LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY | FUNDAMENTALS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLSCI 101 | 1ST SEMESTER | A.Y. 2021-2022 |
The State
This module defines the states, differentiates it from nation, and discusses the elements of the
state. Classifications of government as to the number of rulers with sovereign power, the
relationship between national or central government with the local government, and as to the
relationship between the executive and the legislative is introduced.
Learning Outcomes Key Terms
1. Define the state; government dictatorship
2. Discuss the elements of the state; politics taxation
3. Distinguish state from nation; and
state sovereignty
4. Explain and distinguish the
nation republic
different forms of government.
eminent domain political system
executive social contract
parliament monarchy
legislature democracy
Think it over
What makes up a state? Write your ideas in the space provided below:
On the Spotlight: Lesson 1
Understanding Nations, States, and Governments
A nation is a people who share mutual interests, demographic and cultural
backgrounds, and historical territories and memories (Kaarbo & Ray, 2011; Rourke, 2008). A
nation is intangible, an imagined political community, that is not determined by the boundaries
of a land (Rourke, 2008; Anderson, 2006; Renan 1992). Most members of a nation will never
have face-to-face interactions and yet see themselves part of such a political community which
is usually expressed through the desire to establish or maintain sovereignty (Heywood, 2011;
Anderson 2006).
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A state, on the other
hand, is a political organization
that establishes sovereign
jurisdiction within defined
territorial borders (Heywood,
2011; Kaarbo & Ray, 2011; Ayson
& Aligada-Reyes, 2000). According
to social-contract theory, the state
was brought into existence through
an agreement made between
individuals and a sovereign power
(Heywood, 2011). It has three
eminent powers: (1) power of
taxation, (2) power of eminent domain, and (3) police power. The state can raise revenue
through taxation, take private property for public use upon payment of just compensation,
and promote public welfare through its police power. It is also characterized by five features:
a defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government, sovereignty, and
diplomatic recognition (Kaarbo & Ray, 2011). Political scientists also distinguish between
the state and the government, considering the government to be the instrument of the state
to enforce its will (Heywood, 2011).
While state and nations are distinct concepts and not exactly interchangeable,
nation boundaries can be in contiguous with state boundaries and come up with a nation-
state. A nation-state is an autonomous political community where people’s political and
cultural identities coincide (Heywood, 2011).
On the Spotlight: Lesson 2
Classifications of Government
As to the Number of Rulers with Sovereign Power
Government by One Person:
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Monarchy
a form of government where the ruler is a monarch who comes from a royal family
In some monarchies such as in Absolute Monarchy, the monarch has an absolute
power, that is, he/she has total control of the government and the people
However, in a Constitutional Monarchy, there is a democratic government that
limits the monarch’s control.
Dictatorship
Autocracy: a form of government that allows a state to be ruled by one person
(autocrat) who has all political and legal power.
Dictatorship: a form of government ruled by a person or a particular party or
class; power remains in the hands of an individual or class of people; He/she/they are
not accountable to anyone and none of his/her/their actions are subject to judicial
review.
In military dictatorship, the army is in control
Totalitarian dictatorship, the government is ruled by, and has only, one
political party. The government controls the economy. People are forced to
do what the government tells them and may also be prevented from leaving the
country.
Government by the Few:
Oligarchy: a government by the few or by a dominant class but such do not come
from the nobility.
Aristocracy: a government by the “best” members of the community, usually
called aristocrats or nobles.
Government by the Many:
Democracy
Democracy is government elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible has a
vote in who runs the country. This is determined either directly or through elected officials.
As to Central-Local Government Relations
Unitary Government: a unitary government concentrates governmental powers in one
organ, the central or national government to which the constituent or local government
units owe their existence and from which they derive their powers and functions.
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Federal Government: a federal government is one in which government powers are
divided between the central government and its local government units as specified in
the constitution of the state.
As to Legislative-Executive Relations
• Parliamentary System features an executive head of government (often referred to
as prime minister) who is usually elected from within the legislature. The prime minister
is in charge with formulating and executing policy while the head of state has largely
ceremonial duties and is usually either an indirectly elected president or a hereditary
monarch.
• A Presidential System combines the roles of head of state and head of government
in the office of the president. This system features a directly elected president who holds
most of the government’s executive powers.
Parliamentary systems are often praised for its efficiency and flexibility. It reduces conflict
between the legislature and the executive since the latter is supported and approved by the
former (O’Neil et. al., 2010). The members of the legislature can also swiftly remove a prime
minister through a legislative vote of no confidence. However, the dominance of a strong
majority in the parliament can lead to an unchecked government. It is also harder to create
a stable majority government within a fractious legislature (McCormick, 2010).
While parliamentary systems are efficient and flexible, presidential systems are often
portrayed as more stable. The president and members of the legislature are directly elected
by the people and have fixed terms of office (Ayson & Aligada-Reyes, 2000). But presidential
systems lead to overly powerful executives and divisive winner-take-all outcomes.
To avoid the weaknesses of parliamentary and presidential systems, some countries have
adopted a semi-presidential system (O’Neil et. al., 2010). This system includes both a prime
minister approved by the legislature and a directly elected president. The prime minister and
the president share executive power but the exact balance between the two executives varies
from case to case.
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Let’s Apply
1. Can a state survive without government?
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Rubrics:
Organization and clarity: 10 points
Support and development of ideas: 10 points
Insight to the subject: 10 points
Sentence structure: 10 points
Total: 40 points
References
Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of
Nationalism. London: Verso.
Ayson F. G. and Aligada-Reyes, D. (2000). Fundamentals of Political Science. Valenzuela City:
National Bookstore.
Claudio, L. E. and Abinales, P. N. (2018). The Contemporary World. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc.
Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Kaarbo, J. and Ray, J. L. (2011). Global Politics. Boston: Wadsworth.
O’Neil, P. H., Fields, K., Share, D. (2010). Cases in Comparative Politics. New York: W. W.
Norton & Company.
Quiñanola, A. G. and Fernandez, R. B. (2018). Globalization in the Contemporary World: Post-
Cold War Global Economy, Politics and Society. Cavite: San Sebastian College-
Recoletos de Cavite.
Renan, E. (1992) “What is a Nation?”, text of a conference delivered at the Sorbonne on March
11th, 1882, in Ernest Renan, Qu’est-ce qu’une nation?, Paris, Presses-Pocket,
(translated by Ethan Rundell).
Rourke, J. T. (2008). International Politics in the World Stage. New York: McGraw-Hill.
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