Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Junior Secondary School 2

TERM: 2nd TERM

SUBJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION                                

CLASS:  JSS 2

REFERENCE

• Fundamentals of Civic Education for Basic 8 by Sola Akinyemi.
• Fundamentals of Civic Education for Basic 8 Workbook by Sola Akinyemi.

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC: DEMOCRACY

Democracy is the type of government where people exercise their political power to elect people into political offices through the means of an election. It is considered to be the best form of government because there are “Checks and Balances”. It is often defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. This was stated by the 16th president of America (Abraham Lincoln).

EVALUATION

What is democracy?

ORIGIN OF DEMOCRACY

The word DEMO (people) and KRATIA (government) form DEMOCRACY.  It originated from ancient Greece where the adult males form the legislature. There was no separation of power. This means that the legislature, the executive and the judiciary were fused together.

FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY

1. Rule of law.
2. Periodic free and fair elections.
3. Freedom of the press.
4. Tolerance of opposition.
5. Party system.

EVALUATION

State three features of  democracy.

BENEFITS OF DEMOCRACY

1. Equal opportunity for all citizens.
2. Existence of the rule of law.
3. It encourages tolerance.
4. It encourages political stability.
5. It gives legitimacy to elect people.

CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF DEMOCRACY

1. Supremacy of the constitution.
2. Free and fair elections.
3. Rule of law.
4. Existence of opposition.
5. Independence of the judiciary.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. State four benefits of democracy.
2. Mention three conditions necessary for successful operation of democracy.
3. State three consequences of disobedience in schools.
4. Mention four consequences of disobedience on the individual and the society.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Fundamentals of Civic Education for Basic 8 by Sola Akinyemipgs 97-101

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Democracy started from_____. A. England B. France C. Greece D. Germany
2. KRATIA means____. A. people B. government C. institution D. state
3. “Democracy is about the people” was propounded by____. A. James Sherwood B. Robin Johnson C. Abraham Lincoln D. Winston Churchill
4. DEMO means____. A. government B. people C. politics D. amnesty
5. These are features of democracy except____. A. rule of law B. chaos C. periodic elections D. party system

THEORY

1. State three benefits of democracy.
2. Mention two conditions necessary for the successful operation of democracy.