Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

Unitary system of government

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Term: 1st Term

Week: 13

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 15 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Unitary system of government

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

  1. Define unitary system of government
  2. Outline the features of unitary system of government
  3. Highlight the factors that give rise to the adoption of unitary government
  4. State the merits and demerits of the unitary system of government

 INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

STUDENT’S ACTIVITY

STEP 1

INTRODUCTION

The teacher reviews the previous lesson on Communism and socialism

Students pay attention

STEP 2

EXPLANATION

He defines unitary system of government and enumerates its features

 

Students pay attention and participates

STEP 3

DEMONSTRATION

He highlights the factors that give rise to the adoption of the unitary system of government. He further states the merits and demerits of unitary system of government

Students pay attention and participate

STEP 4

NOTE TAKING

The teacher writes a summarized note on the board

The students copy the note in their books

 

NOTE

UNITARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

A unitary system of government may be defined as one in which all government powers are concentrated in the hands of a single authority or central government.

This single authority does not share government powers with any other body but can delegate powers to other subordinate bodies. Britain Italy, Belgium, Ethiopia adopts unitary system of government.

 

FEATURES OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT

  1. All governmental powers are concentrated in the hands of a single authority
  1. It adopts a unitary constitution
  1. The legislature can alter the powers and boundaries of the various units or regions
  1. The central government is the only source form which power emanates
  1. Parliamentary supremacy is a prominent feature.

 

FACTORS THAT GIVE RISE TO THE ADOPTION OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT

  1. Size of the country
  1. Absence of ethnic differences
  1. Lack of fear of domination
  1. Common language and culture
  1. Absence of minority groups

 

MERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT

  1. Stronger and stable government as citizens show loyalty to one central government
  1. There is reduction in running the cost of government
  1. Quicker decisions are made
  1. There is promotion of national unity
  1. It operates flexible constitution

 

DEMERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT

  1. It encourage dictatorship
  1. The central government is overburdened
  1. Government is kept far away from the people unlike federalism
  1. It leads to domination of minority groups 
  1. It does not encourage wider representation

 

EVALUATION:    1. Define unitary system of government

  1. Outline three features of unitary system of government
  2. Enumerate four factors that determine the adoption of unitary system of government
  3. State three merits and demerits of unitary system of government

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively