Functions of the Arms of Government: Functions Performed by the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Arms of Government | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 4 Civic Education

FUNCTIONS OF THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT: FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL ARMS OF GOVERNMENT 

CIVIC EDUCATION

PRIMARY 5 – SECOND TERM – WEEK 4

THEME – NATIONAL VALUES EDUCATION 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Arms of Government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial Arms and Their Functions and The Head of the Three Arms of Government | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 3 Civic Education

TOPIC – ARMS OF GOVERNMENT 

LEARNING AREA 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Importance of Arms of Government

3. Executive, Legislative and Judicial Arms of Government and Their Functions

4. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

5. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

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

1. Explain the meaning of arms of government.

2. Name the three arms of government in Nigeria.

3. State the functions of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government.

4. Identify the heads of the three arms of government.

5. Explain the importance of having three separate arms of government.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about government, its meaning and functions.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by teaching pupils about the three arms of government—Executive, Legislative and Judicial—their functions, and the heads of the three arms of government in Nigeria.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures of the President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of Nigeria

2. Nigerian flag

3. Chart showing the three arms of government

4. Flashcards

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

Every country needs a system through which laws are made, carried out, and interpreted to ensure peace, order, and good governance. The government performs these responsibilities through different arms, each with specific duties.

Nigeria has three arms of government: the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial arms. Each arm has important functions and works with the others in governing the country.

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the three arms of government, their functions, and the heads of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial arms of government in Nigeria.

LESSON 1 (WEEK 3) – MEANING OF ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

The arms of government are the three main divisions of government responsible for performing different duties in the administration of a country.

The three arms of government in Nigeria are:

• Executive

• Legislature

• Judiciary

Each arm has specific responsibilities, but they work together to ensure good governance.

THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT

The Executive is the arm of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and managing the day-to-day affairs of government.

Functions of the Executive

The Executive:

1. Implements and enforces laws.

2. Makes and carries out government policies.

3. Maintains peace, law, and order.

4. Provides public services.

5. Prepares and implements the government budget.

6. Protects the country and its citizens.

7. Carries out development programmes.

Head of the Executive – The President is the head of the Executive arm at the federal level in Nigeria.

LESSON 2 (WEEK 3) – THE LEGISLATIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT

The Legislature is the arm of government responsible for making laws for the country.

At the federal level, the Legislature is known as the National Assembly. It consists of:

• The Senate

• The House of Representatives

Functions of the Legislature

The Legislature:

1. Makes laws for the country.

2. Amends existing laws when necessary.

3. Represents the interests of the people.

4. Approves government spending and taxation.

5. Monitors the activities of the Executive.

6. Debates issues affecting the country.

Heads of the Legislature – The President of the Senate presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over the House of Representatives.

LESSON 3 (WEEK 4) – THE JUDICIAL ARM OF GOVERNMENT

The Judiciary is the arm of government responsible for interpreting laws and settling disputes according to the law.

Functions of the Judiciary

The Judiciary:

1. Interprets laws.

2. Settles disputes between individuals and organisations.

3. Hears and determines cases brought before the courts.

4. Protects the rights of citizens according to the law.

5. Ensures that justice is done.

6. Applies the law in deciding cases.

Head of the Judiciary – The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) is the head of the Federal Judiciary.

CHART

Arm of Government – Main Function – Head

• Executive – Implements and enforces laws – President

• Legislative – Makes laws – President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives

• Judicial – Interprets laws and settles disputes – Chief Justice of Nigeria

LESSON 3 (WEEK 4) – IMPORTANCE OF THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

The three arms of government are important because they help to:

1. Prevent too much power from being concentrated in one arm.

2. Make, implement, and interpret laws effectively.

3. Promote justice and fairness.

4. Protect the rights of citizens.

5. Maintain peace and order.

6. Promote good governance and national development.

ON A FINAL NOTE 

• Nigeria has three main arms of government: the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial arms.

• The Executive implements laws, the Legislature makes laws, while the Judiciary interprets laws and settles legal disputes.

• The three arms work together to promote good governance, protect citizens, and ensure the proper administration of the country.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many main arms of government are there in Nigeria?

A. Two

B. Three

C. Four

D. Five

2. Which arm of government is responsible for making laws?

A. Executive

B. Judiciary

C. Police

D. Legislature

3. The head of the Executive arm of government at the federal level is the _____.

A. Chief Justice

B. President

C. Senate President

D. Speaker

4. Which arm of government interprets laws and settles legal disputes?

A. Executive

B. Legislature

C. Judiciary

D. Civil Service

5. The National Assembly consists of the Senate and the _____.

A. Supreme Court

B. House of Representatives

C. State Assembly

D. Federal Executive Council

B. Fill in the Gaps

Options – Senate, Judiciary, Executive laws, Senate

6. The three arms of government are the Executive, Legislature and _____.

7. The _____ arm of government implements and enforces laws.

8. The President of the Senate presides over the _____.

9. The Chief Justice of Nigeria is the head of the _____.

10. The Legislature is responsible for making _____ for the country.

C. True or False

11. Nigeria has three main arms of government. _____

12. The Executive is responsible for making laws. _____

13. The Judiciary implements and enforces laws. _____

14. The Chief Justice of Nigeria heads of the Federal Executive. _____

15. The President is the head of Federal Judiciary. _____

D. Matching

16. Executive – A. Chief Justice of Nigeria

17. Legislature – B. Makes laws

18. House of Representatives – C. President

19. Judiciary – D. One of the chambers of the National Assembly

20. Arms of Government – E. Legislature, Executive and Judiciary

ANSWER KEY

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

6. Judiciary

7. Executive

8. Senate

9. Judiciary

10. laws

11. True

12. False

13. False

14. False

15. False

16. Executive — C. President

17. Legislature — B. Makes laws

18. House of Representatives — D. One of the chambers of the National Assembly

19. Judiciary — A. Chief Justice of Nigeria

10. Arms of Government — E. Legislature, Executive and Judiciary

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that the arms of government are the three main divisions of government responsible for performing different duties in the administration of a country.

They learned that the three arms of government are:

• Executive – Implements and enforces laws.

• Legislature – Makes laws.

• Judiciary – Interprets laws and settles legal disputes.

Pupils also learned that:

• The President is the head of the Executive arm at the federal level.

• The National Assembly consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• The President of the Senate presides over the Senate.

• The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over the House of Representatives.

• The Chief Justice of Nigeria is the head of the Federal Judiciary.

The three arms have different responsibilities but work together to ensure good governance, justice, peace, and development.

PRESENTATION

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

Step 1: Introduction

The teacher asks pupils:

• What happens when people disagree about a rule?

• Who makes laws for a country?

• Who carries out the laws made by government?

• Who interprets laws and settles disputes?

The teacher explains that government has different arms that perform different duties. These arms help to make laws, carry out laws, interpret laws, maintain peace, and ensure good governance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions and mention things they know about government and its duties.

Step 2: Meaning of Arms of Government

The teacher explains that the arms of government are the three main divisions of government responsible for performing different duties in the administration of a country.

The three arms of government are:

• Executive

• Legislature

• Judiciary

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention the three arms of government and explain the meaning in their own words.

Step 3: Executive Arm of Government

The teacher explains that the Executive is the arm of government responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws and managing the day-to-day affairs of government.

The teacher explains its functions:

• Implements and enforces laws.

• Makes and carries out government policies.

• Maintains peace, law, and order.

• Provides public services.

• Protects the country and its citizens.

• Carries out development programmes.

The teacher explains that the President is the head of the Federal Executive.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils state the meaning of the Executive, mention its functions, and identify the President as its head.

Step 4: Legislative Arm of Government

The teacher explains that the Legislature is the arm of government responsible for making laws for the country.

The teacher explains that the National Assembly consists of:

• Senate

• House of Representatives

The teacher explains its functions:

• Makes laws.

• Amends existing laws when necessary.

• Represents the interests of the people.

• Approves government spending and taxation.

• Monitors the activities of the Executive.

The teacher explains that the President of the Senate presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over the House of Representatives.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the two chambers of the National Assembly and mention some functions of the Legislature.

Step 5: Judicial Arm of Government

The teacher explains that the Judiciary is the arm of government responsible for interpreting laws and settling legal disputes.

The teacher explains its functions:

• Interprets laws.

• Settles disputes.

• Hears and determines cases.

• Protects the rights of citizens according to the law.

• Ensures that justice is done.

The teacher explains that the Chief Justice of Nigeria is the head of the Federal Judiciary.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils state the main function of the Judiciary, mention its functions, and identify the Chief Justice of Nigeria as its head.

Step 6: Heads of the Three Arms of Government

The teacher explains the heads or presiding officers of the three arms of government at the federal level:

• Executive – President

• Legislature – President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives

• Judiciary – Chief Justice of Nigeria

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the head or presiding officer associated with each arm of government.

Step 7: Importance of the Three Arms of Government

The teacher explains that the three arms of government are important because they:

• Help to prevent the concentration of power in one arm.

• Ensure that laws are made, implemented, and interpreted.

• Protect the rights of citizens.

• Promote justice and fairness.

• Maintain peace and order.

• Promote good governance and development.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention some reasons why the three arms of government are important.

Step 8: Group Activity

The teacher divides pupils into four groups.

• Group 1: Mention five functions of the Executive.

• Group 2: Mention five functions of the Legislature.

• Group 3: Mention five functions of the Judiciary and the heads of the three arms of government.

• Group 4: State the heads of each arms of government.

Each group presents its answers to the class.

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

Step 9: Lesson Summary

The teacher reviews the main points of the lesson, focusing on the three arms of government, their functions, and the heads or presiding officers of the three arms.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise what they have learned.

Step 10: Evaluation

The teacher gives pupils questions to assess their understanding of the lesson.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions individually or in groups.

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

Importance of the Arms of Government: Importance of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Arms of Government | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 5 Civic Education

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What are the three arms of government in Nigeria?

2. State three functions of the Executive arm of government.

4. Who is the head of the Federal Executive?

5. Mention three functions of the Legislative arm of government.

6. List three functions of the Judicial arm of government.

7. Who is the head of the Federal Judiciary?