Lesson: 10

Suffrage, Election,
and Political Parties
"Let us never forget that government is
ourselves and not an alien power over us. The
ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a
President and senators and congressmen
officials, but the voters of this country"

- Franklin D.
Roosevelt
"My loyalty to my party ends where my
loyalty to my country begins"

- President Manuel L.
Quezon
"When citizen give his suffrage to a man
of known immorality he abuses his trust;
he sacrifices not only his interest but that
the of his neighbor, betrays the interest of
his country "

- Noah Webste
"Elections belongs to the people. It's
their decision. If they decide to turn
their back on the fire and burn their
behinds, them they will just have to sit
on their blister"

- Abraham Linc
Suffrage, Election and Political Parties

All political parties, organizations, and all

people should abide by the constitution and
laws without any exception. They must all act
in accordance with the constitution and laws. I
see that as a defining feature of modern
political system development.

This lesson focuses suffrage and political parties

as political practices in State. Political parties
and elections play a vital role in political analysis
in developed and developing countries in
analyzing and democratic political regimes.
At the end of the lesson, the students are
able to:
1. Describe the nature of elections and political parties in
the Philippines.

2. Identify the types of electoral system.

3. Assess the implications of the kind of electoral systems

in politics and governance.

4. Analyze the nature of elections and political parties

in the Philippines
Suffrage

Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the

Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who
are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall
have resided in the Philippines for at least one year
and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at
least six months immediately preceding the
election.

Meaning of Suffrage:

It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified

citizens in the election of public officers.
Views on Suffrage:

1. A mere privilege - suffrage is not a

natural but merely a privilege to be
given or withheld by the law.

2. A political right - suffrage enables a

citizen to participate in the process of
government.
Theories on Suffrage

1. The Natural Right Theory - This theory claims

that right to vote is a natural and inherited right to
every citizen. The state was created by the people
deliberately and hence all the people have a natural
right to take part in the affairs of the government.

2. The Legal Theory- According to this theory,

suffrage is not a natural right, but a political right
granted by the law of the state. Voting is a public
function.
3.The Ethnical Theory- The Ethical Theory consider
the right to vote as a means of self-expression of the
individual in political affairs. Suffrage provides for the
development of the human personality.

4. The Tribal Theory - In early Greek and Roman

States, suffrage was extended only to the citizens
class. Only people who were accorded citizenship
status could vote. Nowadays, citizenship is essential
for voting. This practice is based on the Tribal Theory.

5. The Feudal Theory- The feudal theory claims that

the right to vote depends on a particulars social status.
The simplest form of social status was ownership of
land. Even now in some states, the emphasis is on a
property qualification. This is a legacy of the old
theory.
Types of Votes :

1.One man One voter- under this provisions

every other is entitled to one and only one vote.
The voter cast his vote for any candidate.

2.Single Transferable Vote- In this system, which is

designed for the multimember consistency, the voter
possesses only one vote. But he can make his priority
like 1,2,3, etc.., according to his requirement. If
candidates fails to secure a majority, the voters
polled for him will be reallocated according to the
second choice , and then the third option, until a
clear majority is obtained by a candidate. In India,
the eclection of the President, and members of Rajya
Sabba are held on the single transferable vote
method.
Types of Votes
3. Plural Voting- Plural voting is the practice
whereby one person might be able to vote
multiple times in an election.

4. Open Ballot-

5. Secret Ballot- In this system the voters cast

his vote for a candidate, without a knowledge
of another person. A citizen can exercise his
franchise without fear.
 Scope of
Suffrage:
1.Election- means by which people choose their
officials

2.Plebiscite- is the vote of the people expressing their

choice for or against a proposed law submitted to
3.Referendum-
them. is the submission of the law passed
by the legislative body to the people for their
retification or rejection.

4.Initiative- is the method in which people directly

propose and enact laws.

5.Recall- a method by which an elective local official

may ne removed from office during his lecture.
Age Qualifications:
This is based on the assumption that under certain
age,human beings have the maturity, experience,
education and sense of judgement what will enable them
to vote with a resonable degree of intelligence.

Residence Qualifications:
this is to give reasonable period within which a
person can familiarize himself with the needs
and conditions and the personalities of the
nation and locality.
Person Disqualified to vote:

•those who have been sentenced to suffer

imprisonment for not less than one year.

•Those who declared as insane or incompetent

person.
SECTION 2:

•The congress shall provide a system for

securing the secrecy of the ballot as well
as a system for "absentee voting"by
qualified Filipinos abroad.

•The Congress shall also design

procedure for the physically challenge
and the illiterates to vote without the
assistance of the other person
SECRECY AND SANCTITY OF THE BALLOT:
-This is to insure that the voters shall
exercise their rigth to freely, uninfluenced
by threats,intimidation or corrupt motives
and to secure a fair and honest count of the
ballots.

ABSENTEE VOTING SYSTEM:

-Filipinos who,by force of circumstances,have
temporarily work and reside abroad but
maintain their love and loyalty to their native
land are still part of our Republic;they are also
affected by quality of public officials and
policies of the government.
 Party System

-it is referred to as the interactions of parties

with each other(Roskin et.al.,2012). The party
system as not equated to parties because a
party system is seen as macro perspective
whereas parties are micro perspective just
focusing on the particular party. It could be said
that the life of political system depends upon
the kind of party system it has. It describes a
relatively soudn system of political party and
voter alignments, electoral rules, ang policy
priorities that dominate a Democratic political
system’s electoral process for some delimited
period.
Classification of Party
System

1.The Two-Party System- this is the system

wherein the major political parties alternates
with each other in the exercise of political
power

2. The Multi-Party System- more than two

political parties fight in an election, and no
single party gets the majority control of power.
Under Multi
System
1. Leftist party- is the reform-minded party
which seeks to change the existing conditions
of the country.

2. Rightist party- is a conservative group

which aims to maintain the status quo in the
country.

3.Center party- adopted policies which are a

mixture of both left and right tendencies.
Classification of Party
System
1. The Two Party System
2. The Multi-Party
System
3.The One Party System- only one political
party holds power either because it towers the
others or because it suppresses all other groups

Note:The only choices left to voters are

1. To decide whether or not to vote

2. To vote "yes" or "no" for the

designated candidate
 Party Functions

✓Organize the competition

✓Unify the Electorate
✓Translate Preferences into Policy
✓Provide Loyal Opposition
✓Organize Government
✓Help Govern
✓Act as Watchdog
✓Nominate Candidates
✓Ensure Candidate Quality
 Political
Party
An organization that seeks political power by electing
people to office so that it's positions and philosophy
become public policy.
A political organization that aims to attain and maintain
political power within government, usually by
participating in electoral campaigns.

It is organizations that mobilize voters on behalf of a

joint set of interest, concerns, and, goals.
It is any aggrupation of persons who come together on
how well the best interest of the people might be served
(ideal definition according t Jeremy Bentham)

It is any group providing label upon which candidates

run for public offices (practical definition).
Heywood (2002) in Aceron (2002), for his part,
provides the following list functions political
parties must perform:
1. Representation- the capacity to respond and to
articulate the views of both members and voters.
2. Elite Formation and Recruitment- the ability to
mold the political elite tasked to government the body
politic.
3. Goal Formulation- the development of programs of
government with a view of attracting popular support.
4. Interest Articulation and Aggregation- the task of
combining and harmonizing different demands and
expressing them into coherent policy formulation.
5. Socialization and Mobilization- the formation of
a national agenda and the creation of public discourse
to raise political awareness and build the necessary
values and attitudes that would constitute a larger
Philippine Party System
The Omnibus Election Code has the following provisions
that define political party func- tions during elections:

➤ Parties must be furnished a copy of Comelec

directives and orders in pursuant to the provisions of
the Omnibus Election Code (Article VIII).

➤ Parties must be notified by the Comelec in the use of

technological and electronic devices (Article VIII).

➤Parties must be provided guidelines for campaign

spending (Article X).

➤ Parties must limit their spending to 1.50 pesos per

voter for each candidate (Article X section 101).
Philippine Party System
➤ The two major parties shall have a representative
each in the board of election inspector in every precinct
(Article XIV) and board of canvassers.

➤All parties can have a watcher in every polling place

(Article XV).

➤ Parties may hold party conventions or meetings to

nominate their official candidates 30 days before the
campaign period and forty days for presidential and
vice-presidential candidates (Article X).

➤ Parties should be notified by the Comelec before the

printing of emergency ballots (Ar- ticle XVI).
Philippine Party
System
➤The two major parties may send representatives to
verify the content of ballot boxes and shall be given a
copy of the statement of election result (Article XVI).

➤ Parties may raise a pre-proclamation controversy,

ie, any question pertaining to or af- fecting the
proceedings of the board of canvassers (Article XX).
 Activity #24: Political Campaign Slogan
Name:________________________ Score:__________
_ Date:___________
Course:___________________
Direction
Think of political slogan. Make it creative and humorous. It should be not more than 10
words.
 Activity #25 :
Essay
Name:___________________ Score:____________
Course:_______________ Date:____________
Direction
Briefly answer the following question.
1. Everyone should have the right to vote. Agree or disagree. Explain.

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
__
2. How do campaign and elections enable choice and opportunities for participation

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
____________