Government SS 1 Curriculum Guides – Meaning, Types and Source of Constitution | Scope and Features of a Constitution | Concepts of Constitutionalism

THEME – CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 1 – CONSTITUTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONALISM

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Copies of the Nigerian Constitutions

3. Constitution of clubs and societies

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define constitution.

2. identify the sources of a Constitution.

3. discuss the scope of a constitution.

4. explain the features of a constitution.

5. mention the types of constitution.

6. explain constitutionalism.

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

MEANING OF CONSTITUTION

A constitution is the rules of law, written or unwritten that determine how the government is organized, how powers are shared and exercised by the organs of government.

SOURCES OF A CONSTITUTION 

1. Conventions

A convention is an agreement between parties (states or nations) for regulation of matters affecting all of them based on common consents.

2. Customs and Traditions 

Custom is an acceptable way of something or acceptable manner of behaving in a particular society.

Customs and traditions form the basis in the constitution.

3. Act of Parliament 

Act of Parliament is body that passes, amends and creates new laws. For example, the national assembly.

4. Judicial Precedents 

Judicial precedents are also known as jurisprudence.

Judicial precedents are the used of previous cases to resolve the reoccurring or repeated cases.

5. Academic Research and Opinions 

 

6. Military Decree and Edicts 

Decree and edicts are is a supreme law made by the military government in the federal and state level.

Decrees are used by the military at the federal level, while edicts are used by the military at the state level.

7. National and International Conferences

National and international conferences are the meeting of the eligible members of a state or international members to resolve and harmonize issues that affect their existing.

SCOPE OF A CONSTITUTION

1. Ideal and purpose

2. Declaration Citizen’s rights and duties

3. Distribution of power

4. The basic structures of Government and their functions

5. Methods of amendment

FEATURES OF A CONSTITUTION 

1. Clarity

2. Adaptability

3. Responsibility

4. Accountability

5. Comprehensiveness

6. Separation of power

7. Independence of the judiciary

9. Equity, freedom and Justice are guaranteed.

TYPES OF CONSTITUTION 

1. Written and Unwritten constitution

Written constitution is a constitution that is documented in form of a book while unwritten constitution is not documented.

2. Flexible and Rigid Constitution

Flexible constitution is a constitution that is easy to amend while rigid constitution is not easy to amend. It must be followed the due process before anything can be changed.

3. Unitary and Federal Constitution

Unitary constitution is the constitution designed for unicameral legislation where all the power are concentrated on the central government while federal constitution is designed for bicameral legislation where powers are share between the central government and other smaller governments. For example – Nigeria.

4. Democratic constitution

Democratic constitution is a constitution designed for the will people to decide or choose their representatives as authorized by law.

5. Republican and Monarchical constitution

6. Presidential and parliamentary constitution

CONSTITUTIONALISM 

Constitutionalism is the laws or constitution that governed the authority of the government(s). It means according to the laws or as stated in the constitution.

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads discussion on the Constitution as it applies to a country, clubs, societies, etc.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. Contribute to discussion mentioning rules and regulations of their clubs and society.

2. Take notes.

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. Name the sources of a Constitution.

2. What are the areas covered by the Constitution?

3. Differentiate between Constitution and Constitutionalism.