Introduction to the Ministerial Form of Government presented by Ms. Cristita Marie Giangan, Konrad Adenauer Foundation program manager, to the Bangsamoro Transition, Cotabato City 12th August 2013

1. Introduction to the
Ministerial Form of
Government
Cristita Marie Giangan

2. Outline
 Conceptual Background
 Relevant Provisions in the FAB
 Some Important Terms and Concepts
 The Ministerial Form of Government
 Fundamental Concepts
 Ministerial Form of Government: Key Terms
 Advantages
 Challenges and Considerations

3. Conceptual Background

4. Relevant Provisions in the FAB
“The government of the Bangsamoro shall have a ministerial
form.
The Parties agree to entrench an electoral system suitable to a
ministerial form of government. The electoral system shall
allow democratic participation, ensure accountability of
public officers primarily to their constituents and encourage
formation of genuinely principled political parties. The
electoral system shall be contained in the Bangsamoro Basic
Law to be implemented through legislation enacted by the
Bangsamoro Government and correlated with national laws.”
(FAB Section I, No.2)

5. Some Fundamental Terms
 Ministerial Form of Government
 Otherwise known as the parliamentary form of
government
 The country’s chief executive (head of government) is
elected by the legislative branch of government
(parliament)
 Electoral System
 A set of methods that governs how the citizens elect
members of the legislative and the executive branches
of government
 Also called a voting system

6. Some Fundamental Terms
 Political Party
 Is a political organization that tries to influence
and/or control government policies by capturing
political power through fielding candidates with
aligned views in elections
 Genuinely Principled Political Parties
 Political parties that compete in elections based
on their programmatic profile composed of
clearly defined political platforms

7. The Ministerial Form of
Government

8. Fundamental Concepts
Government and Administration
Government
The system by which a country is governed
The Official Seal
of the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines

9. Fundamental Concepts
Government and Administration
Administration
The executive branch of government under a
specific head of government
Philippine
President Benigno Aquino III
during a Cabinet Meeting

10. Fundamental Concepts
Branches of Government
Executive: law implementation
Malacanang Palace President, Vice President,
Members of Cabinet, Bureaucracy

11. Fundamental Concepts
Branches of Government
Legislative: law making
The Congress of the Philippines holding session
at the Batasang Pambansa Complex
Senate
(Upper House)
House
of Representatives
(Lower House)
CongressofthePhilippines

12. Fundamental Concepts
Branches of Government
Judiciary: law interpretation and adjudication
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
1 Chief Justice
14 Associate Justices

13. Fundamental Concepts
Classifications of Government
Who can participate
in the governing
process
Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy
Geographical
distribution of
governing powers
Unitary/Centralized Federal/Decentralized
Relationships between
the Executive and
Legislative branches
of government
Presidential Parliamentary/Ministerial

14. Ministerial Form of
Government
The Details

15. Definition
 Ministerial Form of Government
 Otherwise known as the parliamentary form of
government
 The country’s chief executive (head of
government) is elected by the legislative branch
of government (parliament)

16. Key Differences Between the Forms of
Governments

17. Key Differences Between the Forms of
Governments
 Presidential
 Separation of Powers
(between the Executive and
Legislative branches)
 Chief Executive
(President) is
 Chosen independently
of the legislature,
 Holds office for a fixed
term, and
 Has a number of
significant powers that
are not subject to the
direct control of the
legislative branch
 Parliamentary
 Fusion of Powers
 Chief Executive (PM) and
the Members of Cabinet
are usually members of the
legislative
 PM is leader of the
majority party or a
coalition of parties in the
legislative and is chosen
by that body
 Members of the cabinet is
usually selected by the PM
with approval from the
legislative

18. Key Differences Between the Forms of
Governments
 Presidential
 Separation of Powers
 Powers are spelled out
in the Constitution
 Each of the branches is
regularly given several
powers with which it
can block actions of the
other branch
 Parliamentary
 Fusion of Powers
 Members of the
Executive (PM and the
Cabinet) remain in
office only as long as
their policies and
administration have the
support of a majority in
the legislative
 Vote of No Confidence
 The legislative is at
odds with the
executive in
important matters

19.  Vote of No Confidence
 PM and the Cabinet resigns from office
 New government is formed
 Legislative chooses a new PM, or
 All legislative seats are vacated to make way for
general elections

20. Advantages to the Ministerial Form of
Government
 Legislative efficiency
 Consensus
 De-concentration of power from one
dominant branch of government

21. Challenges and Considerations
 Stability of Governments
 Importance of Genuine Political Parties
Political Parties
 a political organization that tries to influence and/or
control government policies by capturing political
power through fielding candidates with aligned views
in elections
 Functions
 Political recruitment, Political education, Political
communication
 Interest articulation, interest aggregation

22. Criteria and Character of Real
Political Parties
 Organization
 Internal Democracy
 Programme
 Autonomy
 Roots in society
 Coherence
 Regional and international integration

23. Challenges and Considerations
 Clear accountability mechanisms
 Supervision
 Party interest vs. Individual interest
 Role of the majority
 Role of the minority

24. Questions?