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.

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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 Textbooks or historical documents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

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

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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

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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.

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