Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

SUBJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION                                    

CLASS: SS 1

TERM: 2ND TERM

TOPIC: Law and Order

WEEK 6

RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

INTRODUCTION:

To ensure that people live in peace in the society, there is need to obey law and order. This gives rise to people being in positions of constituted authority and the need to respect them

POWER can be defined as the ability to affect the behavior of another person by threat of some form of sanction. It is the capacity to make people do what they otherwise would not have done. Power is a relationship. That is, power cannot be  exercised all alone except there is a relationship.

AUTHORITY is  the described as the recognition of the right to rule. It can be regarded as the legitimate exercise of power. Every leader needs power and authority in order to rule. The exercise of power without authority  is not legitimate. Legitimacy confers recognition on the leader,   the authority which is the right to rule and exercise power.

CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

Constituted authority can be described as a person or a group of persons appointed or elected into position of authority or leadership. Authority refers  to duly established  leadership which is  recognised by the people. It is regarded as constituted authority because that position was attained with the consent of the people, either through appointment or election.

RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

Respect for constituted authority or leadership simply means obedience to leadership by obeying rules and regulations  made by the leaders that have been elected or appointed into power. The rules and regulations are made for the common good  of everybody in society. The laws are to regulate the actions and activities of the citizens. It is by showing respect to constituted  authority that the objectives stated in the constitution can be achieved.

 TYPES OF CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

1. Traditional authority:  They  are based on the traditions and customs of the people. The Obas, Emirs and Obis are custodians of the culture and customs of the people.
2. Religious authority: This kind of leadership is based on religions. People like the Imans, Priests and Pastors  are leaders that emerge as a result of religious authority. They are regarded as spiritual leaders.
3. Legal authority: They are also  governmental authority because the constitution recognizes them as leaders. Authority  emanates from the offices people hold and not the people holding the offices.
4. Administrative agencies of international organizations. This is another constituted authority which can be found in international organizations as the United nations, African Unions and Economic Community of West African States.

HOW LEADERS EMERGE

1. Through elections
2. Through heredity like in African tradition
3. Through appointment
4. Through charisma, personal qualities that people see in them.
5. By tradition. Traditional leaders emerge due to customs and traditions of the people.

IMPORTANCE OF CONSTITUED AUTHORITY

1. Constituted authority enforces conformity with laid down rules and regulations and ensures that citizen obey the rules  which are mean for the benefit of all.
2. It make policies and decisions and implements them in order to achieve set goals
3. The tax payer’s money are used by the legal authority provide social and economic facilities in the country.
4. It also ensures that citizens live in peace with one another.
5. The traditional rulers who are the custodian of peoples’ customs preserves these from one generation to another.
6. The religious authority meets the spiritual needs of their followers.

REVISION QUESTIONS

1. Explain the importance of constituted authority.
2. Explain four types of constituted authority.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Political authority refers to the 

1. Ability to affect political action
2. Capacity to produce desired political results
3. Recognized right to exercise political power
4. Ability to perform political activities

1. The primary duty of the citizens to society is

1. Obedience to traditional authority
2. Obedience to civil society
3. Loyalty to self
4. Loyalty to the state

1. Explain the following terms:

1. Power
2. Authority
3. Constituted authority

1. In which ways do leaders emerge?

READING ASSIGNMENT:

Read:  Employment (page 13) of Civics  Education for SS 2