through

reading
the
texts
and
understanding its intent will guarantee
your survival in this class.

Far Eastern University

Institute of Arts and Sciences
Political Science Department
Course Syllabus for Pol 1N,
Pol S2 and PHGC-MT
POL 1N: Introduction to Political
Science with the Philippine Constitution
Pol S2: Politics and Governance with the
Philippine Constitution
PHGCMT: Philippine Government and
Constitution
(Medical
Technology
majors)
Course credit: 3 units
Prerequisite: none
I. Rationale
This is an introductory course on Political
Science, at such; the premise of the
course is to provide students with an
overview of the basic concepts, principles
and tenets of the discipline. The first part
of the semester would be devoted on the
aforementioned concepts while the latter
would concentrate on the Philippine
Constitution and contemporary issues on
Philippine Politics.
II. Class Format
Class participation is mandatory for this
class. The class would enforce the
Socratic Method; learning would not
be coming only from the professor, but
from you the students.
The students of this class are all required
to read and reread the readings. The
student should expect that their names
would be called for recitation every
meeting, so skipping the readings will
really affect ones class standing. Only

III. Grading System and Class

Requirement and Class Rules
For the Prelims, Midterm and Final
term:
Class Participation (recitation, and
assignments) 30%
Quizzes and Papers 30%
Major Examination 40%
100%
The format for the think piece encoded
which will count as a quiz is as follows:
Paper size: 8x11
Minimum of 1 pages, maximum of 3
pages (Negotiable)
Margin: 1 inch on each corner
Font: 12 times New Roman
Spacing: 1
Failure to comply in any of the
specifications of the paper would result to
a five (5) point deduction per violation,
per page for the papers final grade.
For citation purposes, I would require
using the American Psychological
Association (APA) style in quoting other
persons works or ideas. Moreover, I will
be strict in implementing the Universitys
policy regarding Plagiarism. Plagiarism
is not only a school offence but also a
criminal offence.
Attendance is a must for this class,
despite the absence of the student, he or
she would still be called for the recitation,
thus he or she automatically gets the
lowest grade that can be given.
Moreover, this same rule applies to
quizzes, since most of the quizzes in this
course are announced; there is no reason
for the student to be absent.
IV. Primary Texts

There is neither single reading nor book

that would be able to do justice on the
broad scope of the grand discipline of
political science. Hence, students are
required to read the following books
listed below aside from the ejournals that
would be uploaded eventually.
Danziger, James (2005) Understanding
the Political World 7th Edition PersonLongman Publishing
De Leon, Hector S Textbook on the
Philippine Constitution
Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4
Edition Palgrave Foundations

th

Lazo, Richard (2013) Introduction to

Poltical Science Rex Publishing
Magstadt,
Thomas
Understanding
Politics,
Institutions and Issues
Wadsworth Publishing

(2013)
Ideas,
Thomson

The books are available at the library.

Also students are encouraged to read
other scholarly works and books
pertaining to the course.
V. Course Outline:
A. Politics and Power
Both concepts serves as a foundation on
the study of political phenomenon
(moreover, Political Science), thus, the
students would be given a philosophical
and theoretical discourse on the
contending definition of the two basic
concepts
Suggested readings
th

Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4

Edition Palgrave Foundations Ch 1 (pp324)

Magstadt,
Thomas
(2006)
Understanding
Politics,
Ideas,
Institutions and Issues chapter 1(pp 122)
B. What is Political Science?
The integration of the Scientific Method
in social and political inquiry became a
important development in the emergence
not only of Political Science as a
academic discourse but the Social
Sciences as well.
Suggested Readings
Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4th
Edition Palgrave Foundations Ch 1 (pp324)
Magstadt,
Thomas
(2006)
Understanding
Politics,
Ideas,
Institutions and Issues chapter 1 (pp 122)
C. The Subfields of Political Science
With the development of the discourse
comes the emergence of specialized fields
which focused on the different aspects of
Political Phenomenon.
C.I. Political Theory
Before we could analyze political
phenomenon, students and scholars alike
ought to develop their theoretical and
philosophical faculties. Theory serves as
the foundation not only for analysis but
for critical thinking as well. The
evolution of Political Theory would be
the focal point of discussion. At such, the
stages of political theory and subsequent
scholars/Philosophers would be the key
point of interest
Stages and Philosophers:
Ancient Political Theory: Socrates,
Plato, Aristotle
Medieval Political Theory: St Thomas
Aquinas, St Augustine

Modern Political Theory: Niccolo

Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John
Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, David
Hume, Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham,
John Stuart Mill, James Mill, Karl Marx,
GW Hegel, Friedrich Engels, Friedrich
Nietzsche
Post Modern: Jurgen Habermas, Michel
Foucault, Jacques Derrida

The American Political Science Review

Vol 65, No.3 pp 682-693

C.II. Comparative Politics

Since Political Science deals with a
complex phenomenon, human and human
institutions, one important endeavor for
us to discern political realities would be
to compare institutions, actors, values and
other pertinent variables. The Cultural,
Structural and Rational Choice schools
would be the framework for the
discussion

Katznelson, Ira (1997) Structure and

Configuration in Comparative Politics Comparative Politics, Rationality, Culture
and Structure Lichbach M and
Zuckerman A. editors Cambridge
University Press

Suggested readings
_____________(1997)
Comparative
Politics, Rationality, Culture and
Structure Lichbach M and Zuckerman A.
editors Cambridge University Press
Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin (2010)
Comparative Government and Politics 8th
edition, Palgrave McMillan Press
Lichbach, Mark and Zuckerman, Allan
(1997) Research Traditions and Theory in
Comparative Politics in Comparative
Politics, Rationality, Culture and
Structure Lichbach M and Zuckerman A.
editors Cambridge University Press
Levi, Margaret (1997) A Model, A
Method, A Map, Rational Choice in
Comparative and Historical analysis in Comparative Politics, Rationality, Culture
and Structure Lichbach M and
Zuckerman A. editors Cambridge
University Press
Lijphart, Arend (Sept. 1971) Comparative
Politics and the Comparative Method in

Ross, Mark Howard (1997) Culture and

Identity in Comparative Political
Analysis in Comparative Politics,
Rationality, Culture and Structure
Lichbach M and Zuckerman A. editors
Cambridge University Press

C.III International Relations

Interstate interaction is obviously
different from internal or actor to actor
interaction. Special attention should be
given on the dynamics of interstate
politics, especially that we have entered
globalization and technology has slowly
delimited
national
boundaries.
International Relations would be viewed
under the lenses of Realism, Liberalism
and Marxist approaches
Suggested readings:
Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4th
Edition Palgrave Foundations Ch 7
(pp127-162)
Magstadt,
Thomas
(2006)
Understanding
Politics,
Ideas,
Institutions and Issues chapter 17-18
(pp522-601)
C.IV Public Administration
Public Administration calls for the
divorce of politics and administration
primarily in the delivery of public goods.
As an emerging discipline of its own, the
subfield focuses on the best practices,
theories and doctrines of government
administration and public participation.
Since the subfield has grown due to the
pressing needs of the key stakeholder of
the State, namely the citizen, the field has

been separated to distinct subfields:

Public Policy, Organization Studies,
Local
Governance
and
Fiscal
Administration
Suggested readings
Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4th
Edition Palgrave Foundations Ch 18 (pp
381-400) and Ch 20 (pp 425-444)
Reyes, Danilo (2003) the Study of Public
Administration in Perspective, A Passing
Review of the Development of the
Discipline in Public Administration in
the Philippines A Reader Alfiler,
Bautista, Reyes and Tapales editors
(pp109-144)
C.V
Emerging
Trends
and
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Since Political Science is part of the
Social Sciences network, the discipline is
influenced by other fields such as
Economics,
Psychology,
History,
Sociology and Philosophy. Moreover,
disciplines outside the Social Science
umbrella has contributed to the
development of the discipline as well,
such as Engineering, Mathematics and
Information technology
The Interdisciplinary Fields: Urban
Planning, Political Psychology, Country
Specific Studies (i.e. Chinese, Philippine,
American, European and Japanese),
Political
Sociology
and
Political
Economy
D. Governments, Regimes and States
Whether Presidential or Parliament,
Federal or Centralized, this are some of
the debates encountered by students with
regards to the ideal or practical model of
state vis--vis the pressing needs of
society. Thus, it is a necessity to give the
students an insight on the different state
models and its configuration

Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4th

Edition Palgrave Foundations Ch 2 (pps
25-40) and Ch 5 (pp 89-106)
Magstadt,
Thomas
(2006)
Understanding
Politics,
Ideas,
Institutions and Issues chapters 7-9 (pp
158-285)
E. The Government Machinery
The knowledge of the components of the
state machinery would enable students to
understand the function, premise/purpose
and thrust of each part and stakeholder of
the State.
Section Content:
Elections
Political Parties
Groups, Interests and Movements
Constitutions, Law and the Judiciary
Political Executives
Bureaucracies
Military and Police Force
Public Policy and System Performance
Suggested readings:
Heywood, Andrew (2013) Politics 4th
Edition Palgrave Foundations Chapters
12 to 20 (pp 247-4444)
F. Contemporary Issues on Philippine
Democracy
The contextualization of the theories,
doctrines and concepts of Political
Science is necessary to understand and
eventually resolve the recurring issues
and problems of the Philippine
Democracy. Students would be given an
overview of the states political history
and the state machinery as well.
Suggested Readings
Nowak, Thomas (1977) The Philippines
Before Martial Law: A Study in Politics
and Administration in The American
Political Science Review
Vol. 71 No. 2

Wurfel, David (1977) Martial Law and

The Philippines, Methods in Regime
Survival in Pacific Affairs Vol 50 no 1
Rocamora, Joel and Hutchcroft, Paul (
2003) Strong Demands and Weak
Institutions, The Origins and Evolution
of the Democratic Deficit of the
Philippines in Journal of East Asian
Studies

Sin Patria y sin amores,

Solo veo ante mi llanto y
Dolores
(Kung walang isang bayan ng pag ibig,
ang nakikita ko ay luha at hinagpis)
Antonio Regidor

Teehankee, Julio (2002) Electoral

Politics in the Philippines in Electoral
Politics in Southeast and East Asia,
Aurel Croissant editors, Freiderich Ebert
Stiftung
Case, William (2002) The Philippines,
Stable but Low Quality Democracy in
Politics in Southeast Asia, Democracy or
Less Routledge Corzon
Jungog
Choi
(2001)
Philippine
Democracies, Old and New: Elections,
Term Limits and Party Systems in Asian
Survey Volume 41 no. 3
G. The Philippine Constitution
The concept of the Social Contract, as byproduct of the philosophical inquiry of
the modern political thinkers led to the
establishment of states as enshrined by
constitutions. It is therefore equally
important to discuss no only the doctrine
of the constitution but the Philippine
constitution as well to increase the
students awareness regarding their
political rights and obligations

For inquires and other matters related to

the subject, feel free to contact me at the
following email address:
joem_co@yahoo.com,
joem.co@upd.edu.ph
10345167@dlsu.edu.ph
Consultation Hours:
Mondays/Tuesdays 1:00PM to 2:30 PM

Professor/Instructor:
Joem Balbin Co MPA, MA (TW)

The
following
sections
Constitution
would
be
thoroughly:

of
the
discussed

Preamble
Article 1 National Territory
Article II Declaration of Principles and
State Policies
Article III Bill of Rights
Article IV Citizenship
Article V Suffrage

PhD in Political Science University of

Santo Tomas (on going)
Master of Public AdministrationUniversity of the Philippines-Diliman
MA Political Science (Candidate) De La
Salle University-Manila
AB Political Science University of Santo
Tomas
Certificate in Professional Education
University of the Philippines-Diliman