JSS1 CIVIC EDUCATION
SCHEME OF WORK
TOPIC
WK1. Democracy I
- Meaning of democracy
- Forms of democracy
- Examples of democratic systems
WK 2. Democracy II
- Modern democracy
- Characteristics of democracy
WK 3. Kick-off test
WK 4. Constitution
- Meaning of Constitution
- Sources of Constitution
WK 5. Constitution cont’d
- Types of constitution
WK 6. Mid-term test
WK 7. Human right & Abuse
- Meaning of Human Right abuse
- Forms of Human abuse
- Effects of abuse on individuals and society
- Ways of preventing the abuse of human right.
WK 8. Traffic Rules and Regulation I
- The meaning of traffic rules and regulation
- Road signs and traffic lights
- Causes of road accident
WK 9. Traffic rules and regulations II
- Consequences of disobeying traffic rules and regulations.
WK 10. Exams
WK 11. Closure
Democracy
The word “democracy” originated from ancient Greece where all the adults
males gatehred periodically to discuss the affairs of the state.
Democracy is from a Greek word “Demos” meaning people hwile “Kratia”
is the ruling power. When the words “Demos and Kratia” are combined
together. It means ruling power of the people.
Democracy is defined as a system of government in which the people
exercise eitehr … power directly or through representatives.
Abraham Linadn, the 16th American President also defines democracy as
the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Forms of Democracy
We have three major forms of democracy.
They are:
(1)Direct democracy:- This is where all the citizens attend to the
assembly and take part in decision making in order to govern the
state or society. It is a kind of government where people directly rule,
make ad execute government policies and programmes.
(2)Representative democracy:- This is a form of government in which
the people elect their representatives to take care of their interest in
the government. In this kind of democracy, the citizens through
elections elect those who will take care of the state on behalf of the
people.
(3)Constitutional Democracy:- This is a form of democrcy in which the
constitution defines the power of the government , directs and guides
its operations. In this kind of democracy, democratic principles are
applied in accordance with the institution of the land. Examples of
democratic institutions are:
- Greece and Igbo village
- Democracy
MODERN DEMOCRACY
Modern democracy is a system of government in which the people, through
their representatives control the affairs of the state. It is the same with
indirect democracy. In modern democracy, the electorate (voters) entrust
their hpopes and aspirations in the hands of the representatives.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY
We have numerous festives of democracy. They are :-
(1)Authority: Emenates from the people in democracy, the people give
the mandate of the governing powas through election to their
representatives. Democracy recognises popular sovereignty, which
means that the government is there to carryout the will of the people
that elected them.
(2)Rules of Law:- This means that both the government and the govern
(the people) are subject to the law of the country and no one should
be above the law.
(3)Political Liberty:- This means that all citizens have equal right to vote
and stand as candidates for election.
(4)Supremacy of the constitution:- In the democratic system, the
constitution is supreme and above any person and interest.
(5)Majority rule: This means that governments’ decisions, actions,
policies and programmes are base on the desires of the majority
(6)Separation of powers: In modern democracy, the powers of three
organs of government are separated both in functions and personnel
with checks and balances.
(7)Independent judiciary: In a democratic system, the judiciarcy is free
from the control of both the executive and the legislature. Their
decisions and government are not influenced by any external body.
(8)Human Rights: The right of all individuals should be promoted and
protected by the government.
(9)Freedom of the press:- The radio, newspapers and television, all the
mass media should be free to write and expressed their views on
issues without any fear of intimidation or hinderance.
(10) Periodic free and fair election: This is a major feature of democracy.
There should be periodic election through which the electrate will
choose their leaders and also remove the unpopular ones.
(11) Tolerance of Opposition:- organised opposition is allowed to criticize
governments’ actions and policies constructively.
(12) Accountability of the government should be trasparent in the handling
of money and other isseus of public interest.
Assignment
Choose any five features of democracy of your choice, study and explain
them.
CONSTITUTION
A constitution can be defined as a body of agreed laws, rules, principles
and regulations which govern a country. The constitution is superior to all
the other laws of the kind
Sources of Constitution
The following are the sources of constitution
1. Acts of Parliament
2. Past constitutions
3. Constitutional confereces
4. International documents
5. Past expereinces
6. Customs and traditions
7. Judicial precedents
Functions of a Constitution
(1)The constitution acts as a guide to both the government and the
people in the coduct of their activities.
(2)It states the ideals, principles, purposes and aspirations of the
country.
(3)A constitution states the type of political system the country will ….
Whether federal, unitary, presidential or parliamentry
(4)A country’s constitution states clearly the fundamental rights and
daties of it’s citizens.
(5)The constitution is supreme and symbolizes the sovereignty of a
nation.
(6)It prescibes the qualities and qualifications of the ruler and definitions
of his power.
Classifications of constitution
Costitution can be classified as written , unwritten, rigid or flexible.
Written Constitution
A written constitution refers to a single document in which the fundamental
laws, principles, norms, rules and regualtions which goven a country are
put down in writing.
Merits of writte constitution
(1)It is clear and definite and easy to refer to when necessary
(2)It esures political stability
(3)It is ot influenced by individuals
(4)It secures peoples right and liberties
(5)It serves as a pround symbol of nation hold
Demerits of weitten constitution
1. It is rigid
2. It cannot be eaisly adapted to changing situation
3. It invoolves long process of amendment
4. It sometimes causes conflict among the three arms of government.
1. Unwritten Constitution: An unwritten constitution is one in which the
fundamental laws, principles, customs, rules, and regulations which
govern a country are not written down in any single document.
Merits of Unwritten Constitution
1. It is flexible and easy to interprete because of it’s unwritten nature.
2. It reduces friction amongst the three organs of government.
3. It can easily adapt to changing circumstances.
Demerits of unwritten constitution
(1)It is easy to amend
(2)It is difficult for citizens to know their constitutional right
(3)It can easily lead to dictatorship or arbitariness by government in the
exercise of power.
(4)Flexible constitution:- It is defined as the type of constitution that is
easy to amend or change.
(5)Rigid constitution: A constitution is rigid when it cannot be easily
altored or amended.
Types of Constitution
They include federal, unitary and confederal constitution.
(1)Federal Constitution: This is a type of constitution in which the
governmental powers are divided and shared between the central
government and the component units of government. Examples of
countries that operates federal constitution are Nigeria and America.
Features of Federal Constitution
(1)Governmental powers are shared between central government and
other component units.
(2)The federal constitution is supreme and have the final say on any
matter.
(3)Federal constitution is written and rigid
(4)It usually provides a bicamoral legislature
(2)Unitary Constitution: It is one in which all the political powwers and
authority of government are concentrated in the hands of a single
central government. The constitution recognizes only the central
authority and does not give any power to the other units or local
government. Examples of countries that operates unitary constitution
are France, Italy, Britain, Sweden etc.
Features of Unitary Constitution
(1)The constitution of a unitary stake is flexible
(2)The constitution is easy to amend
(3)The power comes from the central government
(4)There is no constitutional division of powers between the central
government and lower unity.
(5)A unitary government adopts a unitary constitution.
(3)Confederal Constitution:_ This is one which provides a center and
strong state. These state are autonomous and soverign and come
together to form a loose political unio in which the central government
is subordinate to the component units.
Features of Confederal Constitution
1. In a confederal constitution the confederal is a loose union of
sovereign states each maintaining its identity.
2. The component states have the constitutional right to have their own
army and police.
3. The component sovereign states are more powerful than the central
government, because member states only send delegates to the
centre to discuss issues of common interest like defence,
communication etc.
4. The component state have their separate deplomatic representatives.
5. Each member state has control over the internal affairs of its country
6. The membership of the union is voluntary, because no member is
forced to be a member and can always secede at any time.
HUMAN RIGHT ABUSE
This is the unlawful deprivation of one’s human rights either by an
individual, group and government.
Forms of human right abuse
(1)Arresting and detaining a citizen for a long time without establishing
any care against the person without trial.
(2)Torture and inhuman treatment by officers of law enforcement
agencies like the police, army, navy, customs, EFCC and ICPC etc.
(3)Forceful seize of peoples property by the government or influential
citizens is an abuse of human rights.
(4)Extortion of money from students by lecturers or demand for sex from
student before marking answer scripts is an abuse of human right.
(5)Non execution of condemed people for a long period of time is an
abuse of their human right.
(6)All forms of sexual abuse like rape, sexual harrassment, incest, child
trafficking and child prostitution.
Effects of Child Abuse
(1)It leads to fear and wicartanties
(2)It leads to destruction of life and property
(3)It gives rise to political, social and economic instability in a country
(4)It leads to negative act, when people are denied of their rights
(5)It could lead to bad government eg if people are prevented from
voting during electing bad leaders will emerge
Ways of preventing human right abuse
(1)Mass Education: Where there is widespread education amongst the
people, particularly on their fundamental human rights, through
subjects like Civic Education, social studies, government etc.
(2)Democracy: Where the principles and practices of democracy are
observed by all sundry. This will help to prevent human right abuse.
(3)Legal Aids: There should be provison of legal aids to the less
privileged, those who may not be able to fight for their rights even
when they have been infringed upon
(4)Independent Judiciary: Abuse of human rights can be prevented
when the judiciary is free from control and influenced of the executive
arm of government.
(5)Rules of Law: The rule of law should be uphold and respected by
both the government and the people by so doing human right abuse
is reduced.
Civic Education
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Traffic rules and regulations are those principles, signs, rules and
regulations mapped out by the government to guide road users.
Road
A road is a path established over land for the passage of vehicles,
people and animals. It provides a dependable pathway for moving
people and goods from place to place.
Types of Roads
Road is classified into the following types
(1)Private driver way
(2)Two lane highway
(3)Dual carriage ways
(4)Expressway
(5)Pathway
Categories of Roads
Categories of roads constructed ad maintained by the three levels of
government in Nigeria are:
(1)Trunk A roads: It is called federal road, it links big towns and cities in
Nigeria.
(2)Trunk B:- These are feeder roads some are found within the city while
others are foud in local government.
(3)Trunk C roads: These are community roads. They set as feeder road
to A and B.
Categories of Road Users
(1)The motorist
(2)The Pedestrian
(3)The Cyclist
(4)The Motocyclist/motorist
(5)The child
(6)Animal
(7)The hawker
(8)Trader
Road Signs
Road signs are traffic signs, signals and markings that are seen on the
roads which give information, direction and warning to drivers and toehr
road users on how to use the road to ensure a smooth and safe traffic flow.
We have different types of road signs, they include:
(1)Regulatory signs (prohibitive signs) – they are mostly circular in
shape and of two types. Those with red and yellow and circle in
shape are prohibitive signs.
(2)Mandatory signs : They are those blue circle without red borders.
They give positive instructions
Sign for temporary traffic control Sign for temporary traffic control
(3)Informative sigs: They are usually rectangular in shape and provides
guidance information
General Danger Sign Narrow Bridge
General Danger Sign Narrow Bridge
(4)Warning signs: These are usually triangular in shape with red
perimeter etc.
Traffic Lights
These are special lights found at most road junctions and crossing that help
in driection, control and ensure the smooth traffic through display of the
colours red, yellow and green
(a)Red means STOP
(b)Yellow says GET READY TO MOVE OR CROSS
(c) GREEN says go
Causes of Road Accidents
(1)Wrong parking of vehicles
(2)Poor condition of the vehicles
(3)Pedestrian factors
(4)Recklessness of motorcyclist
(5)Indiscrimate police check point
(6)Activities of armed robbers
