Government SS 1 Curriculum Guides – Rule of Law | Fundamental Human Rights | Separation of Powers | Representative Government | Centralization and Decentralisation

 

GOVERNMENT

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SS 1)

THEME – CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 1 – CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (RULE OF LAW) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Constitution

3. Newspaper cuttings

4. Films

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define the rule of law.

2. discuss the three basic interpretations of the rule of law.

3. explain the problems of maintaining the rule of law in practice.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

MEANING OF RULE OF LAW 

Rule of law is the used of power according to the law rather than the arbitrary wills of officials.

 

BASIC INTERPRETATION OF RULE OF LAW 

According to A.V. Dicey, the rule of law has three basic interpretation but related meanings,

1. Equality before the Law

2. Supremacy of regular law

3. Right to personal liberty

 

PROBLEMS OF APPLICATION/PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING the RULE OF LAW 

1. Insufficient and inefficient judicial system

2. Illiteracy and Ignorance

3. Poverty

4. Corruption

5. Lack of separation of power

6. Political interference

7. Corrupt police system

8. Tribalism

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher leads discussion on the rule of law – highlighting the interpretations.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students contribute to discussion on the rule of law.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. explain the three principles of the rule of law.

2. what are the factors that limit the application of the rule of law?

 

 

GOVERNMENT

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SS 1)

THEME – CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 2 – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Constitution

3. Newspaper cuttings

4. Films

5. Pictures and charts.

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. explain what fundamental human rights are.

2. identify some limitations to fundamental human rights.

3. defend their rights.

4. respect the rights of other people.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.

 

1. Fundamental Human Rights

• Social

• Political

• Economic

• Access to information

2. Means of safeguarding fundamental human rights.

3. Limitations.

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads discussion on fundamental human rights.

2. organizes an excursion to the Human Rights Commission.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. contribute to discussion on Fundamental Human Rights.

2. report on the excursion.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. what are fundamental human rights?

2. what are the limitations to fundamental human rights?

 

 

GOVERNMENT

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SS 1)

THEME – CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 3 – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (SEPARATION OF POWERS) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Newspaper cuttings

3. Constitution

4. Films

5. Pictures and charts

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. explain the meaning of Separation of Powers.

2. discuss Checks and Balances.

3. examine the relationship between Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances.

4. explain the extent of separation of powers and checks and balances under the presidential and parliamentary systems of government.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Separation of powers amongst the arms of government.

2. Separation of personnel performing functions.

3. Relationship between Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances.

4. Extent of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances under the Presidential and Cabinet systems.

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads discussion on Separation of Powers.

2. organizes drama on how Separation of Power is practiced.

3. demonstrates how checks and balances can be practiced.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. contribute to discussion on Separation of Powers.

2. participation in drama to show the extent of separation of powers.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. what is the meaning and purpose of Separation of Powers?

2. what is the relationship between Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances?

3. discuss the separation of powers under the Presidential and Parliamentary systems of government.

 

 

GOVERNMENT

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SS 1)

THEME – CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 4 – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Pictures and charts

3. Films

4. Newspaper cuttings

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. explain what representative government is.

2. explain how a representative government is established.

3. discuss the merits and demerits of a representative government.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Meaning of representative government.

2. Means of establishing a representative government.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of a representative government.

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher leads discussion on representative government.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students contribute to discussion on representative government.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. how is a representative government established?

2. what are the merits and demerits of a representative government?

 

 

GOVERNMENT

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SS 1)

THEME – CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT 

TOPIC 5 – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (CENTRALIZATION AND DECENTRALISATION) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Pictures and charts

3. Films

4. Newspaper cuttings

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. define centralization and decentralization.

2. distinguish between centralization and decentralization.

3. examine merits and demerits of centralization and decentralization.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Centralization.

2. Decentralization.

3. Forms of De centralization

• devolution

• decentralization.

4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Centralization

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Decentralization

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher lead discussion on Centralization and Decentralization (activities of the state and federal governments).

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students contribute to discussion on centralization and decentralisation.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. what is Centralization and Decentralization?

2. examine the merits and demerits of Centralization and Decentralization.

3. discuss devolution of powers.

4. state the factors that determine the centralization of power.

 

 

 

THEME – 

TOPIC 1 – BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (DELEGATED LEGISLATION) 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Textbooks

2. Pictures and charts

3. Films

4. Newspaper cuttings

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

1. explain what is meant by delegated legislation.

2. identify different forms of delegated legislation.

3. examine the advantages and disadvantages of delegated legislation.

 

 

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Delegated Legislation

2.Forms of Delegated Legislation

3. Control of Delegated Legislation

4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Delegated Legislation

 

 

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. leads discussion on delegated legislation.

2. gives examples of delegated legislation in school.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. contribute to discussion on Delegated legislation

2. cite examples of delegated legislation in school Take notes.

 

 

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. define delegated legislation.

2. explain the forms of delegated legislation.

3. outline the merits and demerits of delegated legislation.