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 EIGHT

TOPIC: DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS

For democracy to thrive in any nation, there are some democratic institutions that enable it go on smoothly. Some of them are as follows:

• The Electoral Commission.

An electoral commission is charged with the responsibility of conducting and supervising elections in a country. The electoral body responsible for conducting and supervising election in Nigeria is the Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission (INEC).  This body has been conducting elections in Nigeria since 1999. Some of its functions:

1. It registers political parties that present candidates for elections.
2. It is responsible for conducting elections in the states of the federation.
3. It divides the country into constituencies.
4. It reviews voters’ register before elections.
5. It gives financial grants to political parties.

EVALUATION

Mention three functions of INEC.

• Political Parties.

A political party is an organized group of people with similar political opinion and ideologies working together for the purpose of winning elections into political positions. Some of the notable political parties in Nigeria are: the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Some of its functions:

1. They promote national unity.
2. They educate the electorates.
3. They promote national stability.
4. They promote interest in politics.

EVALUATION

Mention three political parties in Nigeria.

• Pressure Groups.

A pressure group refers to any group of people with common interest, engaging in activities that will influence 

government’s policies to their own benefits. Examples of pressure groups in Nigeria are: Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Medical Association(NMA), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). Some of the functions of pressure groups are: 

1. They promote and protect the interest of members.
2. They educate their members and the public.
3. They help in promoting economic stability.
4. They make government pay attention to peoples’ need.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESSURE GROUPS

1. They are well organized.
2. They are financed through members’ contribution.
3. They exist to protect common interest of members.
4. They rarely recruit members.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Fundamentals of Civic Education for Basic 8 by Sola Akinyemipgs 103-112

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. State three groups in the pressure group.
2. Mention three characteristics of pressure group.
3. What is courage?
4. Mention five characteristics of courageous people.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. INEC is responsible for the division of the country into_____. A. constitutionally B. constituencies C. components D. border lines
2. The current chairman of APC is_____. A. AlliModu Sheriff B. John Oyegun C. Harry Marshall D. Gbenga Daniels
3. In this current dispensation, democracy started in____. A.2000 B. 1999 C. 2001 D. 2015
4. These are the features of the pressure group except____. A. they exploit their members B. the rarely recruit members C. they protect common interest of members D. they are financed through members’ contribution
5. The immediate past chairman of INEC was____. A. Prof. JegaB.Dr. OnuC.Prof. Obasi D. Chief Onasanya

THEORY

1. State two functions of a political party.
2. Mention three functions of the electoral commission.