1. What is election?

- Elections are the device for filling a governmental office through choices made by the electorate, a
designated body of qualified people. While elections are by themselves not a sufficient condition for the
existence of political representation, they are necessary condition because the representative process is
intrinsically linked to election and voting
(Heywood 2013). Philippine Politics and Governance, 2017, p,137

2. What are the types of election?

- Direct elections – an act of selecting public officials by direct votes of the people

- Indirect election – an act of choosing public officials by the representatives of the people

Source: Ayson, F. G., & Reyes, D. A. (1993). Fundamentals of Political Science. Manila,
Philippines: National Book Store., p. 164

3. Purpose of elections?
- Recruiting political leaders – In the Philippines, as in any other democracy that holds elections, government
officials are recruited by means of elections. A part from those who serve in the government under the civil
service, politicians are chosen to work in and for the government by means of elections.

- Making government - In the Philippines, elections do not only create the government (in the context, the
group of individuals responsible and accountable in policy-making), but the opposition as well.

- Providing representation – in fair and competitive systems, elections become the means through which
people’s demands are channeled to the government.

- Influencing policy – elections may hinder the government from pursuing unpopular policies. At times when a
single issues dominates the electoral campaign, elections may directly influence policy.

- Educating voters – the utilization of a wide array of campaign strategies, including the use of social media,
has propelled the elections to new heights. In the country, the campaign season becomes the people’s
source of information regarding the candidate (even their personal and familial matters) and the timely
issues that are to be addressed.

- Building legitimacy – in the Philippines, as in elsewhere, officials who are given seats in the government are
considered holders of legitimate power as the people elected them.

- Strengthening elites – while elections encourage people to participate in politics and link people to the
government, elections can be also vehicle through which the political elites can manipulate and control the
masses.
Source: Philippine Politics and Governance. Page 137-138
4. Role of comelec
Article IX of the Philippine Constitution, specifically section 2 of the commission on Election
substantially states that the commission on election shall exercise the following powers and functions;
- enforce laws relative to the conduct of elections
- decide election contests
- decide all questions affecting elections
- deputize law enforcement agencies
- register political parties
- file petitions, investigate, and prosecute
- recommend measures
- recommend removal or disciplinary action
- submit report - perform other functions
Sec. 2. The Commission on Elections shall exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative,
referendum, and recall.
(2) Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over all contests relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of all
elective regional, provincial, and city officials, and appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving elective municipal
officials decided by trial courts of general jurisdiction, or involving elective barangay officials decided by trial courts of
limited jurisdiction.
Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on election contests involving elective municipal and barangay
offices shall be final, executory, and not appealable.
(3) Decide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions affecting elections, including determination of the
number and location of polling places, appointment of election officials and inspectors, and registration of voters.
(4) Deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the
Government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly,
honest, peaceful, and credible elections.
(5) Register, after sufficient publication, political parties, organizations, or coalitions which, in addition to other
requirements, must present their platform or program of government; and accredit citizens’ arms of the Commission
on Elections. Religious denominations and sects shall not be registered. Those which seek to achieve their goals
through violence or unlawful means, or refuse to uphold and adhere to this Constitution, or which are supported by
any foreign government shall likewise be refused registration.
Financial contributions from foreign governments and their agencies to political parties, organizations, coalitions, or
candidates related to elections, constitute interference in national affairs, and, when accepted, shall be an additional
ground for the cancellation of their registration with the Commission, in addition to other penalties that may be
prescribed by law.
(6) File, upon a verified complaint, or on its own initiative, petitions in court for inclusion or exclusion of voters;
investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases of violations of election laws, including acts or omissions
constituting election frauds, offenses, and malpractices.
(7) Recommend to the Congress effective measures to minimize election spending, including limitation of places
where propaganda materials shall be posted, and to prevent and penalize all forms of election frauds, offenses,
malpractices, and nuisance candidates.
(8) Recommend to the President the removal of any officer or employee it has deputized, or the imposition of any
other disciplinary action, for violation or disregard of, or disobedience to, its directive, order, or decision.
(9) Submit to the President and the Congress, a comprehensive report on the conduct of each election, plebiscite,
initiative, referendum, or recall.
Source: De leon, H. s., & De leon Jr., H. M. (2011). Textbook on the Philippine Constitution.
Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store., pp.431-433

5. What is a political party, define attributes/characteristics, genos by itself, unique purpose of formation
political party, preparation of the candidates for the next election?
Political Party
an organized group of individual who agree on common political principles and platform in seeking to control the
powers of government to serve national interest and to enjoy benefits derived from such control
5.1 Attributes and characteristics of a Political Party

- It is an organization of men united on common political principles platform

- It must put up candidates during election time

- It must have a party platform or program of government

Source: Ayson, F. G., & Reyes, D. A. (1993). Fundamentals of Political Science. Manila,
Philippines: National Book Store., p.187
5.2 Origin of Political Parties

- Theoretical assumptions

- Theory of the characteristics of the human personality – holds that political parties originated out
of the combative instincts of the individuals.

- Theory of the social environment – explains that the creation of parties may be due to the
temperature of a people and their attitude towards social environment.
Source: Ayson, F. G., & Reyes, D. A. (1993). Fundamentals of Political Science. Manila,
Philippines: National Book Store., p. 180
5.3 Purpose of formation of Political Parties

- Parties generally exist to choose candidates of elections

- Parties stand for platforms of government

 - Party organization forms political leadership for the country and serves as fiscalizers of the party in power

- Parties provide alternative approach whenever the electorate changes the party in power; a new political
group shall then emerge to provide the society and state new political agenda.
Source: Ayson, F. G., & Reyes, D. A. (1993). Fundamentals of Political Science. Manila,
Philippines: National Book Store., p.217-2019

5.4 Preparation of the candidates for the next election

- Pre-campaign/informal campaign good

- The pre-campaign or informal campaign period begins once a candidate has decided to run for public
office. The major practices during these period are: strengthening political base; planning, organizing,
raising money, and forging alliance or joining political groups.

- Launching: Filing candidacy

- The actual or formal campaign period starts the day the candidate formally announces that he/she is
running for public office and files one’s certificate of candidacy.

- Formal campaign period

- Aside from rallies, candidates employ barangay to barangay, house to house, person to person, and market
to market campaigning, candidates play their jingle or song advertisement during political motorcades with
leaflets, posters, banners, and flyers to ask people’s votes.

- Election day

- The most important day in the whole electoral process. Candidates have their own network of loyalists who
distributed sample ballots, watch the during process, and influence voters to choose their candidates.
Election day is filled with tension for the candidates as they see election day as their judgement day
Source: Montiel, C.J. (2002). Chapter one: Philippine Political culture and governance. Quezon City,
Philippines: Philippine governance forum.

6. Classifications of Political Party

Cadre Parties - denote the organization of professionals, knowledgeable, skilled and trained members who are
politically committed and exhibited party value discipline.
Mass parties - have wider public-based support; organized to mobilize working class support system.
Representative parties - see their primary functions as being the securing of votes in elections; place pragmatism
before principle and market research before popular mobilization.
Integrative parties - are usually reactive and tend to mobilize, educate and inspire the masses rather than merely
respond to their concerns.
Constitutional parties -
Revolutionary Parties -
Left wing parties - propose leveling of class statutes by nationalizing major industries under the state control and
ownership
Right wing parties - aim to set aside the culture of welfare state and rather promote capitalism

7. Functions of political parties

- political parties educate the people
- political parties perform the basic role of providing leadership in government
- political parties serve a potential sources of public policy
- political parties act as an effective communication link between the government and the people
- political parties perform the function of critic and fiscalizer
- political parties help promote unity among groups of people with different religions, creeds, languages, customs and
traditions, and racial origins
- political parties are instruments of government for national integration
Source: Ayson, F. G., & Reyes, D. A. (1993). Fundamentals of political science. Manila.
Philippines: National Book Store., pp. 187-192

8. Distinguish the characteristics of political parties