PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION



COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

ESPAÑA, MANILA

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION

Course Outline

2nd Semester 2010 – 2011

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

▪ To provide the students citizenship education through the study of Philippine government and constitution

▪ To study the dynamics of the Philippines as a democratic and republican government

▪ To help students to understand and appreciate the 1987 Constitution as the fundamental charter of the land

▪ To enable the students formulate their own perspectives and responses to the pressing issues of the times

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

To maximize the benefits of and to, hopefully, pass the course, students, at the very outset, are expected:

▪ To have an average familiarity with Philippine history

▪ To possess an updated awareness of current events

▪ To have made, at least, an initial reading of the text of the Philippine Constitution

▪ To be willing to share their insights on issues during small group and plenary class discussions

▪ To be ready to accomplish and turn in their requirements on time

▪ To be prepared to comply with the reading assignments

▪ To be capable of exercising independence in thinking and of engaging in meaningful discussion of the issues to be taken up in the class

TEACHING / LEARNING PARAMETERS:

▪ The class shall treat the Constitution as a living text, that is, open to both questions and answers.

▪ Consistent with our advocacy of democracy, the class shall also adopt a “democratic” approach to learning through the use of small group and plenary discussions.

▪ At the outset, the class will be divided into permanent discussion groups. Each discussion group is responsible for “nursing” the topic/s assigned to / chosen by them.

▪ Oral and written, individual and group exercises shall be employed as tools of assessment. There will be a short written quiz and/or oral recitation each meeting to ensure readiness for the day’s discussion.

▪ Each meeting, the class shall commence with a brief oral presentation from the group/s of the day.

▪ The class shall promote problem-posing and problem-solving approaches to learning.

▪ Independent research/study for groups and individuals is highly encouraged.

▪ The study of the constitution will be issue-oriented and infused with both local and global perspectives.

CLASROOM PROTOCOLS:

Basic classroom decorum (see Student Handbook)

Absences beyond 7 mean WP.

Three counts of tardiness are equal to one absence.

Special quiz or recitation is given only on exceptional cases.

REQUIREMENTS:

Recitation

Group activities

Quizzes

Major exams

Paper

GRADING SYSTEM:

Class standing 50%

Major exams (prelim / final) 30%

Major paper 20% (10% oral + 10% written)

COURSE OUTLINE:

Prelim Grading Period

Day 1 Orientation

To provide an overview of the course.

Week 1 PGC and Citizenship Education

OBJECTIVES: To make a cursory mapping of Philippine political landscape

To identify key political issues affecting Philippine state

To introduce the concept of citizenship education as a paradigm of understanding Philippine politics and constitution

QUESTION: How do we understand the statement, “What is personal is also political.”?

TOPICS:

General definition of citizenship education

Citizenship education according to the constitution

Philosophical underpinnings of citizenship

The strict legal meaning of citizenship

The broader meaning of citizenship

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec. 3-5, Sec. 9 –28; Art. III; Art. IV; Art. XIII; Art. XIV; Art. XV

READING: Citizenship Education for the 21st Century in

Week 2 Research Break

Things to do:

Watch “Batas Militar” in Youtube (11 parts)

Read the 1987 Constitution

Plan / consolidate preliminary work for research

Checking out, gathering, browsing of readings

Week 3 Historical Background of the 1987 Constitution

OBJECTIVES: To trace the key historical events which led to the creation of the 1987 Constitution

To deepen the students’ understanding of constitution

To highlight the significance of the constitution in the political life of modern state

QUESTION: Is the state of Philippine politics reflective of a leadership crisis or citizenship crisis?

TOPICS:

Meaning of constitution

The relation between the constitution and the modern political state

The different previous Philippine constitutions and their impact on the development Philippine government

Historical precedents of the 1987 Constitution (key players, key events)

The distinction between “nation”, “state” and “government” in the light of Philippine history

Watersheds in the history of Philippine government

Different forms of government in the context of Philippine history

REFERENCE: Preamble of 1987 Constitution; Art. II, Sec. 1-2, 7-8

READINGS: 1899, 1935, 1943, 1973, 1986 Constitutions in

Week 4 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part I)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the proper understanding of democracy

To trace the development of democratic tradition in the Philippines

To study democracy Philippine-style as reflected in the constitution

QUESTION: How do we describe democracy Philippine style? What are its features, strengths and weaknesses?

TOPICS:

Meaning of democracy

Major stages of the evolution of democracy in the Philippines

Key features of democracy in the Philippines

Military and democracy

The role of media

Other democratic institutions

REFERENCE: Art. III; Art. V; Art. VI, Sec. 16, par. 5, Sec. 19, Sec. 23, par. 1, Sec. 27, par. 1, Sec. 32; Art. VIII, Sec.4, par. 2-3; Art. X. Sec. 3, 10, 11, 18; Art. IX; Art. XI; Art. XIII, Sec. 15-19; Art. XVI, Sec. 11; Art. XVI, Sec. 4-3; Art. XVII, Sec. 1-2

READING: Philippine Democracy: Alive but is it well? in

Week 5 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part II)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the form of government in the Philippines

To discuss the relationship of governance and public accountability

To identify key issues of governance / government in the Philippines

QUESTION: What is the key to a corruption-free government?

TOPICS:

The features of presidential form of government

The role of the different branches of government

Governance and bureaucracy

Public accountability

The issue of regional autonomy

Devolution of local government

People power and Philippine government

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec.1,4; Art VI-VIII; Art. X; Art. XI

READING: RP up a bit in corruption index in

PRELIM EXAM

Week 6 The Constitution and the Economy

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a cursory mapping of the state of the economy of the country

To identify key economic provisions of the Constitution

To identify key problems and how we, as citizens, can contribute to their solutions

QUESTION: What ails our economy?

TOPICS:

Agrarian economy

The role of the private sector

Social and human development

Labor

Foreign investment

The population and economy

REFERENCE: Preamble; Art. II, Sec. 7-28; Art. XII; Art. XIII; Art. XIV, Art. XVI, Sec. 9-11

READINGS: Philippines slips in global prosperity index in

Low human development reflects MDG failure in

2010 Human Development Report analyses long-term development trends in

Summary of 2010 Human Development Report in

Week 7 Constitution, Education and Culture

OBJECTIVES: To examine key provisions of the Constitution on education and culture

To identify issues related to education and culture

To determine the importance of education and culture in the democratic growth of Philippine nation

QUESTION: What is the role of education and culture in promoting democracy and nation-building?

TOPICS:

The relation between education, culture and citizenship

Problems related with education and culture

Language

Youth and family

Sustainable development

REFERENCE: Art. II, Sec. 11-14; Art. XIII; Art. XIV; Art. XV

READINGS: RP far behind goals to lift plight of children, mothers in

The Crisis of Public Education in the Philippines in

Education crisis looms in

Department of Education: When reforms don’t transform in

The Labor Exporting State: Migration and Higher Education in the Philippines in

Week 8 Global Perspectives on Philippine Politics

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the Philippines situates itself vis a vis the current trends of global politics

To see how the Philippine government directs itself in relation with its global counterparts

To understand the future of Philippine politics in the age of globalization

QUESTION: How do we describe the Philippines’ position in global politics? (How does the country view itself in relation with other states? How do they view us?)

TOPICS:

Sovereignty and Globalization

Terrorism

Environment

Economy and democracy

Philippines’ foreign relations / policies

REFERENCE: Art. I; Art. II, Sec.1-2, 8,18,24,27; Art. III; Art. VII, Sec. 21; Art. XII; Art. XIII, Sec. 1-3

READING: PNP, DND, intel agency notified of the terror info in

Week 9 Constitution: Cure or Problem?

OBJECTIVES: To take a look at the on-going debate on the issue of constitutional change

To see the previous attempts to change the constitution

To formulate informed perspective on the issue

QUESTION: Is there a genuine need to change the Constitution?

TOPICS:

Strengths and weaknesses of the constitution

Past efforts to the change the constitution; their merits and demerits

Key reasons behind the campaign for constitutional change

Prospects and alternatives

REFERENCE: Art. XVII

READINGS: Philippine Constitution and Charter Change in

The Philippines’ Foreign Relations: Threats and Opportunities in

Week 10 Synthesis

FINAL EXAM

GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK:

1. Each group shall select a topic or issue related with a topic. The issue or topic must be based on the text of the Constitution. The group is expected to be able to do this during research break.

2. At the beginning of each lecture, one or two groups shall give an overview of their report (from Abstract to Justification).

3. For the prelim grading period, each group is expected to complete the initial part of its report (from Abstract to Justification). Prelim exam consists of the oral defense of the said part.

4. For the final grading period, the group is expected to complete the entire report. Final exam consists of the oral defense of the entire paper.

5. Structure of the report:

Abstract

Objectives

Question

Justification or Background of the Study

Discussion

Conclusion

Recommendations

REFERENCES:

Books

Abinales, Patricio and Donna J. Amoroso. State and Government in the Philippines. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2005.

Adams, Ian. Fifty Major Political Thinkers. London: Routledge, 2003.

Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of the Filipino People. Manila: Garotech Publishing, 1990.

Anvil Law Books Series. The Constitutions of the Philippines. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing Inc., 2005

Busto, Arellano S. (Comp.) Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Manila: AVB Printing Press, 2005.

David, Randolf. Nation, Self and Citizenship. Quezon City: University of the Philippines, 2002.

De Leon, Hector S. Textbook on Philippine Constitution. Quezon City: Rex Publishing Co., Inc., 2005.

Morada, Noel et al. Philippine Politics and Governance: An Introduction. Quezon City: University of the Philippines, 2006.

Online Articles (see above)

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download