SS1 GOVT. LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION TO
GOVERNMENT
Government
is defined in 3 aspects.
1. AS AN INSTITUTION OF THE STATE
Government is defined as the instruments through which the state put its
plans into action. The instruments are the legislature,
Executive-enforces law |
Judiciary-interprets law |
Legislature-makes law |
executive and the
judiciary.
2. AS AN ART
OF GOVERNING
Government in this context is defined as the day-to-day administration of
governance.
3. AS AN ACADEMIC FIELD OF STUDY
Government here refers to the study of ideas, doctrines, political institutions
and views of political thinkers in the state on what constitute the people’s
welfare.
As an academic field of study, government is studied in different
fields which include:
·
Public
administration
·
Comparative
politics
·
Internal
relations
·
Political
science
·
Political
thought/theories
FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
1. Law making
2. Law enforcement
3. Maintenance of law and order
4. External relations
5. Administration of justice
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING GOVERNMENT
1. To widen people’s knowledge of
political process.
2. To educate the people on political life
of the country
3. To increase participation in decision
making process of the state.
4. To promote nationalism and
patriotism.
5. To educate the people on their
political rights, duties and obligations as citizens.
FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT
1. Law
2. Political power
3. Revenue
4. Workforce
5. Legitimacy
THE STATE
This is a politically
organized body of people inhabiting a defined geographical entity with an
organized legitimate government.
FEATURES OF A STATE
1. Permanence: Government can change but
state remains
2. Sovereignty
3. Population
4. International recognition
5. Definite territory/boundaries
6. Organized government
NATION
This is a body of people
who feel to be naturally linked together culturally and from a common origin.
They have similar language, culture and feelings of nationality.
SOCIETY
This referred to as the
association of human beings, whether organized or unorganized. It is the
complicated network of groups and institutions expressing human association and
is wider and larger than a state or nation.
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