Philippine Politics and Government - Philippine History

Philippine Politics and Government

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of the Philippines
See also: Foreign relations of the Philippines, President of the Philippines, and Constitution of the Philippines
Further information: Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippines has a presidential, unitary form of government (with some modification; there is one autonomous region largely free from the national government), where the President functions as both head of state and head of government, and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote to a single six year term, during which time she or he appoints, and presides over the cabinet.[2]

The bicameral Congress is composed of a Senate, serving as the upper house whose members are elected nationally to a six year term, and a House of Representatives serving as the lower house whose members are elected to a three year term and are elected from both legislative districts and through sectoral representation.[2]

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding officer and fourteen associate justices, all appointed by the Philippine President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.[2]

There have been attempts since the Ramos administration to change the government to a federal, unicameral and/or parliamentary government. [33]

The Philippines is a founding and active member of the United Nations and of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines is also a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Latin Union, and the Group of 24. The Philippines is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, but also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.[2]


Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of the Philippines

Provinces, and regions of the Philippines.The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These are divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 120 cities, 1,511 municipalities, and 42,008 barangays.[34] In addition, the Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the Philippines has acquired islands from Sabah, North Borneo.[35]