1. EXAMINATION SPECIFICATIONS:
Overall Conditions: The examination is good for 1 hour only. Total items is 100 points and will
contribute 40% of your final grade.
Content: Your answers will be thoroughly examined. All key knowledge and key skills underpinning the
outcomes are examinable.
Format: Choose only 3 Essay questions in A. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, 1 essay question each in
Section “B” and “C” you are going to answer. All in all you have to answer 5 Essay Question. Each
question is worth 20 points.
All items in Item D should be answered.
Criteria: The following criteria will be used to assess the essay. (1) Relevance to the question, (2)
Knowledge and understanding on Politics and Government, (3) Use of accurate terms and concepts and
relevant contemporary evidence, (4) Development of coherent argument or point of view, and (5)
Analysis and evaluation of Philippine politics and government.
A. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
1. Is national identity necessary? Identifying a Filipino identity a matter of the government or
culture? Explain why.
2. Comment on the statement that “Man by nature is a political animal”(Aristotle).
3. Power has long been central to academic analysis on politics but it has generally been
understood in very narrow terms. Is politics to you good or bad? Explain why.
4. Is Democracy necessary to bring development in the Philippines? Explain why.
5. With reference to the system of government, how do you understand Democratic and
Republican State?
6. “The Executive Branch dominates the other two branches in our government.” To what extent
do you agree?
7. Discuss two key similarities between the three fundamental powers of the State.
8. What are those restrain in the exercise of Police Power? Explain why.
9. With the globalization and the presence of millions of OFW all over the world, is sovereignty still
a significant element of state at present? Explain why.
10. Our democratic political system is effective in protecting the democratic rights and freedoms of
the people, in solving poverty and fight graft and corruption. To what extent do you agree?
11. Which of the following you believe the President of the Philippines is influencing legislation in
Congress? Explain why?
a. Controlling the media and speaking out to influence public opinion.
b. Talking to members of the Congress and applying political pressures by promising them pork
barrel and other projects.
c. Threatening to veto or disapprove bills passed by Congress.
d. Sending key members of his cabinet to testify before Congress or speak to the press in
support of the President’s position.
e. Making alliances and recruiting known personalities in his political party.
12. It is said that where there’s no law there is no government. Give your views on this statement.
13. Who do you think controls power in the Philippines? Oligarchs and the powerful elites? The
Majority of the Filipinos? Political Party? The Insurgents? Choose one only and discuss fully.
14. Discuss the notion of centralization in the Philippine Government. Which level dominates the
system? Discuss.
15. Which of the following do you believe is the prevailing view of the power of the President?
Explain why.
a. The President is primarily the one who will execute and carry out the will of Congress.
b. The President controls or exercise general supervision to all local government units in the
Philippines.
c. The President can take whatever action he feels appropriate to advance his policy goals.

2. d. The President is the voice of the nation.
B. GOVERNANCE
1. Television has been influential in the last May 2010 Presidential election. But just what is this
influence, and how has it affected who is elected? Has it made elections fairer and more
accessible, or expensive and unaffordable, or has it moved candidates from pursuing issues to
pursuing image?
2. Is the Filipino vote for sale? Explain why.
3. Which of the following which you think is an action that involves participation in the political
process? Explain why?
a. Creating a blog to write about politics.
b. Contacting a Senator informing him of your support to a particular bill passed in Congress.
c. Reading about politics in the newspaper.
d. Donating money to a candidate.
e. Signing a petition on the internet supporting the repeal of a law.
f. Joining a rebel group in their armed struggle.
C. POLITICAL CULTURE
1. Which of the following statements do you agree that best describes Philippine political culture?
Explain why.
a. The dominant political culture depends on which political party is in power and dominating.
b. Due to its geographical positions and ethnic diversity, there are different political cultures in
the Philippines.
c. Philippine political culture is a collection of different political ideals and cultures and
experiences of the Filipinos working around the world.
d. The dominating oligarchs and the insurgents have different political cultures.
e. The Philippine culture is comprised of values – such as Pakikipagkapwa, Pakiramdam and
Bayanihan – core values that are shared by virtually all Filipinos.
2. Which of the following do you believe is a value of Philippine political culture? Explain why?
a. The belief that the President is super-powerful.
b. The belief that our government is the milking cow for corrupt public officials.
c. The belief that party affiliations of the politicians are always changing depending on the
political party affiliations of the President.
d. The belief that our government has no power to punish criminals, corrupt public officials
and other criminals.
D. CLASSROOM REQUIREMENTS
1. Discuss briefly one of the problems identified by your group that contributes to the present
state of our Philippine democracy. Be sure that this is the same problem your group had
submitted to the class. (20 points)
2. What is your assessment on the 3rd Statement of the Nation’s Address of PNoy last Monday?
(10 points)