Advantages And Disadvantages Of Federalism In The Philippines

Federalism makes most policies lean more locally. States could tailor policy to fit their specific needs. For example, Texas has a very different social welfare system even under the supervision of the central federal system. As the state has populations, wealth, resources, etc.,

“...We govern our children without their consent...Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, human, civilizing government of this Republic…” (Doc B, Albert J. Beveridge). I disagree with this black and white view of the world. The Filipinos are grown people capable of making the best decision for themselves. Children are not (due to their undeveloped frontal lobes). They do not need America to save them. They wanted freedom enough to attempt war with Spain, a global power, so they have earned that

The biggest advantage of federal system is check and balances – a political system where each branch of government have authority to keep checks on other branches and to influence the decisions of other branches; the political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups. Now, let’s see the cons of the federal system. Cons of the federal system are: prevention of the creation of a national policy, lack of accountability, and potential for corruption. “Federalism also causes confusion between the local governments and the national government as well.” (Federalism Pros and Cons List, 2015) For an example, the United State doesn’t have a single policy on issues, which often leads to the confusion. Also, power of authority can create a possible atmosphere for corruption at local and national level. For an example, if majority of the congress wants to pass a law on something and local states do not agree on it, then the local government can agree on the law to get something in return in form of money or favors!

The Untied States of America is a country built on freedom, and the writers of the constitution made sure that this was guaranteed to all U.S citizens in our constitution. After the colonial Army won the Revolutionary war, a constitution called the Articles of Confederation was put into place, but it had many problems within it. Because of these problems a constitutional convention was called in 1787 to revise these articles, but instead an entirely new constitution was written. At the constitutional convention, a group called the anti-federalists opposed the constitution because they wanted to keep state sovereignty and limit the federal government. Another group called the federalists wanted to ratify the constitution because they believed that a stronger federal government was necessary for the new nation. Although some may say that the new constitution did not protect against tyranny, through a system of federalism, separation of powers and checks and balances the United States constitution prevented any form of tyranny.

However federal government also has the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the Federal unity is that local government handles local problems also the local government and officials have to be very responsive of the people who elect them. The central government can devote more time and energy to national and international problems. They also have more opportunities for participation in making decisions that influence what is taught in the schools, also deciding where highways and government projects are to be built.

Therefore, it is principally different from a federal system. The word ‘transfer’ shows that the authority of the local governments retained is coming from the central government. It is a power that being delegated from the higher level of government. On the contrary, constitutional law in a federal system has divided the spheres of the power which each tier of government gets. In other words, the power in federalism, which each level of governments has, including the local governments, comes from the constitutional law and therefore cannot easily be revoked as in decentralization in a unitary

“Germany, England, and Japan were all hungering for this newly freed land” (Beveridge 149). Albert J. Beveridge wrote an speech about why we should govern and annex the Philippines. “Beveridge also said, “Shall we turn these peoples back to the reeking hands from which we have taken them?” He included the reasons that we govern millions of people without their consent, so there is no reason to change that for the Philippines. It is good that we don’t turn the Philippines over to self-government, because the only people that should be self-governed are those that are capable of self-government. The Philippines were not capable of this freedom. We have already saved them from the cruel and bloody rule of Spain, so we should stay with them and give them hope for a better life. Beveridge also points out how he believes that it is divine guidance that we annex the Philippines (Doc B, Question 4). The main reason the Philippines should be annexed by the United States is that if they didn’t, other countries would take control and they were not capable of self-government.

One advantage of Federalism is that allows citizens to participate in government, through elections for governors, state senators, state representatives and state judges. (Needs of locals better served).

Indonesia and Philippines have similarities yet very different political system even though there are located in the Southeast Asia region. Both states are considered to be electoral democratic regime according to Larry Diamond’s sixfold typology (Dayley & Neher, 2013, p. 21). Interestingly, both states received a relatively good freedom rating in Southeast Asia by Freedom House in 2016, which is 3- partly free. Thus, Indonesia and Philippines are chosen as the research subject in this assignment as the non-democratic regime states for the comparison analysis.

Moreover, the local governments also have their advantages. An advantage could be the focus they have on their people. Due to the even smaller size in people, they will tend to have more focus on the people. A second advantage could be that the local governments are under the state government´s control and not the national government´s control

The advantages of having a federal government are a stronger relationship between the people and leaders , Guarantees a separation of powers , and the people have a voice and leaders listen to what they have to say. The disadvantages are an envy of power from the people , states may not be equal, meaning one state might have different policies than another. Lastly the leaders may pass policies not favored by the state.

Much has been written about the putative virtues and vices of unitary and federal systems of government, but little empirical questions of the impact of such systems on people and the country itself and how is it been conducted. What does federal or unitary systems promote on whichever outcomes and what does this really mean in with all those said concepts? This library paper takes up a series of theoretical meanings, significances and different views of different authors and people about the unitary and federal system of government. In each concept, there is room for various explanations about its practical meaning and impact on different countries and its inhabitants. This library paper then conducts a series of cross-national empirical denotations

Another is that Filipinos have a culture of apathy and tend to use religion incorrectly and passively. People depend on religion and settle for what’s okay. In addition, the initial reaction of Filipinos to change is resistance, and this is why the country does not necessarily progress, or at least, progress at a continuous rate. Then, countries like Spain and Portugal only rode the “economic tiger” after “they realized that the only way to survive was change” (3.Y). Plus, according to another critic, the Philippines already had the experience of being under the parliamentary system during the time of Marcos which only resulted in a People Power Revolution. So why should the country bother going back to that? (4.Y)

Looking back to the previous government systems in different periods in Philippine history, we can see that our present government system is somehow shaped and patterned from the previous systems that prevailed in our country. Pre – historically we have seen how they established their government and basically, we can say that it is far more primitive than the present system that we have. However, the basic principles like the consultation of the datus to the elders can somehow be seen in the present by the presence of political advisers where our president consults aside from the members of the senate and the congress. The barangay system

When talking about Philippine Administrative System, first thing that comes to mind is about the government and its political divisions in the country. It is about the nations’s political hierarchy such as the central government, provinces, municipalities and barangay. However, these divisions and subdivisions can be attributed to our past history. It is not a plant that simply blooms from nowhere. The Philippine Administrative System is dynamic, shaped and evolved through time. From Spanish colonial period to the present administration, the mode of bureacracy is adopted, patterned and improved depending on the needs and wants of the administration. Needs, in terms of the welfare of the society. Wants,