Arms of Government: Legislative, Executive and Judiciary | Primary 4 (Basic 4) First Term Week 6 Civic Education

ARMS OF GOVERNMENT: LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIARY

CIVIC EDUCATION

PRIMARY 4 – FIRST TERM – WEEK 6

THEME – GOVERNMENT 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Government: Definition and Types of Government | Primary 4 (Basic 4) First Term Week 5 Civic Education

TOPIC – ARMS GOVERNMENT 

LEARNING 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Importance of Arms of Government

3. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

4. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of the arms of government.

2. Mention the three arms of government.

3. State the functions of the Legislative Arm.

4. State the functions of the Executive Arm.

5. State the functions of the Judiciary Arm.

6. Explain the importance of the three arms of government.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about the meaning of government and the types of government.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing the three arms of government and their different responsibilities.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures of the National Assembly, the President/Governor, and a courtroom

2. Chart showing the three arms of government

3. Flashcards labelled Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary

4. Whiteboard and marker

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Pupils have seen leaders making decisions, police officers enforcing laws, and judges settling cases in court. They have also heard about the President, Governors, lawmakers, and judges performing different duties in the country. These people belong to different parts of the government and work together to ensure peace, justice, and development.

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the three arms of government—the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary—and the important roles each arm performs in governing the country.

LESSON 1 – MEANING OF THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

The arms of government are the three main parts of government that work together to govern a country. Each arm has its own duties and responsibilities.

The three arms of government are:

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judiciary

LESSON 2 – ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

1. Legislative Arm

The Legislative arm is responsible for making laws for the country.

Members of the legislative arm are called lawmakers.

Examples include:

• Senate

• House of Representatives

• State House of Assembly

Functions of the Legislative Arm

• Makes laws.

• Amends laws.

• Represents the people.

• Checks the activities of the executive.

2. Executive Arm

The Executive arm is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.

It is headed by the:

• President (Federal Government)

• Governor (State Government)

• Chairman (Local Government)

Functions of the Executive Arm

• Implements laws.

• Maintains peace and security.

• Provides public services.

• Develops the country.

3. Judiciary Arm

The Judiciary is responsible for interpreting laws and settling disputes.

Judges and magistrates work in the judiciary.

Functions of the Judiciary

• Interprets laws.

• Settles disputes.

• Protects the rights of citizens.

• Ensures justice is served.

LESSON 3 – IMPORTANCE OF THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

The three arms of government help to:

1. Maintain law and order.

2. Promote justice.

3. Protect citizens’ rights.

4. Prevent abuse of power.

5. Promote peace and development.

6. Ensure good governance.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. The three main parts of government are called the ______.

A. schools

B. arms of government

C. communities

D. markets

2. Which arm of government makes laws?

A. Police

B. Executive

C. Judiciary

D. Legislative

3. Which arm of government implements laws?

A. Executive

B. Legislative

C. Judiciary

D. Traditional

4. Which arm of government interprets laws?

A. Legislative

B. Executive

C. Judiciary

D. Local Government

5. Judges work in the ______ arm of government.

A. Executive

B. Judiciary

C. Legislative

D. Traditional

B. Fill in the Gaps

Use the following words to complete the sentences: Executive, laws, Judiciary, Legislative, justice

6. The ______ arm makes laws.

7. The ______ arm implements laws.

8. The ______ arm interprets laws.

9. Judges ensure ______ is served.

10. The Legislative arm makes ______ for the country.

C. True or False

11. The Legislative arm makes laws. ______

12. The Executive arm settles disputes in court. ______

13. The Judiciary makes laws. ______

14. The three arms of government work together. ______

15. The President belongs to the Legislative arm. ______

D. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A – Column B

16. Legislative – A. Interprets laws

17. Executive – B. Works in the Judiciary

18. Judiciary – C. Head of the Executive

19. Judge – D. Implements laws

20. President – E. Makes laws

ANSWER KEYS

1. B 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. B

6. Legislative

7. Executive

8. Judiciary

9. justice

10. laws

11. True

12. False

13. False

14. True

15. False

16. E. Makes laws

17. D. Implements laws

18. A. Interprets laws

19. B. Works in the Judiciary

20. C. Head of the Executive

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that the arms of government are the three main parts of government that work together to govern a country. They are the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary.

They learned that:

• The Legislative Arm makes laws for the country.

• The Executive Arm implements and enforces the laws.

• The Judiciary Arm interprets the laws and settles disputes.

Pupils also learned that the three arms of government work together to maintain peace, ensure justice, protect citizens’ rights, prevent abuse of power, and promote good governance and national development.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

The teacher displays pictures of the National Assembly, the President/Governor, and a courtroom with a judge.

The teacher asks:

• Who are the people in these pictures?

• What work do they do?

• Do they all perform the same duties?

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils observe the pictures and answer the questions.

Step 2: Meaning of the Arms of Government

The teacher explains that the arms of government are the three main parts of government that work together to govern a country.

The three arms are:

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judiciary

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils repeat and identify the three arms of government.

Step 3: The Legislative Arm

The teacher explains that the Legislative Arm is responsible for making laws.

Examples include:

Senate

• House of Representatives

• State House of Assembly

Functions:

• Makes laws.

• Amends laws.

• Represents the people.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention the function of the Legislative Arm.

Step 4: The Executive Arm

The teacher explains that the Executive Arm is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.

It is headed by:

• President

• Governor

• Local Government Chairman

Functions:

• Implements laws.

• Maintains peace and security.

• Provides public services.

• Develops the country.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the head and functions of the Executive Arm.

Step 5: The Judiciary Arm

The teacher explains that the Judiciary Arm interprets laws and settles disputes.

People in the Judiciary include:

Judges

• Magistrates

Functions:

• Interprets laws.

• Settles disputes.

• Protects citizens’ rights.

• Ensures justice.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the functions of the Judiciary.

Step 6: Importance of the Arms of Government

The teacher explains that the three arms of government help to:

• Maintain law and order.

• Promote justice.

• Protect citizens’ rights.

• Prevent abuse of power.

• Promote peace and development.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss why the three arms of government are important.

Step 7: Group Activity

The teacher divides the class into four groups.

• Group 1: Explain the meaning of the Legislative Arm and state its functions.

• Group 2: Explain the meaning of the Executive Arm and state its functions.

• Group 3: Explain the meaning of the Judiciary Arm and state its functions.

• Group 4: State five importance of the three arms of government.

Each group presents its work to the class.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss, write, and present their answers.

Step 8: Lesson Summary

The teacher reviews the three arms of government and their functions.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise the lesson.

Step 9: Evaluation

The teacher gives pupils the practice exercise.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils complete the multiple-choice, fill-in-the-gap, true-or-false, and matching questions.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Primary 4 – Civic Education Mid Term Test Questions and Answers

Functions of Government: Major Functions of Government and Their Importance to Citizens | Primary 4 (Basic 4) First Term Week 8 Civic Education

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils to,

1. Explain the meaning of the arms of government.

2. Mention the three arms of government.

3. State three functions of the Legislative Arm.

4. State three functions of the Executive Arm.

5. State three functions of the Judiciary Arm.

6. Explain four importance of the three arms of government in promoting peace, justice, and good governance.