SSS 1 Government Scheme of Work for Second Term

The SSS 1 Government Scheme of Work for the second term provides a structured curriculum aimed at teaching students the foundational concepts of governance. This article explains the weekly breakdown, with detailed descriptions of each topic, their importance, and real-world applications. Designed to cater to students and educators alike, this guide ensures that even beginners grasp these concepts with ease.

Scheme of Work for Second Term (SSS 1 Government)

Week(s)	Topic(s)	Content
1	Types and Characteristics of Government	Unitary Government: Meaning, features, advantages, disadvantages, success factors, resource control.
2	Federal Government	Federation: Definition, reasons for federating, features, resource control, merits, demerits.
3	Presidential System of Government	Definition, characteristics, resource control, advantages, disadvantages.
4	Parliamentary/Cabinet System of Government	Definition, characteristics, merits, demerits, differences from presidential system.
5	Confederal Government	Meaning, features, resource control, merits, demerits, comparison with federalism.
6	Monarchy	Definition, forms (absolute, constitutional), resource control, features, merits, demerits.
7	Republicanism	Definition, features, resource control, comparison with monarchy.
8	Constitutions and Constitutionalism	Meaning, sources, scope, features, types, constitutionalism.
9	Executive	Composition, functions, control, honesty, and integrity.
10	Legislature and Judiciary	Functions, types, stages of passing a bill, judicial independence, limitations, honesty and integrity.
11	Revision	Review of all topics taught during the term.
12	Examination	Formal assessment of the term’s content.

Explanation of Each Topic

Week 1: Types and Characteristics of Government (Unitary Government)

• Meaning: A unitary government is a system where power is centralized in a single authority.
• Main Features:
  • Centralized power structure.
  • Uniform policies across the entire country.
  • Sub-national units function under central government directives.
• Advantages:
  • Quick decision-making.
  • Uniform laws.
  • Less bureaucracy.
• Disadvantages:
  • May lead to over-centralization.
  • Neglect of local needs.
• Success Factors:
  • A small, homogeneous population.
  • Strong central leadership.
• Examples:
  1. The United Kingdom (excluding devolved powers).
  2. France.
  3. Japan.
  4. Norway.
  5. Ghana.
  6. Togo.

Week 2: Federal Government

• Definition: A system where power is shared between central and regional governments.
• Reasons for Federating:
  • Diverse ethnic groups.
  • Large geographical size.
  • Economic considerations.
• Characteristics:
  • Division of powers.
  • Written constitution.
  • Supremacy of the constitution.
• Merits:
  • Promotes unity in diversity.
  • Encourages local governance.
• Demerits:
  • Complexity in administration.
  • Conflicts between levels of government.
• Examples:
  1. Nigeria.
  2. United States.
  3. Canada.
  4. Brazil.
  5. Germany.
  6. India.

Week 3: Presidential System of Government

• Definition: A system where the executive power is vested in a president.
• Characteristics:
  • Separation of powers.
  • Fixed tenure of office.
  • Direct election of the president.
• Resource Control:
  • Managed by central authority.
• Advantages:
  • Stable government.
  • Clear separation of powers.
• Disadvantages:
  • Possibility of authoritarianism.
  • Expensive to run.
• Examples:
  1. United States.
  2. Nigeria.
  3. Brazil.
  4. South Korea.
  5. Mexico.
  6. Philippines.

Week 4: Parliamentary/Cabinet System of Government

• Meaning: A system where the executive is derived from the legislature.
• Characteristics:
  • Collective responsibility.
  • Flexible tenure.
  • Prime minister as head of government.
• Merits:
  • Accountability.
  • Easier to pass laws.
• Demerits:
  • Instability in coalition governments.
  • Dominance by the majority party.
• Differences from Presidential System:
  • The head of government is separate from the head of state.
  • No strict separation of powers.
• Examples:
  1. United Kingdom.
  2. Canada.
  3. India.
  4. Australia.
  5. Japan.
  6. Israel.

Week 5: Confederal Government

• Meaning: A system where power is decentralized to regional governments.
• Features:
  • Weak central authority.
  • Sovereignty of member states.
• Resource Control:
  • Controlled by member states.
• Merits:
  • Promotes regional autonomy.
• Demerits:
  • Weak central government.
  • Lack of unity.
• Examples:
  1. Switzerland (historical).
  2. Articles of Confederation (U.S.).
  3. European Union (partial).
  4. Confederate States of America.
  5. Senegambia Confederation.
  6. German Confederation.

Week 6: Monarchy

• Meaning: A government ruled by a king or queen.
• Forms:
  • Absolute Monarchy: Monarch has unlimited powers.
  • Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch’s powers are limited by a constitution.
• Features:
  • Hereditary leadership.
  • Symbolic national unity.
• Merits:
  • Stability.
  • Continuity of leadership.
• Demerits:
  • Can be undemocratic.
  • Risk of autocracy.
• Examples:
  1. United Kingdom.
  2. Saudi Arabia.
  3. Japan.
  4. Morocco.
  5. Bhutan.
  6. Sweden.

Week 7: Republicanism

• Definition: A system where the head of state is elected.
• Features:
  • No hereditary leadership.
  • Sovereignty resides with the people.
• Resource Control:
  • Managed by elected officials.
• Comparison with Monarchy:
  • Monarchy involves hereditary rule; republicanism involves elections.
• Examples:
  1. United States.
  2. France.
  3. Nigeria.
  4. Italy.
  5. India.
  6. South Africa.

Week 8: Constitutions and Constitutionalism

• Meaning: A constitution is a set of laws governing a state, while constitutionalism emphasizes adherence to these laws.
• Sources:
  • Written documents.
  • Conventions.
• Types:
  • Written.
  • Unwritten.
• Features:
  • Supreme legal authority.
  • Division of powers.
• Examples:
  1. Nigeria (1999 Constitution).
  2. U.S. Constitution.
  3. Indian Constitution.
  4. French Constitution.
  5. British Constitution.
  6. South African Constitution.

Week 9: Executive

• Meaning: The executive is the branch of government responsible for implementing laws and running the administration of the state.
• Composition:
  • Parliamentary Executive: Executive is drawn from the legislature (e.g., United Kingdom).
  • Presidential Executive: Executive is separate from the legislature (e.g., United States).
• Functions:
  • Enforcement of laws.
  • Formulation and implementation of policies.
  • Representation of the country in international affairs.
  • Maintenance of law and order.
  • Defense and security.
  • Budget preparation and financial control.
• Control of the Executive:
  • By the legislature (e.g., impeachment, question-and-answer sessions).
  • By the judiciary (e.g., judicial review).
• Honesty and Integrity:
  • Transparency in governance.
  • Accountability to the people.
• Examples:
  1. The President in Nigeria (Presidential Executive).
  2. The Prime Minister in the United Kingdom (Parliamentary Executive).
  3. U.S. President (Joe Biden).
  4. Germany’s Chancellor.
  5. The French President.
  6. Canada’s Prime Minister.

Week 10: Legislature and Judiciary

Legislature

• Functions:
  • Lawmaking.
  • Oversight of the executive.
  • Approval of budgets.
  • Representation of the electorate.
  • Ratification of treaties.
  • Maintenance of checks and balances.
• Types of Legislature:
  • Unicameral: Single legislative chamber (e.g., Ghana).
  • Bicameral: Two chambers (e.g., Senate and House of Representatives in Nigeria).
• Stages of Passing a Bill into Law:
  1. First Reading.
  2. Second Reading.
  3. Committee Stage.
  4. Report Stage.
  5. Third Reading.
  6. Assent by the President/Governor.

Judiciary

• Functions:
  • Interpretation of laws.
  • Settlement of disputes.
  • Protection of fundamental rights.
  • Checks on legislative and executive actions.
• Judicial Independence:
  • Meaning: Judges operate free of influence from other branches.
  • Factors Ensuring Independence:
    • Appointment security.
    • Financial autonomy.
    • No external interference.
  • Reasons for Judicial Independence:
    • Ensures justice and fairness.
    • Prevents abuse of power.
    • Protects individual rights.
• Factors Limiting Judicial Independence:
  • Political interference.
  • Insufficient funding.
  • Corruption.
• Honesty and Integrity:
  • Essential for impartial justice delivery.
• Examples:
  1. Nigerian Supreme Court.
  2. U.S. Supreme Court.
  3. International Court of Justice.
  4. Indian High Court.
  5. South African Constitutional Court.
  6. British House of Lords (Judicial Functions).