Characteristics of a Federation Civic Education JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 11

Lesson Plan: Characteristics of a Federation

Subject: Civic Education

Class: JSS 2

Term: First Term

Week: 11

Age: 12–13 years

Topic: Characteristics of a Federation

Sub-topics:

1. Characteristics of a Federation
2. Sharing of Power between the Central and State Governments

Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

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

1. Describe the key characteristics of a federation.
2. Explain how power is shared between the central (federal) and state governments in a federation.
3. Identify the advantages of power sharing in a federation like Nigeria.
4. Discuss how the Nigerian government operates under the federal system.

Keywords:

• Federation: A system of government with power shared between a central authority and regional governments.
• Central Government: The national or federal government responsible for overseeing the entire country.
• State Government: The government at the regional or state level within a federation.
• Power Sharing: The distribution of powers and responsibilities between different levels of government.
• Constitution: A legal document that outlines the powers of different levels of government.

Set Induction:

The teacher starts the lesson by asking students to think about why Nigeria has both a national government in Abuja and individual governments for each state. This leads into the concept of federalism.

Entry Behaviour:

Students already know that Nigeria is divided into different levels of government: federal, state, and local.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Map of Nigeria showing federal and state boundaries
• Nigerian Constitution (simplified version)
• Civic Education textbooks with diagrams on power sharing
• Visual aids showing the organizational structure of federal and state governments

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students are aware that the Nigerian government is divided into federal, state, and local levels, but they may not fully understand how power is distributed between them.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Analytical thinking
• Civic awareness
• Collaboration and discussion

Learning Materials:

• Civic Education textbooks (JSS 2 level)
• Handouts showing the differences between central and state government functions

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Civic Education, JSS 2
• Nigerian Constitution
• Relevant Civic Education textbooks

Instructional Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart displaying Nigeria’s federal structure
• Diagrams outlining how power is shared between central and state governments

Content:

I. Characteristics of a Federation:

1. Division of Power: In a federation, power is divided between the central government and regional or state governments. Each level of government has its own responsibilities and authority.
2. Written Constitution: A federation operates under a written constitution that clearly defines the powers of the central and state governments.
3. Autonomy of States: States within a federation have a degree of autonomy, meaning they can govern themselves in certain areas without interference from the central government.
4. Bicameral Legislature: Federations often have a bicameral (two-chamber) legislative system, such as a Senate and a House of Representatives, to represent both the central and state governments.
5. Judicial Independence: A federal system has a judiciary that can settle disputes between the central government and the states.
6. Decentralization of Power: Power is decentralized to prevent any one part of the government from becoming too powerful, ensuring a balance between the central and state governments.

II. Sharing of Power between Central and State Governments:

1. Exclusive Powers: Certain powers, such as defense, foreign affairs, and immigration, are exclusive to the central (federal) government.
2. Concurrent Powers: These are powers shared by both the federal and state governments. Examples include education, healthcare, and transportation.
3. Residual Powers: Powers not explicitly mentioned in the constitution are left to the state governments. For example, issues such as local infrastructure and markets are managed by state governments.
4. Importance of Power Sharing:
   • Promotes local governance by allowing states to manage their own affairs.
   • Prevents the over-centralization of power, which can lead to dictatorship.
   • Encourages diversity and accommodates the various cultural and ethnic groups within a federation like Nigeria.

Evaluation:

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (with options a, b, c, or d):

1. A federation is a system where power is shared between the central government and __________.
   a) international organizations
   b) regional governments
   c) political parties
   d) local communities
2. One key feature of a federation is the existence of a __________ constitution.
   a) verbal
   b) written
   c) temporary
   d) judicial
3. In a federation, states have __________, meaning they can govern themselves in certain areas.
   a) superiority
   b) autonomy
   c) independence
   d) control
4. Powers like defense and foreign affairs are __________ to the federal government.
   a) shared
   b) exclusive
   c) residual
   d) concurrent
5. Both the federal and state governments share __________ powers.
   a) exclusive
   b) legislative
   c) concurrent
   d) judicial
6. Powers not mentioned in the constitution are called __________ powers and are reserved for the state governments.
   a) residual
   b) concurrent
   c) exclusive
   d) supreme
7. The process of distributing power between different levels of government is called __________.
   a) centralization
   b) federalism
   c) decentralization
   d) governance
8. A __________ legislature represents both the central and state governments in a federation.
   a) unitary
   b) bicameral
   c) unicameral
   d) federal
9. Judicial independence in a federation allows the courts to __________ disputes between the central and state governments.
   a) ignore
   b) resolve
   c) delay
   d) create
10. The sharing of power in a federation helps prevent the __________ of power.
    a) decentralization
    b) over-centralization
    c) elimination
    d) equalization

Class Activity Discussion:

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

1. What is a federation?
   A federation is a system of government where power is divided between the central government and regional governments (states).
2. Why does a federation need a written constitution?
   To clearly define the powers and responsibilities of the central and state governments.
3. What does it mean for states to have autonomy?
   It means that states can govern themselves in certain areas without interference from the central government.
4. What are exclusive powers?
   Powers that only the central (federal) government can exercise, such as defense and foreign policy.
5. What are concurrent powers?
   Powers shared by both the central and state governments, such as education and healthcare.
6. What are residual powers?
   Powers not mentioned in the constitution, which are reserved for state governments.
7. Why is power-sharing important in a federation?
   It prevents the over-centralization of power and allows local governments to address specific regional needs.
8. What is the role of the judiciary in a federation?
   To settle disputes between the central and state governments and ensure justice.
9. How does a bicameral legislature function in a federation?
   It represents both the interests of the central government and the regional governments (states).
10. What is the impact of decentralization in a federation?
    It allows for a more balanced distribution of power and promotes local governance.

Presentation:

1. The teacher revises the previous topic, which was “Governance – Nigeria as a Federation.”
2. The teacher introduces the new topic, “Characteristics of a Federation,” focusing on how power is shared between the central and state governments.
3. The teacher encourages students to discuss how power-sharing works in Nigeria and compare it with other federations, correcting any misconceptions.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Explain the characteristics of a federation with examples from Nigeria.
• Discuss the distribution of power between the federal and state governments.
• Use a chart to show how power is shared between different levels of government in Nigeria.

Learners’ Activities:

• Participate in discussions about power-sharing in Nigeria’s federal system.
• Work in groups to list the benefits of power-sharing in a federation.
• Reflect on how power-sharing affects governance in their state.

Assessment:

• Evaluate students’ understanding through fill-in-the-blank questions.
• Observe class participation and group discussions for engagement and comprehension.

Evaluation Questions:

1. What is a key characteristic of a federation?
2. Name one type of power exclusive to the central government in Nigeria.
3. What are concurrent powers?
4. How many levels of government share power in Nigeria’s federal system?
5. What is the importance of a written constitution in a federation?
6. How does power-sharing prevent the over-centralization of power?
7. What does judicial independence mean in a federation?
8. What is the benefit of having residual powers for state governments?
9. How does a bicameral legislature represent the interests of both the central and state governments?
10. Why is decentralization important in a federal system?

Conclusion:

The teacher reviews the key points of the lesson, marking the students’ work and clarifying any misunderstandings.