CIVIC EDUCATION JSS 2 SECOND TERM LESSON NOTE

SIGMA TERM SCHEME OF WORK FOR JSS2

CIVIC EDUCATION

WEEK ONE 

• Revision

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: Relationship between federal, state and local government.

In Nigeria, there are three tiers of government. These are: 

The federal government,  the state government and the local government. 

The federal Government

The federal government is the central authority that represents the entire nation in external affairs and internal affairs of common interest. 

State Government 

The head of the state is the governor. The state governor oversees the state councils of chiefs, state civil service commission and the local government services commission and so on.

Local Government

This is the third tier of government in Nigeria. It is head by Local Government Chairman. It also has its own legislative body which makes bye laws for her.  

TOPIC: THE RULE OF LAW

Law is the set of rules and regulations by which a society is governed to maintain peace and orderliness. The rule of law means the supremacy of law over the citizens in a country. The equality of every citizen before the law and the presence of individual right.

A.V. Dicey propounded the doctrine that leaders should abide by the rule of law and govern the people according to the provision of the constitution of the country.

PRINCIPLES / FEATURES OF RULE OF LAW

The rule of law has the following principle as explained by Prof. A.V. Dicey

1. PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW: There is no citizens that is above the law. The law should apply to all with respect for person and without respect for person. Hence, all citizens should be equal before the law.
2. PRINCIPLE OF INPARTIALITY: These includes that suspects should not be detained for more than twenty – four hours. An offender should still be innocent until he is proved guity by the process in the court. 
3. THE PRINCIPLES OF SUPREMACY: Nobody is above the law of supremacy over all.
4. PRINCIPLES OF FAIR HEARING: People arrested for an offence should be given fair hearing through formal legal process in the court before condemned or sentence to jail.
5. RIGHT OF APPEAL: When a lower court’s judgment on an individual is not satisfied, he should appeal in a higher court.
6. FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT: The right of individual should be enthrenched in the constitution enforced and guaranteed. 

BENEFITS OF THE RULE OF LAW OVER ARBITARY RULE

1. It protects citizens against arbitrary rule: Rule of law ensures that citizens have access to seek re-dress in court when they feel cheated or their right is infringed upon. 
2. Guarantees the fundamental human right: It makes every citizen enjoy the fundamental human rights as stated in the constitution.
3. Ensures process freedom: Journalist have freedom (though not without limits) to express views about government policies and how they affect the masses. This freedom leaves journalist unpunished for pointing out areas where government is not performing.
4. Prevent unlawful detention: No person should be detained beyond 24hours before trial in court. Individuals can see government and its agents for unlawful arrest or detention. 
5. Allows for equality of all citizens: Under the rule of law, there is no sacred cow. The law applies to all and all citizens are equal before the law.
6. Give rooms for appeal: When judgement given by a lower court is not satisfactory, rule of law gives room for appeal to a higher court. 

WEEK FOUR 

TOPIC: PUNISHABLE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING THE LAW

People commit lots of offences in their activities or relationships with others that are punishable by law. There are various types and degrees offences commensurate their punishment.

There are two classes of offences

1. Criminal offences
2. Civic offences

1. CRIMINAL OFFENCES: There are severe offences with severe penalties. Though citizen must be tried in the court of law and found guilty of such offences before punishment is metes out with respect of the provision of law. Criminal offences includes crimes like bribery, drug trafficking, corruption and human trafficking. Criminal offences may attract jail term and death penalties.
2. CIVIC OFFENCES: They are less critical offences yet they attract penalties. They include libel prostitution, slander, sanitation offences and so on. 

They are punishable by impressing fire and shat detension sentences.

The state and the rule of law: In this context, ‘state’ means the nation or country.

Institution or arms of government that help in formulating and enforcement of the rule of law includes the legislature, executive, judiciary and the law enforcement agencies such as police, EFCC, ICFC and so on.

1. THE LEGISLATURE: This aim of government makes for a country.

Legislature and the rule of law

In formulating and enforcing the rule of law the legislature.

1. Makes necessary laws that help in protecting the rule of law
2. Make amendments to constitution when necessary 
3. Helps in establishing law enforcement agencies like NAFDAC, EFCC, NHRC, INEC etc. 
4. Has power to impeach the president in case he abuse power
5. Has the power to investigate financial activities of any government departments.

PUNISHABLE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT OF LAWS (CONTINUES)

2. THE EXECUTIVE: This aim of government implements and enforces the law and other government politics.

THE ROLE IN ENFORCING AND FORMULATING THE LAW

1. It protects lives and properties through law enforcement agents like the police, NAFDAC etc.
2. It helps in implanting all laws made by the legislature
3. The president with his cabinet has the duty to defend the constitution 
4. It advices the legislature when there is need to amend the constitution (electrical laws in Nigeria was amended before April 2012 general election)
5. Imposes curfew whenever there is chaos and commotion in the country. 

3. THE JUDICIARY: The judiciary interprets the law

THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY INCLUDES

1. It helps in interpreting the law
2. It fights against any constitutional abuse or violation by other arms of government, individual or organisations.
3. It punishes violation of the law
4. It determines the quality and punish them accordingly
5. It has power to release anyone unjustly detained 

4. THE POLICE: The police has right to enforce the laws preserve peace, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment partnership with the communities to enforce quality of life is also part of their responsibilities.

ROLES OF POLICE

1. Protect lives and properties
2. Protects and arrest suspects
3. Maintain law and order in the society
4. Settle minor disputes that may culminate into breakdown of law and order
5. Fights crime by preventing it and by rigorous pursuit of violates of law
6. Investigate criminal cases and presents suspect in court. 

5. THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC): This was set up in 2002. It focus on combining financial and economic crimes. The commission is empowered to prevent, investigate and penalize economic and financial crimes. It also enforce other laws and regulations relations to economic or financial environs such as embezzlement of public funds, fraud etc.

PURNISHABLE OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT OF LAWS (CONTINUES)

6. THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES COMMUNICATION (ICPC): This communication was established on September, 29th 2000 to compliants, investigates and persecute corrupt people. It is also to enlighten the public about the fight against bribery, corruption and related offences. The major role of the commission is to make Nigeria socially free from corruption in forms of misappropriation of fund and illegal punishment.
7. THE NATIONAL AGENCIES FOR FOOD AND DRUGS ADMISSION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC)

NAFDAC was established by decree of 1993 but officially established a parastatar of the Federal Ministry of Health in January 1st, 1994 to regulate and control the quality of foods, drugs, cosmetics, median services, chemical detergent and packaged water imported and locally made distributed in Nigeria.

FUNCTIONS OF NAFDAC

1. Regulatory Functions: it control importation of exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sales of drugs, cosmetics etc.
2. Inspection Functions: It inspects imported goods, drugs, cosmestics etc. by establishing the quality and certifies production site of production.
3. Registration Functions: It registers food, drugs, bottled water and chemicals.
4. Investigation Functions: Investigate production premises and raw materials for food and drugs. 

8. THE NATIONAL DRUG AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (NDLEA)

It was established by decree 48 of 2000. It was the sole of agency for drug enforcements in Nigeria.

FUNCTIONS OF NDLEA

1. The co-ordination of all drug laws and enforcement function conferred on any person and authority.
2. Adoption of measures of eradicating illegal cultivation of narcotic plants and eliminate illicit demand for them and psychotropic substances
3. Maintenance of investigation and control techniques 
4. Improving on eradition efforts
5. Improving enforcement of laws against illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. 
6. Elements and preventing major causes of the problems of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

WEEK FIVE:  Protection Of Human Rights And Rule Of Law

Defining Human Rights

As we said above, there is no agreed-upon definition of human rights. They can be thought of as rights that protect especially urgent moral concerns of humans that are: (a) universal, i.e., applying to every human and (b) apply equally, meaning everyone has the same human rights — to life and liberty, for example. Notice that “inalienable” is not included in the definition.

Many people believe that at least some human rights can be forfeited by certain actions, especially by committing crimes, and that some human rights can be overridden under certain rare circumstances. For instance, it might be morally acceptable to quarantine someone for a limited period of time if she is infected with a highly contagious deadly disease, although generally people are thought to have the right to liberty.

The theories of human rights’ origins are contentious. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It goes on to designate a long list of rights including:

• the right to life, liberty, and security of person,
• the right not to be tortured,
• the right to due process and equal treatment before the law,
• freedom of thought, opinion, expression, conscience, and religion,
• the right to participate in his or her countries’ government
• the right to work, and an adequate standard of living

Human Rights Protection

Methods of guaranteeing human rights vary with the sort of human right being violated, and how the violation occurs. Generally, states are assumed to have primary responsibility for guaranteeing their citizens’ human rights, but, at the same time, states are often the worst violators of human rights. Since World War II, however, states have consented to a number of institutions and treaties that limit their sovereign internal and external powers. For instance, the UN Charter, the Genocide Convention, and the International Criminal Court all limit the powers states have. These supranational institutions both place limits on what states can legally do, and provide some remedies for violations of human rights. These remedies range from authorizing humanitarian intervention under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to peacekeeping missions to authorizing the arrest of a head of state. Recent normative developments, such as the responsibility to protect (R2P) doctrine, may create higher costs for states that abuse their citizens and may provide another justification for international humanitarian intervention, as happened in Libya in the spring of 2011.

Another means of protecting human rights originates with non-state actors such as NGOs. Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch expose violations of human rights, which put pressure on governments to change their practices. Citizens themselves sometimes organize to overthrow human-rights violating regimes such as occurred in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011.

MID TERM TEST FIRST TERM JSS 2 CIVIC EDUCATION

WEEK SIX

TOPIC: Groups That Assist In Protecting The Human Rights Of Citizens

1. Civil Society Organization
2. Trade Unions
3. Student Unions
4. Ethnic Association
5. Legal Aid Council Of Nigeria 

WEEK SEVEN: Consumer Rights And Responsibilities

1. The Right to Safety: This right refers to any product, other than an automobile, that may cause bodily harm to the consumer when used as it was intended to be used. This right gained further attention in 1972, when the US government formed the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which set up safety and performance standards for products, requiring them to be tested and carry warning labels if necessary. Conversely, the consumer’s responsibility here is to use the product safely, follow all directions, and to be aware of any future warnings regarding the product. If you’re concerned about safety in the workplace, this course on safety training for supervisors will help get your work area ship shape.
2. The Right to Be Informed: Here, it is the company’s responsibility to provide accurate and truthful information so that the consumer is able to make intelligent and informed choices. This right covers all products, but its original aim was to eradicate misleading information in the areas of financing, advertising, labeling, and packaging. Some examples of the legislation passed as a result of this right include the Wholesome Meat Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. The responsibility of the consumer lies in their obligation to analyze this product information, and to use it wisely.
3. The Right to Choose: Consumers not only have the right to a variety of options to choose from, but the environment in which the products and services are offered must be healthy, and conducive to fair competition. The government has promoted this environment by passing legislation regarding patent law, anti-trusts, and price-cutting and gouging. The responsibility of the consumer is to simply make their choices carefully. If you’ve got a patent you’d like to protect, this course on how to write and file a patent will show you how to deal with patent protection yourself.
4. The Right to be Heard: Consumers have the right to express their complaints and concerns, resulting not only in safer goods and services, but also for the creation of laws regarding this safety. There’s no official forum for these complaints to be heard, but state and federal attorney generals, as well as organizations like the Better Business Bureau deal with these situations all of the time. It’s a consumer’s responsibility to express their concern when necessary.
5. The Right to Satisfy Basic Needs: People have a right to have access to basic fundamental needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, sanitation, water, etc. Not only should consumers have access to these necessities, they should be responsible enough to consume these items sustainably, so that not only are they fulfilled, but so others can have their needs met, as well.
6. The Right to Redress: If a consumer has lost money or otherwise felt cheated due to misrepresentation, shoddy products, or unsatisfactory services, they have the right to request money or other benefits to make up for their loss. The responsibility that lies with them is to seek appropriate compensation if a wrong is committed, in order to any wrongdoings are unacceptable.
7. The Right to Consumer Education: Consumers have the right to make the best-informed decision when making a purchase, and this information should be readily available, and easy to understand. It is their duty to remain properly informed as the nature of products evolves over time, and information changes.
8. The Right to a Healthy Environment: Expanding out from consumers rights, and into basic human rights, people have the right to live and work in an environment that is healthy non-threatening. This is not only for the people now, but also for future generations, and their responsibility is to make choices that minimize their environmental impact on the people of today and tomorrow.

WEEK EGHT:

Definitions of Democracy

Democracy can be defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people in ordinary terms.

Democracy has been defined by various philosophers and writers in different ways e.g.

Aristotle definition of democracy, It is the rule of mob and condemns it.

See lay defined it as a government in which everyone has a share.

In short democracy is that form of government in which sovereignty remains in the hands of the entire nation, which can make and unmake the government.

Types of Democracy

Following are two types of democracy

1. Direct Democracy

Under this system the people take direct in the affairs of the state. The people themselves are the rulers and they are the ruled at the same time. They themselves make the laws, enforce them and decide cases according to these laws. Such a democracy existed in City States of ancient Greece and Rome. Some practices of direct democracy are still observed in Switzerland and in some states of the USA.

2. Indirect or Representative Democracy

After the creation of large nation states, it became impossible for all the people directly to participate in the affairs of the state. Under this form of government the people elect a small number of representatives or delegation and give them the authority to run the government. Since the people rule through these representatives, we give the system the name of indirect or representative democracy. Today in almost all the countries of the world there is indirect or representative democracy.

Features Of Democracy

1. Periodic election.
2. Franchise
3. Political parties
4. Free association and groups
5. Secret ballot.

WEEK NINE: Democratic Institutions

• Independent National Electoral Commission.

• Pressure groups

• Political parties

• Arms of government

WEEK TEN: Pillars Of Democracy

• The People

• Democratic Institutions

• Rule of Law

• Transparent Electoral Processes

• Majority Rule and Minority Rights

FIRST TERM CIVIC EDUCATION JSS 2 EXAMINATION REVISION