Lesson
Government and
2 Governance
What’s In
You learned in Lesson 1 the various meanings and different views about politics.
Remember that politics is a social activity and it can be studied using different
perspectives.
What’s New
This lesson will introduce to you the two important concepts of government and
governance as well as the connections and differences between them.
What is It
The Government and its Purposes
According to Mendoza (1999), government is the term generally used in referring the
formal institutions through which a group of people is ruled or governed and the term
extends to include the people and organizations that make, enforce, and apply political
decisions for a society.
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Government as explained by De Leon (1991) is
created for the benefit of the people governed and
it accomplishes services or functions that are
beyond the capabilities of any individual or
enterprise. He enumerated the important
purposes of government which are: (1) the
maintenance of peace and order; (2) the protection
of persons and property; (3) the administration of
justice; (4) the promotion of
education; (5) the preservation of the state from external danger and; (5) the
advancement of the physical, economic and social and cultural well-being of the people.
Governance
Governance according to Tamayo (2014) is commonly defined as the exercise of
power or authority by political leaders for attainment of the well-being of their country’s
citizens or inhabitants. He added that it is a complex process in which some sectors
of society exercise power and create public policies that directly affect the members of
society.
Anne Mette Kjaer (2004) as cited by Tamayo (2014) clarifies the following features
about governance:
- Governance is broader than government because
other sectors are included in it: the government
(also called the public sector) is always the main
actor in governance but it is not the only actor.
- Governance is based on the reality that the
government cannot do everything for the people
on its own.
- The main role of the government is to set an
enabling environment for other actors of
governance to participate and respond to the
pursuit of the common good.
- All actors other than the government are called the “civil society.”
- The civil society includes non-governmental organizations, and other
community-based and sectoral organizations that are private in nature but
have public functions or objectives.
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Indicators of Good Governance
Good governance according to Kio Sheng (2010) and Tamayo (2014) is understood
through its eight indicators or characteristics: (1) Participatory; (2) Rule of Law; (3)
Effective and Efficient; (4) Transparent; (5) Responsive; (6) Equitable and Inclusive;
(7) Consensus Oriented; and (8) Accountability.
1. Participatory
Good governance necessarily requires participation of the different sectors of society.
Participation means active involvement of all concerned and interested sectors in the
decision-making process. It requires an enabling environment. Governance should no
longer be government monopoly but government management or inter-sectoral
participation.
2. Rule of Law
Good governance is fundamentally adherence to the rule of law. Rule of law
requires that the people give habitual obedience to the law. The government acts
within the limits of the powers and functions prescribed by the law. Under this
indicator, laws should be responsive to the needs of the society.
3. Effectiveness and Efficiency
Good governance requires that the institutions, processes, and actors deliver and
meet the needs of society in a way that available resources are used well. Service delivery
in public sector, especially of front-line agencies, must promptly and adequately serve
the needs of the citizens instituting simplified government procedures and inexpensive
transaction costs.
4. Transparency
Transparency means that people can access information regarding decision- making
process and the implementation of decisions. Information on matters of public
concern are made available to the citizens or those who will be directly affected.
5. Responsiveness
Responsiveness means that institutions
and processes should serve all the
stakeholders in timely and appropriate way.
Interests of all citizens must be well
protected in a prompt and appropriate
manner so that each of them can appreciate
and take part in the process of governance.
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6. Equity and Inclusiveness
Equity and inclusiveness mean that all members of society,
especially the most vulnerable ones must be taken into consideration.
Everyone has a stake in society; no one should feel alienated from it.
Those who have less in life should have more in law. Good governance
demands that the actors must give preferential treatment to the
conditions of the poor.
7. Consensus Oriented
Governance is consensus
oriented when decisions are
made after taking into
consideration the different
perspectives. A procedure for
conflict resolution must be in
place because it is possible that
conflict will arise from
competing interests of the
actors. Governance is based on
the partnership of the actors of
the society in providing public
services.
8. Accountability
Accountability refers to answerability or responsibility for one’s action,
based on the principle that each person or group is responsible for their
actions most especially when their acts affect public interest. Actors have
an obligation to explain and be answerable for the consequences of
decisions and actions they have made on behalf of the society it serves.
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What Is It
From the above activity, you have recognized the value of politics and its
importance in operating groups and organizations. Let me further elaborate on how
great an influence of politics has on us.
The value of Politics…..
✓ help you to know your rights.
✓ It clarifies what you yourself believe.
✓ Politics is a living, breathing subject.
✓ Politics helps you to understand our nation’s parties.
✓ Politics prepares you for adult life.
Government is the instrument of the state through which the will of the people is
expressed, carried out, and formulated.
Governance is broadly defined as the action of sovereign authority; specifically, the
exercise of authoritative direction or control, over a particular political unit or
organization.
Law as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas is “an ordinance of reason for the common
good, made by him who has care of the community…”
People exercise their political authority through the government, which functions
as an instrumentality of the state through law.
Politics and governance are shaped by institutions of a country. According to
Johnson (n.d.), institutions are significant practices needed to “sustain and restrain
orderly competition” in the field of politics.
Recognizing the essential link between politics and governance will provide both
government officials and citizens a clear idea of the type of political activity essential for
good governance.
What I Have Learned
How is government related to governance?