GOVERNMENT SSS ONE

LESSON PLAN FOR WEEK ONE

DATE

CLASS: SS1

SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT

DURATION

PERIOD

REF BOOK: ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: COMPUTER, NOTEBOOK WHITE BOARD AND MARKER

TOPIC: GOVERNMENT AS AN ACADEMIC FIELD OF STUDY

AIM: TO TEACH THE STUDENTS VARIOUS WAYS OF DEFINING GOVERNMENT

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE:  STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

i.                     DEFINE GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTITUTION OF THE STATE

ii.                  GOVERNMENT AS A PROCESS OR THE ART OF  GOVERNING

iii.                GOVERNMENT AS AN ACADEMIC FILED OF STUDY

ACTIVITIES:

STEP 1:  TEACHER LEADS THE STUDENTS TO DEFINE GOVERNMENT

STEPII: STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CLASS DISCUSSION

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION TO  GOVERNMENT

            The need for government came up as a result of people living together, interacting and working together as well as forming different associations.  This living and working together may bring about conflicts, disagreements, crises of different dimensions etc.  the result would be that the rich will exert force to oppress the poor.  The fundamental function of any state, therefore, is to come up with a dynamic policy, to control people by the administration of justice so that the weak are protected from the strong and the poor from the wealthy. Therefore, the need to have a body capable of regulating their daily activates arises.

            If there no such agency, anarchy could reign in the society. There is the need for people to elect and establish among themselves an agency (government) with political activities in a state.  

Government to a layman is an act of governing or ruling a state. It is seen as an agency, system or organ having a state and maintaining its security, peace and progress.  It has its institutional, academic and administrative field of explanation.  A state without government therefore will experience anarchy.

Therefore government can be defined as a body that has the authority to make laws and the power to enforce laws within a civil, corporate, religious, academic or other organization or group.  In its broadest sense, “ to govern means to administer or supervise, whether over a state, a set group of people or a collection of assets.

The word government is ultimately the executive function. In many countries the government refers to executive branch of government or a specifically named executive e.g USA.

DEFINITION OF GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTITUTION OF THE STATE.

            Government as an institution of the state may be defined as a machinery established by the state to organize the state, manage its affairs and administer its function and duties.  It is also seen as a machinery through which the will of the state us formulated, expresses and realized.

            Government as an institution of the state has three organs or strictures and the functions of each of them are stipulated accordingly in the constitution.  For example ,

i.                     The executive is concerned with policy formulation and implantation

ii.                  The legislature is equally involved in law making

iii.                The judiciary concentrates mainly in the interpretation of the law

GOVERNMENT AS A PROCESS  OR THE ART OF GOVERNING

            Government is referred to as an art of governing because it is a body vested with the supreme power of the affairs of a state.  A Government is vested with the power of  maintaining peace machinery for that purpose.

            Government makes laws and enforces them on the people of that county. It makes policies and implements them.  Equally, interprets laws and punishes the offenders.  Most of the polices, actions made and taken are meant for the general well-being of the society.

Government should be able to carry the people along in most of the activities embarked upon.  The efficiency of government in the process of administration is based on the principle of the separation of powers, where the organs of government – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary have their powers distinctly separated both in functions and in personnel.  Each of the organs has it functions defined by the constitution.

GOVERNMENT AS AN ACADEMIC FIELD OF STUDY  

            Government as an academic filed of study involves the study of political institutions in the state ideas, values and doctrines about politics, the view of political thinkers on what constitutes the welfare of the people.  It is a social science subject that is taught in schools and colleges as well as higher institutions where it is popularly known as political science.

The study of government embraces International Relations, Public Administration, Local   Government Administration, comparative politics etc.  Government as a science studies politics through the use of computers, research, statistics and analysis of data.  Government also relates to other subjects or disciplines such as Economic, History, sociology, philosophy, psychology, mathematics etc.

  

Evaluation:  The teacher evaluate the lesson by asking the students question

1.     Summarize the three definition of government in one. Not more or less than five lines 

Summary:  the teacher summaries what she taught briefly

PERIOD TWO

Sub topic: Characteristics of Government

Entry Behaviour:  Average student should be to define government and its characteristics

Step 1 Introduction

The teacher introduces the  topic to the students

Step II:  The teacher goes further by leading the student to explain the topic.

Content

ATTRIBUTES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF GOVERNMENT

1.      LAW:  it is a guide to the activities beliefs and behavior of the citizens.  There are laws made by the government and entrenched in the constitution.  The actions of those in government, their limitations, right, duties and obligations of citizens are all outlines in the constitution

2.     Political Power:  The political power which the government has is in consonance with the people’s will to obey laws and politics made by the state.

3.     Revenue:  Government needs enough revenue for the enormous task facing it.

4.     Work-force.  The civil service possesses adequate personnel for policy making and implementation, interpretation and punishment of offenders

5.     People’s legitimate support: a Government should be able to earn  for itself legitimate support from the people and this produces peace and stability in a system.

6.     Welfare services: provision  of some essential services, e.g water, electricity, housing etc. should be made to improve people’s well-being.  This is essential for any responsible government.

7.     Periodic change: No government is permanent, especially, one that is based on people’s participation (elective government) hence the adoption of periodic elections.  In some systems, it could be either five or four years to change a government

8.     Protection:  it is incumbent on the government to provide enough protection and security to the people.

9.     Promotion of economic activities.  The promotion f economic activities of infrastructure e.g roads, railways airports etc and by encouraging investors.

10.                        External affairs function:  Government maintains good relations withother countries

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING GOVERNMENT

1.      Types of system:  The study of government helps in knowing the types and different system of government operating in the world

2.     To widen people’s knowledge:  The study of Government helps to widen people’s knowledge about  administration and other institution involved in governance.

3.     Political education: Government educate the people of a country on the political life or affairs of the country.

4.     Opportunity for leadership:  the opportunity is provided for the people through the study of government to become future political leaders.

5.     Conflict resolution:  through Government an opportunity is provided for people to know how conflicts originate and are resolved.

6.     Government provides the opportunity to know: Government provides the opportunity for people to know their rights, duties and obligation as citizens

7.     Promotion of the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.  These are inculcated into the lives of the people

8.     Mistake of past leaders: the study of government helps to prevent leaders from being repeated

9.     Decision –making:  The study of government equally opens the eyes of the people for the need to take part in political decision-making of a country.

Evaluation:  The teacher evaluate the topic by asking the student question

Explain government as an academic field of study

Summary:  the teacher goes over the topic briefly

Assignment

List and explain 10 functions of government in your country?