of Senate and the House of Representative:
1. Electoral Tribunal
2. Appointment of Key Public Officials
3. Power to Declare State of Emergency or State of War
4. Government Appropriation and Tax Imposition
5. Power to Amend the Constitution
6. Exclusive Role of Philippine Congress
“Judicial Department”
The power to apply to apply the laws to contests or disputes concerning legally
recognized rights or duties between state and private persons, or between individual
litigants in cases properly brought before the judicial tribunals.
Scopes of Judicial Power:
1. Bill filed in the Secretary General.
2. First reading.
3. Second Reading.
4. Third Reading.
5. Ratification of conference report.
6. To president’s table, for approval or veto. In the period of 30 days in case of
no action from president the bill become a law.

8. 1. Adjudicatory power – it includes the duty of the court justice
2. Power of Judicial review - to pass upon the validity or constitutionality of the
laws of the state and the acts of the other departments of the government.
3. Incidental powers- the effective discharge of the judicial functions such as
the power to punish person’s adjudged in contempt.
Organization of courts:
1. Regular courts – the Philippine Judicial system consists of hierarchy of
courts resembling pyramid.
a. Supreme Court – the highest court of the land.
b. The Court of Appeals - The second highest tribunal or legal court
in the country.
c. Regional Trial Court
d. Lower Courts (City Courts & Municipal Courts)
2. Special courts
a. The Court of Tax Appeals
b. Sandiganbayan
c. Quasi-judicial agencies
“Political Party”
A group of people that is formally organized for the purpose of winning government
power through electoral or other means.
Types of political party:
1. One-party system – Only one party dominates and there is no political
competition between parties.
2. Two-party system – Two parties primarily dominate the political landscape and
smaller parties only play a subordinate role.
3. Multiparty system – More than two parties compete for power over time. It
reduces the likelihood of a single-party government and increases chances of
coalition formation.

9. “Civil Society and Movement”
The features of associations in a public sphere or arena and their role in politics
and society.
Various Types of Civil Societies:
Nongovernment Organizations - NGO with respective advocacies and aspirations
which aims for changes in the current set up of the society.
1. Religious CSOs - These CSOs do not necessarily promote worship of a
religion, but they are more or less linked to a given religion and they act
following a religious precept.
2. Community based CSOs - It is a type of CSO which is founded based on
solidarity, resource sharing, and community building.
3. Philanthropic CSOs - These are organizations that serve a cause without
any religious, political, and business affiliations. They are founded based on
shared or common values such as generosity and humanism.
4. Expert CSOs - It is type of CSO that require some scientific knowledge.
5. Trade Unions - It is a type of CSO which is organized by members of the
labor and workers associations to promote and protect their interests.
6. Business CSOs - These include business and industry NGOs (BINGOs)
which defend a given firm’s or industry’s interests.
Social Movement:
- A collective body that has a high level of commitment and political activism, and is
not necessarily based on formal organization.
Social Movements in the Philippines:
1. Alternative movements - are focused on self-improvement and limited, specific
changes to individual beliefs and behavior.
2. Redemptive movements (sometimes called religion movements) - are “meaning
seeking,” focused on a specific segment of the population.
3. Reformative social movements - seek to change about the social structure. They
may seek a more limited change but are targeted at the entire population.
4. Revolutionary movements - seek to completely change every aspect of society in
a dramatic way.