POLITICAL PARTICIPATION


SS1 GOVERNMENT
3rd Term
1st Week
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Meaning: It is the extent to which an individual is involved in the political activities of his or her country. citizens, should be proud of the extent to which they can take part in the political system. Whether they are voting for a new local government chairman, serving in the electoral board, or just participating in a public protest, they can be fairly certain that their actions are going to have an influence on their country’s politics in some way. For them, this is important because it is one of the ways in which citizens can contribute to their communities and be active members of society.
Forms of political participation
Political participation can be conventional, unconventional or illegal.
1.       Conventional participation: these are activities that we expect of good citizens.
1.       voting,
2.       volunteering for a political campaign,
3.       making a campaign donation,
4.       belonging to an activist group,
5.       serving in public office.
2.       Unconventional participation: These are activities that are legal but often considered inappropriate. Young people, students, and those with grave concerns about a regime’s policies are most likely to engage in unconventional participation. Unconventional political participation includes:
1.       signing petitions,
2.       supporting boycotts,
3.       staging demonstrations and protests.
3.       Illegal participation: These are activities that break the law. Most of the time, people resort to illegal participation only when legal means have failed to create significant political change. E.g.
1.       political assassination,
2.       terrorism,
3.       sabotaging an opponent’s campaign through theft or vandalism.
Purposes of Political Participation: Different persons have different reasons for doing what they do. However, one could participate in politics for any of the following purposes:
·         conventionality: some persons participate e.g. in voting, just because it is a norm.
·         Idealism: Some participate because they believe strongly in a particular idea.
·         Responsibility: For many, participation is a responsibility of democratic citizenship.
·         Self-interest: One might work to promote an issue or a course that personally profits oneself.
·         Enjoyment: Some simply enjoy public activity, either because of the activity itself or because of the friends they make while politically engaged.

Factors affecting political participation
(1)    Universal adult suffrage: this is an unlimited franchise given to all adult citizens of the country. In contrast, when citizens’ franchise is limited by race, income, tribe etc., participation in politics will be limited. Thus, popular participation is determined or encouraged by universal adult suffrage.
(2)    Political and civic education: this will enable the citizens to become enlightened about their political and civic rights and duties. When they know these things, they will be more disposed to political participation.
(3)    Multi-party system: each party has its ideology and manifesto. In a one-party system, the single ideology may not accommodate or represent the diversity of the people’s will. Hence, they may not participate. But a multi-party system gives room for all the diverse interests to be fully represented. Thus, people will simply join the party that promotes their interest.
(4)    Direct democracy: this is a situation in which the people are directly engaged in the political decision making. In contrast, indirect democracy prevents the people from direct participation in decision making; it is their elected representatives that decide for them.
(5)    Federalism: in this type of government, political participation is broken down from center to state to local or grassroots level so as to carry everybody along in the political decision process. People are at liberty to participate at any level that is convenient for them
(6)    Technology: application of modern technology in the electoral system can boost participation by making it easier for even the least motivated to participate. One of such technology is online voting, digital biometric accreditation, digital database of eligible voters, etc.
(7)    Economic reason: Some people only put their hand where their mouth is. So, if they earn nothing from politics they may not spare it any amount of their time.
(8)    Social classification: one’s social class can do a lot in encouraging or discouraging one’s political participation.
(9)    Track record of government’s performance: if the government has always been disappointing people may lose faith in the government, but conversely, they will be willing to participate
(10)Electoral System: if the people trust the board to be impartial then they will be encouraged to participate, but if they already know the electoral board to be partial, they will see no need to participate.

TRUE RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

SS2 CRS
3rd Term
8th Week

TRUE RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
True religion (Amos 5:21-25; 4:4,5): Religion is a people’s way of worshipping God. Different people worship God differently based on their concept of God. Some of these concepts of God might be wrong, and it might lead to false religion. Thus, to practice the right religion, it is necessary for one to have the right concept of God.
It demands purity of heart, honest desire and justice (Amos 5:4, 14-15, 24; 4:4-5): During the time of prophet Amos, the people of Israel thought that God is ultimately swayed by sacrifices and burnt offerings. So, they never cared to obey his laws, since they believed that with their sacrifices they could easily make up for their moral ineptitude.  This is false religion because it is a wrong way of worshipping God. God had to rebuke them through the prophet Amos. He told them that it is not their sacrifices that matter to Him. Rather, it is their righteousness and justice that he requires from them.
Social vices during the time of Amos (Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 7-13): (1) they sell the righteous into slavery (2) maltreatment of the poor (3) idolatry (4) unfaithfulness to their God (5) sexual immorality (6) Injustice
Opposition against Amos by Amaziah, a priest of the royal sanctuary (Amos 7:10-17): Because of the sins of the people, Amos prophesied against the house of Jeroboam. Then, Amaziah went to tell Jeroboam that Amos is prophesying against him. Also, Amaziah told Amos to get out of Bethel and stop prophesying in Bethel. He told him to go to the land of Judah where he could eat bread and prophesy. But Amos cursed him that his wife would become a harlot, his children shall be killed, his land divided and he himself shall be taken exile where he would die.
Divine judgment on evil doers (Amos4:2-3, 6-10; 5:14-20; 6; 7:16-17; 8:9-10): (1) They will be taken into exile (2) they shall lack bread (3) there shall be no rain upon their land (4) they shall go in search of water (5)they shall be smitten with blasting and mildew (6) they shall be killed in the battle field

FAITH AND POWER OF GOD

SS2 CRS
3rd Term
6th Week

FAITH AND POWER OF GOD
A decree to worship the king. (Dan 6:1-9): Daniel was promoted by the king above his colleagues. Because of this, they were jealous of him. They looked for various means to implicate him, but they found none, except that since he cannot do without worshipping his God, a law that stops him from doing so would be a veritable trap. So, they approached the king with the suggestion that he should make a law that whoever prays to any god or man other than the king for the next 30 days should be thrown into the lions’ den. He agreed and it became a law.
Daniel expresses his faith in God (Dan 6:10-15): This did not deter Daniel from praying to his God. The conspirators saw him praying and reported him to the king. The king tried to rescue Daniel, but they reminded him that as the king, his word cannot be revoked. So, he unwillingly sent Daniel into the lions’ den, telling him “may your God deliver you.”
Daniel in the lion’s den (Dan 6:11-18) The power of God manifested (Dan 6:19-24):All through the night, the king stayed awake praying for Daniel. And at dawn, he ran to the den and called out to Daniel. Daniel’s response showed that he was alive and guiltless. Thus, the king ordered his release and that the conspirators along with their wives and children be thrown into the den. The king then made a decree that everybody in his kingdom should worship the God of Daniel.
Effects of Daniel’s faith (Dan 6:25-28): (1) Repercussion of planning evil: those conspirators were punished. (2) Evangelism: his faith brought about the spread of the knowledge of God across the kingdom. (3) God’s Power: it served as an avenue for God to show his power
Qualities of Daniel (Dan 1:3-8; 6:3-5, 10, 16; 6:22-23): (1) Excellence (2) Prayerfulness (3) Absolute Trust in God (4) Good moral standard (5) Fearlessness

FAITH IN GOD

SS2 CRS
3rd Term
5th Week

FAITH IN GOD
The command to worship king Nebuchadnezzar’s image. (Dan 3:1-7): king Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and called all his officials to come for the dedication of the image. He gave an order that as soon as they hear the sound of the trumpet, they should all bow to the image; whosoever fails to bow was to be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Refusal of shadrack, Meshack and Abednego to worship the king’s image: In spite of this threat, the three Hebrew youth: Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego refused to bow.
Punishment for the refusal and God’s deliverance They were reported to the king who ordered that they be bound and thrown into the fiery furnace. While they were in the furnace, God protected them from being burnt. They were walking freely in the fire, and with them, Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man who looked like the son of God. So, he called them out.
Effects of their faith and courage on the people i.e. Babylonians and the Jews. This marvelous salvation of God made Nebuchadnezzar to proclaim the God of the Hebrews as the God to be worshipped. He therefore promoted the Hebrew youths.

CONCERN FOR ONE’S NATION


SS 2 CRS
3rd Term
Week 3
CONCERN FOR ONE’S NATION
The captivity and destruction of Jerusalem (2kings 24; 25:1-17): jehoiakim, king of Judah sinned against the Lord and he stirred up foreign nations to come against him. He was killed and Jehoiakim his son succeeded him. But he didn’t repent from his father’s evil ways. Thus, when king Nebuchadnezzar came against him, he willingly surrendered. He was taken captive into Babylon along with all his people. But Mattaniah his uncle was made king in his stead after being renamed Zedekiah. Zedekiah himself continued in the evil ways of his predecessors and he rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar. So, Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to besiege the city. This caused the famine in the land and as the king attempted to flee, he was caught and taken to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzaradan his captain led his army into Jerusalem to destroy the temple, palace and other big buildings. All the valuables were taken away into Babylon
Report on the condition of the nation (Neh. 1-3): When Hanani came to visit Nehemiah, he told him how bad the situation was for people in Judah and Jerusalem. Then, Nehemiah became sorrowful. He fasted and prayed earnestly. As a servant in the king’s palace, Nehemiah went to serve king Artexerxe wine one day, and the king saw that he looked sad, he asked Nehemiah why he was  sad. Nehemiah told him that it was because of the land of Judah and Jerusalem lay in waste. And that he would like to go there and repair the city. The king gave him both supply of material and permission to go and renovate the city. When he got to the land of Judah, Sambalat and Tobiah were angry to know that he had come to renovate the city. But he went secretly to inspect the whole area first without telling his people his intentions. Eventually, he called the people together and told them to cooperate with him in building the walls of Jerusalem. They agreed, and the work started. While they were working, Sanbalat, Tobiah and Geshem came to mock them. But they refused to be discouraged. At last, God helped them to complete the project.
Concern of Nehemiah, Ezra and Zerubabel for their nation and their response to the state of the nation despite opposition. (Neh. 1:1-11; 2:9-20; Ezra 1:5-11; 7:1-10): the spirit of God stirred up Cyrus king of Persia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem which king Nebuchadnezzar’s men destroyed. So, the people of Judah that were exiled in Babylon returned and gathered resources and started building the temple. Among them were Zerubabel and Nehemiah. They started offering burnt sacrifices while the foundation was being laid. At the completion of the foundation, the people shouted with a loud voice.
When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles have started rebuilding the temple they approached them and asked them to allow them build with them, but they refused. Then, they started to frustrate their purpose. Hence, the completion of the building was delayed all the days of Cyrus king of Persia. Then, in the days of Artaxerxes, the adversaries wrote a letter to tell the king that this city has been a rebellious city whose rebuilding will make the people to stop paying tribute to the king. The king agreed with them and the work was stopped even until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
During the reign of king Darius, the adversaries came again to query the builders thus: “who authorized the rebuilding of this temple?”. They forced them to suspend it until they report to Darius and he sends his reply concerning the matter. Darius replied saying that they should allow them continue the reconstruction. Thus, the house was completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius. And the house was dedicated.
Reconstruction of the nation in the face of opposition (Ezra 4:5; 1-2; 6:13-22; Neh 4:1-23):
Responsibility to our nation – (Nigeria) political and economic stability, spiritual reawakening, etc.: taking a clue from the likes of Nehemiah, Ezra and Zerubabel, the youths, being leaders of tomorrow, should be devoted to the development of their nation as a way of serving God. E.g. in Nigeria, there are lots of problems which need solution. Some of the problems of the country include political and economic instability, corruption, etc. there are people in the country that are benefiting from the underdevelopment of the nation. So, when a child of God rises to cause a positive change in these areas, he or she would get oppositions just as Nehemiah, Ezra and Zerubabel were opposed for wanting to repair their nation. The message we should learn in this story is that we should not be weary in good doing because God will always give us the needed support.

MONARCHY

SS1 GOVERNMENT 2nd Term MONARCHY Definition : Monarchy is a type of government by one individual. This individual may be a king, quee...