**Lesson Plan**
**Subject:** Government
**Grade Level:** Senior Secondary 1 (SS1)
**Topic:** Basic Concepts of Government: Power, Sources of Power, and Authority
**Duration:** 60 minutes
---
### **Objectives:**
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Define the concepts of power and authority.
2. Identify the different sources of power.
3. Distinguish between power and authority.
4. Explain the significance of power and authority in government.
### **Materials Needed:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector and laptop (optional for presentation)
- Handouts with definitions and examples
- Chart paper and markers
### **Lesson Outline:**
#### **Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. **Warm-Up Activity:**
- Begin with a quick discussion. Ask students, "What do you understand by the term 'power'?" and "What about 'authority'?" Invite a few students to share their thoughts.
- Briefly explain the lesson objectives and why understanding these concepts is essential in the study of government.
#### **Presentation (20 minutes)**
2. **Power:**
- Definition: Power is the ability or capacity to influence or control the behavior of people or events.
- Discuss different types of power: coercive, reward, legitimate, referent, and expert power.
- Ask students for real-life examples where they have observed these types of power.
3. **Sources of Power:**
- Explain various sources of power including:
- Physical force
- Wealth
- State action (laws and bureaucracy)
- Social norms
- Ideas
- Numbers (majority rule, democracy)
- Use handouts to provide definitions and examples.
4. **Authority:**
- Definition: Authority is the right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
- Discuss how authority differs from power: Authority is often legitimized power.
- Types of authority as per Max Weber: traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational authority.
- Illustrate with examples from history and current events.
#### **Activity (15 minutes)**
5. **Group Work:**
- Divide the class into small groups.
- Provide each group with chart paper and markers.
- Assign each group one type of power or authority to discuss. Ask them to write down the key points and come up with an example from daily life, government, or historical events.
- Have each group present their findings to the class.
#### **Discussion (10 minutes)**
6. **Class Discussion:**
- Facilitate a discussion comparing the student groups' presentations.
- Emphasize the significance of power and authority in maintaining order and organization in society.
- Discuss how a balance of power and authority affects governance and democratic processes.
#### **Conclusion (5 minutes)**
7. **Recap and Questions:**
- Summarize the main points of the lesson.
- Answer any remaining questions from students.
- Provide a quick preview of the next lesson topic.
### **Assessment:**
- **Formative Assessment:**
- Participation in the group activity and class discussion.
- Observations of students’ understanding during the presentation.
- **Summative Assessment:**
- A short quiz or written assignment at the end of the week covering the definitions, sources, and types of power and authority.
### **Homework:**
- Ask students to find a news article that demonstrates the use of power or authority in government and write a brief summary explaining the context and its impact.
### **Reflection:**
- Reflect on the lesson’s effectiveness: Were the objectives met? Did students actively participate and seem engaged?
- Make notes on any adjustments that could improve the lesson in the future.