Concept of State and Government

Meaning of State• A community of persons permanently

occupying a definite portion of territory, having a government of their own to which they render obedience, and enjoying freedom from external or outside control

• [e.g., Philippines, China, United States of America]

Elements of State

• 1. People• 2. Territory• 3. Government • 4. Sovereignty

People

• This refers to the large numbers of inhabitants living within the state.

• It must be small enough to be ruled• And it must be big enough to be self-

sufficient

Territory• This includes the land over which the state

exercises control• It also includes the rivers and lakes

therein, certain areas of the sea which borders on its coasts and the air space above them.

• A mass of land where people can permanently reside

Government

• This refers to the agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and carried out.

• This could be referred as the “administration”

Sovereignty• The supreme power of the state to

command and enforce obedience from its people as well as to have freedom from foreign control

• *It could be manifested internally through its freedom to rule within its territory

• *Externally through its freedom to carry out its activities without control by other states.

State vs. Government• The government is only the agency

through which the state expresses its will.• A state cannot exist without a government,

but it is possible to have a government without a state [e.g., Spanish era Philippines]

Purpose and Necessity of Government

• If there were only one person in the world, there would be no need for a government because he could do anything he liked. He could harm nobody, and nobody could harm him.

• 1. The government needs to exist for the benefit of the people. – it protects lives and property, sets up and

enforces rules and laws, settle disputes, and in general advances the physical, economic, social, and cultural well-being of its people.

• 2. Without government there would be no one to administer the affairs of society for the common good.– Disorder, violence, and insecurity will prevail

and such values as truth, freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity which we take for granted cannot be enjoyed.

Kinds or Forms of Government• 1. Monarchy• 2.Oligarchy• 3. Democracy• 4. etc.

1. Monarchy

• Or known as the “rule of one”• It is absolute (dictatorship) if the supreme

power is held by one man; • or limited, if the powers of the individual

ruler are limited, usually by a written Constitution

2. Oligarchy

• Aristocracy• Or the rule of the few

3. Democracy• The rule of the many• It is pure if the people rule themselves

directly; or• Representative (republican), if the people

govern themselves indirectly