Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Junior Secondary School 1

SUBJECT:CIVIC EDUCATION

CLASS: JSS1

DATE:

TERM: 3RD TERM

Week One

Topic- Constitution

Content

1. Meaning
2. Sources of Constitution

Constitution can be described as the embodiment of law, rules and regulations, customs, and culture in which a society, state and country is governed. The constitution enables us to check excesses of leaders and spell out the duties and rights of a citizen. Constitution can be written or unwritten.

Sources of Constitution

1. Constitutional conference
2. Judicial interpretation/ precedents/case law
3. Customs and culture, conventions
4. Expert opinion
5. International law e.g UN Charter
6. Textbooks or historical documents
7. Acts of Parliaments

Types of Constitution

1. Written Constitution
2. Unwritten Constitution
3. Flexible Constitution
4. Rigid Constitution
5. Unitary Constitution
6. Confederal Constitution
7. Federal Constitution

1. Written Constitution:- This is the type of constitution that is contained in a single document. Most countries in the world adopt written constitution. Any written constitution is rigid in nature. Nigeria, US, Canada operate written constitution.
2. Unwritten Constitution :- This type of constitution is in operation in Britain it is found in scattered documents
3. Rigid Constitution :- Any written constitution is rigid in nature. This type of constitution requires special or complex procedure for its amendment. Nigeria’s constitution is rigid in nature.
4. Flexible Constitution :-Unlike rigid constitution, flexible constitution requires simple procedure for its amendment. An unwritten constitution is flexible in nature. Britain operates an unwritten constitution.
5. Unitary Constitution:- This is the type of constitution where power is concentrated in the central government. The subordinated units derive their powers from central government. Examples of countries with Unitary Constitution are :Ghana, Zambia, Britain, France etc.
6. Federal Constitution:- in a federal constitution there is division of power between the various levels of governments. The federal, state and local government . examples of countries with federal constitution is Nigeria, the United States of America, Canada, Cameroon etc.
7. Confederal Constitution:- This is a type of constitution which allows independent states to operate as a unit while retaining individual sovereignty or independence . A confederal state is a league or association of independent states. Examples of confederations are African Unity (AU), United Nations ( UN), ECOWAS.

Importance of Constitution

1. It determines the structures and functions of government.
2. It prevents dictatorship
3. It enables the citizens to know their rights and duties to the state.
4. It serves as a basis for conflict resolutions
5. It defines the goal of the state.
6. It regulates the behaviours of the citizens.

Evaluation

1. List six types of constitution
2. Define constitution .

Weekend Assignment

1. The embodiment of Law in which a society is governed is known as _________
2. Holy bible B. Constitution C. Novel D. Poetry
3. Britain operates _______ constitution.
4. written B. unwritten C. confederal D. federal
5. One of the following is not a source of constitution?
6. Historical document
7. Text book
8. Acts of Parliament
9. Secret meeting
10. Constitution enables us to _______ except
11. check dictatorship B. know our duties C. know our goal as a society
12. destroy the state
13. An unwritten constitution is __________ .
14. flexible B. rigid C. confederal D. all of the above

Theory

1. Explain written and unwritten constitution.
2. State five importance of constitution.