POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Political parties in the Philippines are of diverse ideologies and are plentiful in

number. Most of these parties do not have actual grassroots membership among

ordinary voters but rather that of political figures and leaders.

What is a Political Party

A group of people that is organized for

the purpose of winning government

power, by electoral or other means.

Voluntary association of individuals who advocate certain principles or policies as superior to all others for

the general conduct of government and which nominates and supports certain of its leaders as electoral

candidates.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A POLITICAL PARTY:

1. Has an organized structure with lines of authority and power distribution. 2. Seek to attract popular support in the form of votes. 3. Seeks political power directly thru electoral method 4. Prepared to support a candidate and fight for victory in an election. (to gain power)

PARTY MEMBERSHIP

1. For patronage 2. To get special treatment from the government 3. To enhance their own career 4. Economic benefit 5. Personal gratification 6. To have and to use an influence on the others 7. Ideological fulfillment

means formal attachment to a political party, usually

involving the assumption of obligations to the party and receiving privileges from the party.

§ Usually require a person to apply formally for membership, and party officials can accept or reject the application (though in fact they are usually accepted).

§ The person must at least pay annual dues and sometimes take an oath to support the party’s principles and candidates.

Party Membership Rules:

1. Leadership Recruitment- The political party is still likely to be a structure that identifies potential leaders, brings them to public attention, and secures them the support necessary for taking public office. 2. Coordinate policy across different branches of Gov’t 3. Mobilize voters – get out the vote drives

-President, Congress, local party cooperation to win elections. -Leaders stress party loyalty to proposed policies.

4. Provide accountability- unintended side effect Used by voters to hold elected official accountable

THE FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

THE FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

5. nominate candidates - by most common method today. 6. contest election- “wage war” in the general election 7. form governments- organized along party lines

government appointments in executive

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES OF PARTIES

1. Selecting Candidates Parties virtually monopolize nominations, which give them tremendous power to shape governments and policies.

2. Election Campaigning Those professionals, hired by the candidates for substantial fees, organize high- tech campaigns that feature such up-to-date (and costly) techniques and raising money by computerized direct mail advertising.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES OF PARTIES CONT..

3. Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office.

4. Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates.

5. Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office.

6. Govern—Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party.

7. Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election.

POLICY FORMULATION

The successful party finds out what people want and finds way to combine and address

those demands. Specific policies inevitably begin to emerge in this process.

  1. Campaigning In today’s world of mass media, political consultants, and direct mail advertising, the parties still play a part in ensuring that voters are registered, that they know the differences among the candidates, and that they know when and where to vote on election day.

2. GOVERNING

The leader of the party winning

the most votes takes the top leadership role, works with the advice of a cabinet formed of

his own party.

SOME PHILIPPINE POLITICAL PARTIES

NACIONALISTA PARTY

LIBERAL PARTY PARTIDO LIBERAL

NG PILIPINAS

PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO

Force of the Filipino Masses

L A K A S K A M P I

CMD

MINOR PARTIES PLAY SEVERAL IMPORTANT ROLES:

“SPOILER ROLE”

MINOR PARTY CANDIDATES CAN PULL DECISIVE VOTES AWAY FROM ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES’ CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY IF THE MINOR PARTY CANDIDATE IS FROM A SPLINTER PARTY.

CRITIC

MINOR PARTIES, ESPECIALLY SINGLE-ISSUE PARTIES, OFTEN TAKE STANDS ON AND DRAW ATTENTION TO CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT THE MAJOR PARTIES WOULD PREFER TO IGNORE.

INNOVATOR

OFTEN, MINOR PARTIES WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT ISSUES AND PROPOSE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. IF

THESE PROPOSALS GAIN POPULAR SUPPORT, THEY ARE OFTEN INTEGRATED INTO THE PLATFORMS OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES.

Gabriela Party

Anak mindanao Party

!

Philippine name English name Abbr. Leader Founded International Seats in the

lower house Seats in the upper house Notes

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

New Patriotic Alliance Bayan Satur

Ocampo 1985 International Newsletter

7 / 292

0 / 24

Offshoot of the Communist Party of the Philippines

Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines CDP Rufus

Rodriguez 2012 none 1 / 292

0 / 24

Offshoot of Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

New Society Movement KBL Imelda

Marcos 1978 none 1 / 292

0 / 24

Offshoot of the Nacionalista Party

Laban ng Demokratik

ong Pilipino

Struggle of Democratic

Filipinos LDP Edgardo

Angara 1998 Centrist

Democrat International

2 / 292

1 / 24

Former member of Corazon Aquino's UNIDO (1986)

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng

Bayan

Philippine Democratic

Party-People's Power

PDP Laban

Aquilino Pimentel III 1982 none UNA

1 / 24 Former member of Corazon

Aquino's UNIDO (1986)

People's Reform Party PRP Miriam

Defensor Santiago

1991 none 0 / 292

1 / 24

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino

Force of the Filipino Masses

PMP Joseph Estrada 1991 none See UNA

Parties Represented in Congress

Parties represented in Congress

!!

Philippine name English name Abbr. Leader Founded International

Seats in the lower

house

Seats in the upper

house Notes

Lakas–Christian Muslim

Democrats

People Power-Christian Muslim

Democrats Lakas

Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo 2008

Centrist Democrat

International

14 / 292

2 / 24

Formerly known as Lakas Kampi CMD; merged from original Lakas–CMD and

KAMPI

Liberal Party LP

Benigno Aquino III and Mar Roxas

1946

Liberal International,

Alliance of Democrats, Council of

Asian Liberals and Democrats

110 / 292

4 / 24

Originally the Nacionalista Party; member of the

Aquino-Laurel UNIDO (1986)

Nacionalista Party Nationalist Party NP Manny Villar 1903 none

17 / 292

5 / 24 Oldest political party in the

Philippines

Nationalist People's Coalition NPC Eduardo

Cojuangco, Jr.

1991 none 43 / 292

2 / 24

Offshoot of the Nacionalista Party; formerly known as

Partido Pilipino

National Unity Party NUP Pablo P. Garcia 2011 none

24 / 292

0 / 24 Offshoot of the Lakas Kampi

CMD

United Nationalist Alliance UNA

Jejomar Binay, Joseph Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile

2012 none 8 / 292

5 / 24

Electoral alliance of the PMP and the PDP-Laban

Philippine name

English translation Abbr. #1 nominee Seats in the lower

house (PL only) Notes

1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy 1-CARE Edgardo

Masongsong

2 / 58

Abono Fertilizer Abono Conrado Estrella III 2 / 58

Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action,

Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms

A TEACHER Mariano Piamonte, Jr. 2 / 58

Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines AGAP Nicanor Miral Briones

2 / 58

Akbayan Citizens' Action Party Akbayan Walden Bello

2 / 58

Member of the Progressive Alliance;

Consultative member of the Socialist International; Allied with Team PNoy

Ako Bicol Political

Party I am Bicol

Political Party AKB Christopher Co or Emilio Ubaldo, Jr.

2 / 58

An Waray The Waray [people] An Waray Neil Benedict

Montejo

2 / 58

Bayan Muna Nation First Bayan Muna Neri Colmenares 2 / 58

Member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Buhay Hayaan

Yumabong

Life be Allowed to

Prosper Buhay Michael Velarde, Jr.

3 / 58

Citizens' Battle Against Corruption CIBAC Sherwin Tugna or

Luis Lokin, Jr.

2 / 58

Cooperative NATCCO Network Party

Coop-NATCCO Cresente Paez

2 / 58

GABRIELA Women's Party GABRIELA Luzviminda Ilagan 2 / 58

Member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Magdalo para sa Pilipino

Cheer for Filipinos Magdalo Gary Alejano

2 / 58

OFW Family Club OFW Family Roy Señeres, Sr. 2 / 58

Party-lists represented in Congress These parties won more than 2% of the vote

Kinds of Party Systems

1.  The One- Party System 2.  The Two- Party System 3.  The Multi- Party System

The One- Party System�

¨ Only one party holds the power because it towers above the others or because it suppresses all other groups.�

¨ With two sub- types:�¤ The one party democracy ( usually found in newly- independent states)�

¤ The Totalitarian Party in Communist states.�

�

�

The Two- Party System a. The turn- over system b. The system wherein major political parties alternate with each other in the exercise of political power.

¤ In the US- Democratic and Republican ¤ In Britain- Conservative and Labour parties

The Advantages and Disadvantages

1. Ensures simplicity and stability in the change of government. 2. Loosing party acts as “ loyal opposition” to force the party on power. 3. Assures a measure of political unity ¤ Allows a free interplay of

opposing forces.

¨  May decline into a m o n o t o n o u s p o l i t i c a l g a m e wherein politicians yield to corruption and patronage of each other.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

The Multi Party System More than two political parties fight in an election. ¨  No single party gets the majority control of the power. ¨  Leads to coalition of parties to secure a governing control of the government. ¨  Transfer the consensus building on the floor of the Congress or the inner of chambers of government itself.

¤ Rightist, leftist, center

¨ The Leftist- reform – minded party

which seeks to change the existing conditions in the country.

¨ The “Rightist” – conservative group which seeks to maintain the status quo

in the country. ¨ The Center Party has adopted policies

which are mixture of both the left and right tendencies.

The Advantages and Disadvantages:

¨  may more honestly represent the various shades of political opinions.

¨  may bring out more truly democratic measures

Occasional instability and

inaction.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Party Organization

¨  Why do the major parties have a decentralized structure?

¨  How does the national party machinery and the local party machinery operate?

¨  What are the three components of the parties?

¨  What are the future possibilities for the major parties?

The Decentralized Nature of the Parties

Both of the major parties are highly decentralized and fragmented.

WHY? 1.  The party out of power lacks a strong leader.

2.  The government system distributes powers widely, in turn causing the parties to be

decentralized. 3.  The nominating process give way party members

against one another because only one person can chosen to be the party’s presidential candidate.

National Party Machinery

¨  The National Convention

¨  The National

Chairperson

¨  The Congressional Campaign

Committees

¨  The National Committee

All four elements of both major parties work together loosely to achieve the party’s goals.

Three Components of the Party

Party Components

The Party in the Electorate

Those who always or almost always vote

for party candidates.

The Party in Government

Those who hold office in the government.

The Party Organization:

Those who run and control the party

machinery.