Lecture slide deck on Philippine Elections and Political Parties.
This is from a class on Philippine Politics and Governance that I taught from 2003-2005.
2. Overview
What are the historical
underpinnings of elections in the
Philippines?
How did the Philippine party
system develop and perform?
What are some of the pressing
issues surrounding the Philippine
electoral and party systems?
3. The Electoral System
Periodic election of officials by
single-ballot plurality vote
Executive and senators elected at
large
Existence of legislative districts
and local government units
Electorate: duly registered citizens
18 years of age and above
4. Pre-Colonial Philippines
No elections for ruling authorities
Government was based more on
intangibles
– Kinship
– Customs/Traditions
– Favors
– Unwritten laws
5. Colonial Government
In colonizing the Philippines,
Spain effectively formalized and
modernized government rule
To be able to administer the
colony effectively, the colonial
government created pockets of
local authority across the country
6. American Colonial Rule
American colonial rule set the
foundation for elections in the
Philippines
Government institutions and the
electoral system were patterned
after the American system
Filipinos could run for public office
in a limited capacity
7. Commonwealth
Introduced a more
accommodating electoral system
Over time, Philippine elections
were dominated by a single-party
Creation of the COMELEC to
oversee the conduct of elections
8. 1973 Constitution
Consolidation of power under
Martial Rule
Less electoral safeguards
– Weakening of the powers of the
COMELEC
– Lack of checks and balances within
the electoral system
9. The Filipino Party System
American Colonial Rule
– Initial dominance of the Federal Party
Party advocating Philippine statehood
within the United States
– Rise and subsequent preponderance
of the Nacionalista Party
Coalition of different groups advocating
Philippine independence
10. The Filipino Party System
Post-War Period
– Split of the Liberal Party from the
Nacionalista Party
Encouraged by the Americans to
avoid single-party hegemony
Over time, the distinction between the
two became blurred
Growing importance of personalities
11. The Filipino Party System
Martial Law
– Clampdown on political institutions
– Rise of the Kilusang Bagong
Lipunan (KBL) as the dominant
political party
– Eventual emergence of regional
political parties
12. The Filipino Party System
Post-EDSA (1986)
– Development of a multi-party
system
13. Lessons
Effective checks and balances are
needed over the electoral system
Elections are used to lend
legitimacy to a regime
There are very few distinguishing
characteristics between political
parties in the Philippines
14. More Lessons
Parties have generally been
ineffective as political institutions
that lend predictability to politics in
the Philippines
Personalities overpower parties
as political entities