Topic 1: 3.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
Rousseau's concept of the general will
POLITICAL PARTIES
and his critique of factionalism might
lead him to view political parties with
"A political party is a group of persons suspicion. He argues that parties can
organized to acquire and exercise undermine the common good by
political power. Political parties promoting the interests of specific
originated in their modern form in groups over the general will of the
Europe and the United States in the people.
19th century, along with the electoral
and parliamentary systems, whose
4. Montesquieu: Montesquieu's theory
development reflects the evolution of
of the separation of powers and checks
parties. The term party has since come
and balances suggests that he sees
to be applied to all organized groups
political parties as necessary elements
seeking political power, whether by
of a functioning republic. He might view
democratic elections or by revolution."
parties as part of the system of
(Britannica)
balancing competing interests within
government.
POLITICAL PARTIES ACCORDING TO
PHILISOPHERS 5. Karl Marx: Marx viewed political
parties as instruments of class struggle.
He saw them as representing the
1. Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes did not
interests of different social classes, with
specifically address political parties, but
the ruling class using parties to maintain
his work on the social contract and the
its dominance while the proletariat would
role of government suggests that he
form their own party to overthrow
would view political parties as
capitalist systems.
instrumental to maintaining social order
and stability within the framework of the
6. John Stuart Mill: Mill emphasized
Leviathan (the sovereign authority).
the importance of freedom of speech
and association. He sees political
2. John Locke: Locke emphasized the
parties as essential for fostering political
importance of representative
engagement and debate within a
government and the consent of the
democratic society, allowing citizens to
governed. He sees political parties as
organize and advocate for their
vehicles through which citizens express
preferred policies.
their diverse interests and opinions,
aiming to influence government policies
and decisions.

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 groups but rather any citizen
who is willing to join the party.
NATURE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
 Mass-based political parties
 They aim to exercise constitute thousands of
governmental power by winning people as they Unites
political offices, ie. An electoral hundreds of thousands of
machine; supporters, sometimes
 They are organized bodies with a millions.
formal kind of membership.
 They adopt a broad issue and try
to mobilize people around that FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICT
issue by addressing each of the
major areas of government
1.ARISTOCRACY- Composed of
policy; and
landowners, depended upon rural
 They are united by shared
estates on which a traditionalist clergy
political preference and general
held back a generally unlettered
ideological identity.
peasantry.

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES 2.BOURGEOISIE- Made up of

industrialists, merchants, tradesmen,
bankers, financiers, and professionals-
A. CADRE PARTIES
depended upon the lower classes of
 parties dominated by
clerks and industrial workers in the
politically elite groups of
cities.
activists.
 developed in Europe and
America during the 19th REPUBLICAN PARTY
century.
 Also known as the GOP (Grand
Old Party), is one of the two
B. MASS-BASED PARTIES
major contemporary political
 Mass Based Parties was
parties in the United States. It
developed after 1924 as a
emerged as the main political
result of a decision of the
rival of the Democratic Party in
Comintern (the Third
the mid-1850s.
International, or federation of
 Republican supporters are
working-class parties)
strongest among white folks.
 It attempts to organize not
Republicans use the elephant as
only those who are influential
their mascot
or well known or those who
represent special interest

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 elections. The party is center-
right in ideology and implements
conservative politics.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
 The logo of the Democratic Party, TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN
the donkey. THE PHILIPPINES
 The oldest political party in the
United States and among the
Nationalist People’s Coalition
oldest political parties in the
world.  It was formed in 1920, after a
group of private and individual
political figures worried over the
national, political and economic
TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN disarray, approached former
THE PHILIPPINES Ambassador Eduardo “Danding”
Cojuangco to lead a national
coalition in 1990.
Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP)
 NPC’s priorities diverging from
 Partido Liberal was established national healthcare, laws
by then senators President establishing data privacy, and
Manuel Roxas, President Elpidio better budget reform.
Quirino, and former 9th
Nacionalista Party
Senatorial District Senator José
Avelino, on January 19, 1946.  It is the oldest political party in the
 LP upholds its legacy as the only Philippines and the whole
major political party standing its Southeast Asia. It originated as a
ground against an increasingly group that began in 1901 during
authoritarian, populist regime. the Philippine-American War, It
founded by former presidents
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio
 UNO is political coalition between Osmena, initially having its main
Binay’s Partido Demokratiko political goal as achieving full
Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP- independence from the United
Laban) and Manila Mayor Joseph States.
Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang  It aims for a government that is
Pilipino (PMP). always in line with the Filipino
 UNA is youngest political party on people’s ideals. Moreover, it
this list, and it was recognized by wants to preserve and develop
the Comelec as the dominant the nation’s patrimony, to
minority party for the 2016 promote the general welfare, and

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 ensure that they and their claim that without political parties,
posterity experience holding elections and passing laws
independence under a regime of would be nearly impossible. Giovanni
justice, liberty, and democracy. Sartori stated that political parties are
the best way to represent people's
interests, beliefs, demands, and ideas
WHAT IS PARTY SYSTEM?
on a large scale by creating political
A party system is a form of platforms. With the party system, people
government where the people do not can examine these political platforms
make direct decisions but rather elect or and choose which one best suit their
choose representatives to make politics, therefore creating diversity and
decisions on their behalf. These competition. As a result, they hold the
representatives generally belong to what government accountable and organize
is called a political party; therefore, the the leadership of society to create
system of government is a party system. stability.
Most countries in the world utilize
political parties to organize their
ADVANTAGES
leadership and therefore have a party
system for their government. 1. They allow the average person to
organize into a political force.
2. They help people to grow personal
HISTORY OF PARTY SYSTEM
and professional networks.
Scholars state that due to various 3. They help governing become a faster
revolutions and political changes in the process when they operate correctly.
19th and 20th centuries, diverse 4. They can limit the influences of
interests and social groups led to the money on an election.
development of party systems. Notably, 5. They work to ensure information is
some of the first political parties and distributed to everyone.
party systems that existed were in the 6. They create balance within a society.
United States and Europe. Although the 7. They encourage people to become
United States Constitution does not politically active.
mention political parties and many
founding fathers warned of the division
DISADVANTAGES
they cause, in 1796, prominent leaders
formed the Federalist Party and the 1. They encourage bribery and
Democratic-Republican Party. corruption.
2. They put the group in front of the
individual.
IMPORTANCE OF PARTY SYSTEM
3. They are expensive.
Various scholars have argued for 4. They discourage differing opinions.
the importance of party systems. Some 5. They can often abuse their power.

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AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
6. They encourage compromise.  NEA (National Education
Association)
 AMA (American Medical
Association)
Topic 2:
INTEREST GROUPS
INTEREST GROUPS CAN BE
CLASSIFIED INTO TWO BROAD
CATEGORIES:
NATURE OF INTEREST GROUPS
 It is an organization that is trying
to shape public policy by PRIVATE INTEREST GROUPS
influencing the decisions of the
 Seeks economic benefits for their
political people.
members or clients; advocates for
 Interest groups do not need to
the benefit of their members.
nominate candidates for office or
 Primarily based on selective
who will lead them.
benefits. (e.g., Foreign
 An interest group always
Governments, AARP)
concentrates on matters that
affect their interest.
 Interest groups are private
PUBLIC -INTEREST GROUPS
organizations where the public is
not accountable to the general  Seeks to institute certain public
public. policies that will benefit all or
most of the people in the country,
whether or not they belong to that
INTEREST GROUPS EXAMPLES: organization; it tries to represent
a broad segment of society or
 AARP (American Association of
even all persons.
Retired People)
 Primarily non-economic groups.
 Sierra Club (Environment)
(e.g., NAACP, League of Women
 NAACP (National Association for
Voters- educate voters (not just
the Advancement of Colored
women) about candidates and
People)
issues, ACLU- works to protect
 NOW (National Organization of
the Constitutional rights and
Women)
freedom of Americans.)
 ACLU (American Civil Liberties
Union)
 PIRGs (Public Interest Research
Groups)

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
  Agenda building
 Program alternatives
 Program monitoring
POLITICAL PARTIES VS. INTEREST
FUNCTION OF INTEREST GROUPS
GROUPS
 Representation of members
 Education
POLITICAL PARTY
 Benefiting members
 Seeks to influence from the inside  Funding Political Parties
as part of the government.  Improving Democracy
Members seek positions of power
THEORIES RELATED TO INTEREST
and government status to make
GROUPS
policy changes and seek
outcomes that they, and the PLURALISM AND GROUP THEORY
people they represent, desire.
 Pluralist theory argues that
 Broadly focus on many issues.
interest group activity brings
 Elections
representation to all.

INTEREST GROUPS ELITES AND THE DENIAL OF

PLURALISM
 Seek change from the outside.
Members do not run for public  Elite theory argues that a few
office; they seek to influence interest groups, primarily the
members of political parties with wealthy, have most of the power.
influence to change course on or
modify policy.
HYPER-PLURALISM AND INTEREST
 Focus upon particular issues.
GROUP LIBERALISM
 LOBBYING (engaging in
activities aimed at influencing  Hyper-pluralist theory asserts that
public officials, especially there is over-mushrooming of
legislators, and the poiicies they interest groups.
enact) and LITIGATION (process
of bringing a lawsuit, to pursue
their causes.)

ROLE OF INTEREST GROUPS

 Representation
 Participations
 Education

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Topic 3:
DIFFERENT TYPES OFINTEREST POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
GROUPS
1. ECONOMIC INTEREST REPRESENTATION
GROUPS  Political representation is a kind
 Business Association of political assistance.
 Trade Unions
 Professional I. THE POLITICAL PRINCIPLE OF
 Associations REPRESENTATION

2. PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS  Representation as a political

 Advocacy Groups principle is "Standing for" or
 Ideological Groups "acting on behalf" of a larger body
 Single-Issue Groups of people.
 Making citizens' voices, opinions,
and perspectives "present" in
3. IDENTITY-BASED GROUPS public policy making processes.
 Ethnic or Racial Groups
 Religious Groups II. THEORIES OF REPRESENTATION
 Gender- Based Groups
A. REPRESENTATION THROUGH
4. INSTITUTIONAL INTEREST DELEGATE MODEL
GROUPS  Delegation is a model that usually
 Government Agencies supports mechanisms, which
 Educational Institutions ensures politicians and leaders to
 Non-profit Organizations act in a manner consistent with
the views and interests of people
5. FOREIGN INTEREST GROUPS they represent.
 Multinational Corporations  It has two underlying principles
 Foreign Governments that gauge the accountability and
 Diaspora Groups control over politicians: Initiative
and Recall.
 A delegate therefore is expected
to act as a partner and
representative of the people he
represents.

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
B. REPRESENTATION THROUGH
TRUSTEE MODEL The nature of political representation
 Trustee is a person who has can be understood through several key
been elected to assume authority, features:
control or responsibility for or on  Sovereignty of the people
behalf of another property or  Free mandate
affairs.  Responsiveness and
 Trustee representation believes Accountability
that policy leaders or government  Equality Through Universal
rulers become political Franchise
representatives of the people  Territorial Constituencies
because of the inherent
qualifications they possess and IV. FOUR (4) DIFFERENT VIEWS OF
therefore promote the interest of REPRESENTATION (PITKIN, 1967)
the governed.
1. FORMALISTIC REPRESENTATION
C. REPRESENTATION THROUGH  The institutional arrangements
MANDATE MODEL that precede and initiate
 The so-called doctrine of representation.
mandate representation
propounds an idea that "in 2. SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION
winning an election, a party gains  The ways that a representative
a popular mandate that “stands for” the represented —
authorizes it to carry out whatever that is, the meaning that a
policies or programs it outlined representative has for those
during the election campaign. " being represented.
Mandate model views a group,
rather than an individual leader. 3. DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION
 The extent to which a
D. REPRESENTATION THROUGH representative resembles those
RESEMBLANCE being represented.
 The resemblance model theory
argues that the best 4. SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION
representative of the group must  The activity of representatives—
come also from the same group that is, the actions taken on
because the chosen behalf of, in the interest of, as an
representative is in a better agent of, and as a substitute for
position to articulate the interest the represented.
of the group for being part or a
member therein.
Topic 4:
III. NATURE OF REPRESENTATION

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
ELECTION fair elections safeguard individual
rights and societal interests.
I. NATURE OF ELECTION
III. FUNCTION OF ELECTION
• Election process may vary from one
Function of election in democratic
country to another, they may differ in
governance
terms of voting system.
• Representation
• Accountability
• Discussion of Public Issues
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
• Legitimization
• Self-Actualization
PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
 The president being the head of
IV. ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN
the state and the government.
ELECTION
The manner of election is direct
 The primary means of
popular vote.
communication that is used to
reach the vast majority of the
Example: US, Argentina, Brazil,
general public
Mexico, Philippines
 a one-to-many communication
 referred as mass communication.
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM  it is derived from two terms;
"mass" and "media"
 Prime minister is elected
indirectly.
EVOLUTION OF MASS MEDIA
1. First printing press in Europe by
II. DEFINITION OF ELECTION Johannes Gutenberg (15 century)
2. The Electronic Age (Early 20th
 Elections are structured events Century)
where eligible members vote to 3. The Digital Revolution (Late 20th
choose representatives or decide Century - Present)
on issues, ensuring democratic
governance. ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN ELECTION
 Key components include voter
registration, campaigning, voting, V-O-I-C-E
and transparency. V- Visibility
 Elections grant legitimacy, enable O- Outreach
peaceful power transitions, I- Informing
ensure accountability, and C- Critique
promote civic engagement. E- Engage
Upholding democracy, free and V. ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN
ELECTION

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 SUFFRAGE
ELECTORAL SYSTEM
 Elections empower citizens to The right to vote is called suffrage. It is
change the country's direction, from the Latin word suffragium, which
with each vote holding significant has several meanings, including “vote,”
influence. “ballot,” and “voting rights.” Suffrage—
 The upcoming National Elections also called the franchise—is a civil right
will determine leaders at national, enjoyed by citizens of a democratic
provincial, and local levels, state.
including the president, vice
president, Senate, House of
Representatives, governors, HISTORY OF SUFFRAGE
mayors, and council members.
The history of suffrage is a progression
 The outcome will shape the
from the control of society by small and
nation's governance across
privileged groups to an ever-increasing
multiple levels
role by more and more people. Those
who held power were usually
determined to keep it and were unwilling
to allow many people a say in the
matter. The theory was that those who
have the most at stake in society by
virtue of their wealth should control
policy.
The right to vote for public officials was
comparatively rare until the 19th
century. In ancient Athens all citizens
were required to take part in public life.
This included holding office as well as
voting. But many residents of the city-
state were not considered citizens. In
Sparta the rights of citizens were strictly
limited, and those who were not citizens
—the majority who did the actual
productive work—had few, if any, rights.
In monarchical governments the people
were subjects, not citizens. But in some
Topic 5:
monarchies local officials were elected.
SUFFRAGE The pope of the Roman Catholic church

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
was often elected by acclamation of the states: Vermont, New Hampshire,
people of Rome, but other church Maine, and Massachusetts. The
members throughout Europe had no Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870,
voice in the pope’s election. Since the gave all adult Black males the franchise,
13th century he has been elected by the but many states found ways to get
College of Cardinals. around the amendment through devices
such as the poll tax and literacy
The democratization of politics was
requirements. Poll taxes in federal
given great impetus by the American
elections were barred by the Twenty-
and French revolutions, and it was given
fourth Amendment (1964) and in state
a theoretical foundation by the political
elections by a ruling of the Supreme
writers of the Enlightenment. In the
Court in 1966. The Voting Rights Act of
United States of 1776 only some
1965 suspended state literacy tests and
property owners could vote, but the
other voter-qualification tests that had
ideals enumerated in the Declaration of
been used to keep Blacks from voting,
Independence pointed the way for a
mostly throughout the South.
gradual widening of suffrage. The
ferocity of the French Revolution gave During the post–Civil War years a
virtually the whole population of France number of states passed female
the status of citizens immediately, and suffrage acts. Some states had allowed
the traditional barriers to participation in women to vote in local elections, but
government were quickly overthrown— Wyoming Territory was the first, in 1869,
but France later reverted to monarchy to give them the right to vote in
until 1870. The ideals promoted by the statewide contests.
two revolutions and their aftermaths led
This provision was written into the
to a broadening of suffrage in the next
Wyoming constitution 20 years later,
few decades.
and for the first-time women could vote
Progress toward universal suffrage in in national elections as well as state and
the United States moved in several local ones. Other states, mostly in the
steps. During the decades after the West, followed suit. The right to vote in
ratification of the Constitution, white federal elections was not granted in all
male citizens were given the vote in the states until the ratification of the
state after state. Kentucky and Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. (See
Tennessee granted white males the also feminism, “Winning Woman
franchise in 1792 and 1796, Suffrage.”)
respectively. In 1826 New York became
When the Twenty-sixth Amendment was
the last state to abolish property
ratified in 1971, it set the voting age for
qualifications for voting by white males.
all federal, state, and local elections at
Before the American Civil War Black 18. Thus, all citizens of the United
people were allowed to vote in only four States, except those specifically barred

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
by law, are allowed to vote. The Limited suffrage restricts the right to
exclusions are citizens under 18, the vote based on certain criteria, such as
mentally incompetent, and convicted property ownership, gender, race, or
felons. education. Historically, many countries
practiced limited suffrage, where only a
By the late 20th century universal
specific segment of the population was
suffrage had become generally
allowed to vote.
accepted around the world. Some newly
independent nations require literacy 3. EQUAL SUFFRAGE
tests before allowing citizens to vote. In
Equal suffrage ensures that all eligible
South Africa the Black majority was not
citizens have an equal right to vote,
allowed to vote until 1994, when that
regardless of any discriminatory factors.
country’s first one-person, one-vote
Equal suffrage promotes the principle of
election took place. (See also elections.)
one person, one vote, without any form
Suffrage, also known as the right to of discrimination.
vote, is a fundamental democratic
4. COMPULSARY SUFFRAGE
principle that ensures individuals have
the ability to participate in the political Compulsory suffrage requires eligible
process by casting their ballots in citizens to vote in elections by law.
elections. The concept of suffrage has Countries with compulsory suffrage
evolved over time, expanding to include impose penalties or fines on citizens
various groups that were initially who fail to participate in the electoral
excluded from voting rights based on process.
factors such as gender, race, property 5. SELECTIVE SUFFRAGE
ownership, and age.
Selective suffrage allows certain groups
of people to vote while excluding others.
This type of suffrage may be based on
TYPES OF SUFFRAGE
factors such as age, residency, or
1. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE citizenship status.

This type of suffrage grants the right to 6. PLURAL VOTING

vote to all adult citizens, regardless of Plural voting grants individuals’ multiple
factors such as gender, race, wealth, or votes based on certain criteria, such as
education. Universal suffrage aims to wealth, property ownership, or education
ensure that every eligible citizen has the level. This system allows some
right to participate in the democratic individuals to have more influence in
process. elections than others.
2. LIMITED SUFFRAGE

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 choose their leaders. It should be noted
here that only citizens of the city-state
had the right to exercise suffrage. In a
7. RESIDENT SUFFRAGE modern democracy, Citizenship is one
of the requirements for the exercise of
Resident suffrage grants voting rights to
suffrage. As a requirement, the
individuals based on their residency in a
Constitution of the modern state had
particular jurisdiction. In some cases,
adopted this theory.
non-citizens who are legal residents
may be eligible to vote in local elections.
2. Suffrage as a Vested Principle
8. PRISONER SUFFRAGE
This theory originated during the
Prisoner suffrage pertains to the voting
Middle Ages. According to this theory,
rights of individuals who are
only the rich who owned property,
incarcerated. Different countries have
especially the landed gentry, had the
varying laws regarding whether
vested right and privilege to vote for
prisoners retain the right to vote while
their public officials. Thus, suffrage was
serving their sentences.
premised on the economic status of the
voter – that the voter who was a rich
landowner had a greater stake to protect
than those who did not own property.
Modern democracies like Great Britain,
were influenced by the theory on vested
9. EX-PAT SUFFRAGE
principles because at one period in their
Ex-pat suffrage concerns the voting political history, they included as one of
rights of citizens living abroad. Some the requirements of suffrage, ownership
countries allow their citizens residing of land property. Great Britain adopted
outside the country to vote in national before the enactment by Parliamentary
elections, either through absentee of the Great Reform Act of 1832 the
ballots or at diplomatic missions. plural voting process based on the
number of land properties a voter
owned. At the early years of American
CLASSICAL THEORIES OF Sovereignty in the Philippines, the
SUFFRAGE American authorities introduced local
1. Suffrage as an Attribute of elections as a means of building the
Citizenship foundation structures of democracy.
One of the requirements for voters was
This theory was adopted by the ownership of land property with an
ancient Greeks, such as those in the assessed value of thirty to one hundred
Greek city-state of Athens where an pesos.
assembly of citizens met regularly to

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Property qualification in the responsible Citizenship. In the
Philippines was long abolished. It was performance of the task of selecting the
abolished by the framers of 1935 best candidates for public office, the
Constitution in as much as thus individual is always delighted with the
requirement for the exercise of suffrage thought that his choice becomes an
was not included in said Charter. The integral part of democratic government.
provision on SUFFRAGE in the 1973 Thus, the responsible voter always
and the 1987 Constitutions states that thinks that suffrage is not only a political
“no literacy, property, or other right or privilege, since under the ethical
substantive requirement shall be theory, the exercise of the franchise
imposed in the exercise of suffrage. promotes the ethical and judgement
values of that individual voter.

3. Suffrage as an Abstract Natural

5. Suffrage as a Government
Right
Function
Under this theory, suffrage is an
This theory PRESUPOSES that
INHERENT right ENDOWED upon man
suffrage is a function of government. It is
by God. It is an innate right that man
government that prescribes certain
exercises when he becomes adult
qualifications of an individual qualified to
regardless of his qualifications or
vote. These qualifications pertain to
disqualifications. Many political
certain requirements based on
scientists say that this theory of suffrage
Citizenship, Age, Residence, and
if practiced would enhance the
Literacy. Sometimes, the theory is
democratic process. The 1987
otherwise called legal theory because
Constitution as it was in the 1973
the prescriptions are provided by the
Constitution, provides that NO
Constitution and the Law. It considers
LITERACY requirement shall be
suffrage as a political right or privilege,
imposed in the exercise of suffrage. This
since only a certain few possessing the
provision is interpreted to mean that
qualifications and none of the
ILLITERATES can participate in the
disqualifications under the law are
electoral process which in effect
entitled to exercised today by modern
broadens the base of democracy.
democratic governments.

4. The Ethical Theory

FUNCTIONS OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE
The exercise of suffrage under this
theory makes man an asset to his The right to vote is a fundamental
community for its main objective is to aspect of democracy that allows
improve bot only his personality, but individuals to participate in the decision-
also mold him in the matrix of making processes of their society. By

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
casting a vote, individuals can have a Overall, the function of the right to
voice in electing their representatives, vote is to ensure that individuals have a
shaping public policies, and influencing meaningful role in shaping their
the direction of their community, state, collective destiny, fostering democratic
or country. governance, and upholding the
principles of equality, representation,
At its core, the right to vote
and accountability in society. It is a
empowers citizens to have a say in how
cornerstone of democracy that
they are governed and to hold their
empowers citizens to actively participate
elected officials accountable. It is a
in the decision-making processes that
means for individuals to express their
govern their lives and the future of their
preferences, values, and interests
communities.
through the democratic process. By
participating in elections, citizens can
help ensure that their perspectives are
ADVANTAGES OF SUFFRAGE
represented in the government and that
the policies enacted reflect the will of the 1. SUFFRAGE IS FUNDAMENTAL
people. TO DEMOCRACY
Furthermore, the right to vote as it allows citizens to participate in
serves as a mechanism for promoting the decision-making process by
equality and ensuring that all individuals electing representatives and shaping
have the opportunity to have a say in the public policies. If there is a democratic
decisions that affect their lives. It is a governance, it ensures that
tool for fostering inclusivity and diversity governments are accountable to the
in governance, as it gives all eligible people they serve, because the people
citizens the chance to participate they serve are the one who voted for
regardless of their background, beliefs, them, the one who put their trust on
or socioeconomic status. them.
Additionally, the right to vote is
essential for safeguarding other rights
2. SUFFRAGE PROMOTES
and freedoms. Through voting,
INCLUSIVITY.
individuals can help protect their civil
liberties, promote social justice, and It promotes inclusivity by giving all
advocate for policies that uphold human eligible individuals the right to vote,
rights and dignity. By exercising their regardless of their background, gender,
right to vote, citizens can contribute to race, or socioeconomic status. Everyone
creating a more just and equitable who is eligible is given the chance to
society for themselves and future vote. This helps in creating a more
generations. representative and diverse political
landscape.

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
 public. This legitimacy helps to maintain
stability and order within society, as
3. IT FOSTERS
citizens are more likely to respect and
ACCOUNTABILITY.
comply with the decisions made by their
Elected officials rely on the support of elected leaders.
voters to stay in office. Therefore, they
are incentivized to listen to the concerns
and priorities of their constituents and DISADVANTAGES OF SUFFRAGE
take action accordingly. If they fail to do
1. VOTER APATHY AND LOW
so, they might not get re-elected
TURNOUT.
because if they fail to serve the interest
of the people, the people won’t vote for Many eligible voters may not participate
them again if incase that they are in elections due to apathy, lack of
planning to run again, this keeps them interest, or a belief that their vote does
responsible or be accountable for what not matter, which can undermine the
they do while they’re in charge. democratic process.

2. MISINFORMATION AND
4. IT PROMOTES POLITICAL
PROPAGANDA.
ENGAGEMENT.
Voters can be influenced by
Suffrage encourages citizens to become
misinformation, propaganda, or biased
actively involved in the political process
media, leading to poorly informed
beyond just voting. This can include
decisions that may not reflect their true
activities such as volunteering for
interests.
political campaigns, participating in
protests or demonstrations, attending
town hall meetings, or even running for
3. POPULISM AND
public office themselves. By engaging in
DEMAGOGUERY.
these activities, citizens become more
politically aware and and making a Candidates may exploit popular but
contribution to the functioning of impractical or harmful sentiments to gain
democracy. votes, leading to the election of leaders
who prioritize short-term gains over
long-term stability.
5. IT STRENGTHENS
LEGITIMACY.
4. TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY.
When governments are elected through
a fair and transparent electoral process, The interests of minority groups can be
they gain legitimacy in the eyes of the overlooked or oppressed by the

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE
majority, resulting in policies that do not 3. Disqualifications from Public
protect the rights and interests of all Office
citizens. 4. Travel Restrictions

5. INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN
POLITICS.
Campaigns often require substantial
financial resources, giving wealthy
individuals and groups disproportionate
influence over candidates and political
outcomes.

6. COMPLEXITY OF ISSUES.
Many political issues are complex and
require specialized knowledge to
understand fully. Voters might not
always have the necessary expertise to
make informed decisions on every
issue.
7. POLARIZATION.
Competitive elections can lead to
increased political polarization, with
candidates and parties catering to
extreme positions to mobilize their base,
potentially leading to a more divided
society.

POSSIBLE LAWS IN VIOLATION OF

NON- PARTICIPANT IN VOTING
1. Compulsory Voting Laws
2. Restrictions in Services

POLITICAL DYNAMICS
AB POLITICAL SCIENCE