COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTUREUNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

ESPAÑA, MANILA

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTIONCourse Outline2nd 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:1

RecitationGroup activitiesQuizzesMajor examsPaper

GRADING SYSTEM:

Class standing 50%Major exams (prelim / final) 30%Major paper 20% (10% oral + 10% written)

COURSE OUTLINE:

Prelim Grading Period

Day 1 OrientationTo provide an overview of the course.

Week 1 PGC and Citizenship Education

OBJECTIVES: To make a cursory mapping of Philippine political landscapeTo identify key political issues affecting Philippine stateTo 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 educationCitizenship education according to the constitutionPhilosophical underpinnings of citizenshipThe strict legal meaning of citizenshipThe 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 http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_b/mod07/mod07task03/appendix.htm

Week 2 Research Break

Things to do:Watch “Batas Militar” in Youtube (11 parts)Read the 1987 ConstitutionPlan / consolidate preliminary work for researchChecking 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 ConstitutionTo deepen the students’ understanding of constitutionTo highlight the significance of the constitution in the political life of modern state

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

TOPICS:Meaning of constitutionThe relation between the constitution and the modern political stateThe different previous Philippine constitutions and their impact on the development Philippine governmentHistorical precedents of the 1987 Constitution (key players, key events)The distinction between “nation”, “state” and “government” in the light of Philippine historyWatersheds in the history of Philippine governmentDifferent 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 http://www.chanrobles.com/philsupremelaw1.htm

Week 4 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part I)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the proper understanding of democracyTo trace the development of democratic tradition in the PhilippinesTo 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 democracyMajor stages of the evolution of democracy in the PhilippinesKey features of democracy in the PhilippinesMilitary and democracyThe role of mediaOther 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 http://opinion.inquirer.net/viewpoints/columns/view/20100511-269336/Philippine-Democracy-Alive-but-is-it-well

Week 5 Democracy, Government and Constitution (Part II)

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the form of government in the PhilippinesTo 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 governmentThe role of the different branches of governmentGovernance and bureaucracyPublic accountabilityThe issue of regional autonomyDevolution of local governmentPeople power and Philippine government

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

READING: RP up a bit in corruption index in http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101028-300174/RP-up-a-bit-in-corruption-index

PRELIM EXAM

Week 6 The Constitution and the Economy

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a cursory mapping of the state of the economy of the countryTo identify key economic provisions of the ConstitutionTo identify key problems and how we, as citizens, can contribute to their solutions

QUESTION: What ails our economy?

TOPICS:Agrarian economyThe role of the private sectorSocial and human developmentLaborForeign investmentThe 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 http://www.newsbreak.ph/2010/11/03/philippines-slips-in-global-prosperity-index/

Low human development reflects MDG failure in http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=news&news_id=417&fa=1

2010 Human Development Report analyses long-term development trends in http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/november/undp-launches-2010-human-development-report-analysing-long-term-development-trends.en

Summary of 2010 Human Development Report in http://www.undp.org/publications/hdr2010/en/HDR_2010_EN_Summary.pdf

Week 7 Constitution, Education and Culture

OBJECTIVES: To examine key provisions of the Constitution on education and cultureTo identify issues related to education and cultureTo 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 citizenshipProblems related with education and cultureLanguage

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Youth and familySustainable 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 http://pcij.org/stories/rp-far-behind-goals-to-lift-plight-of-children-mothers/

The Crisis of Public Education in the Philippines in http://www.fnf.org.ph/liberalopinion/crisis-public-education-philippines.htm

Education crisis looms in http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/may/21/yehey/top_stories/20090521top1.html

Department of Education: When reforms don’t transform in http://hdn.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chapter-2-department-of-education-when-reforms-dont-transform.pdf

The Labor Exporting State: Migration and Higher Education in the Philippines in http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/9/7/3/8/pages197380/p197380-1.php

Week 8 Global Perspectives on Philippine Politics

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the Philippines situates itself vis a vis the current trends of global politicsTo see how the Philippine government directs itself in relation with its global counterpartsTo 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 GlobalizationTerrorismEnvironmentEconomy and democracyPhilippines’ 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 http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20101109/tph-pnp-dnd-intel-agency-notified-terror-541dfb4.html

Week 9 Constitution: Cure or Problem?

OBJECTIVES: To take a look at the on-going debate on the issue of constitutional changeTo see the previous attempts to change the constitutionTo formulate informed perspective on the issue

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

TOPICS: Strengths and weaknesses of the constitutionPast efforts to the change the constitution; their merits and demerits

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Key reasons behind the campaign for constitutional changeProspects and alternatives

REFERENCE: Art. XVII

READINGS: Philippine Constitution and Charter Change in http://sites.google.com/site/ipeoteam2010/philippine-constitution-and-charter-change

The Philippines’ Foreign Relations: Threats and Opportunities in http://www.iseas.edu.sg/viewpoint/rcs28nov03.pdf

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:

AbstractObjectivesQuestionJustification or Background of the StudyDiscussionConclusionRecommendations

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., 2005Busto, 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)

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