MONARCHY

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

MONARCHY

Definition: Monarchy is a type of government by one individual. This individual may be a king, queen or emperor.

Types: (1) constitutional monarchy: the power of the monarch is regulated by the constitution. E.g. Britain. (2) Absolute monarchy:  in this type of monarchy, there is no constitutional authority to check the powers of the monarch. E.g. Frederick the Great of Russia (1743-1786) and Louis XIV  of France (1643-1715).

Features:(1) the monarch owns the government (2) it is hereditary (3) it is a natural institution where obedience to the monarch is seen as obedience to God

Merits:(1) Unity of command (2) it is best suited for emergency situation since the monarch needn’t consult others before decision and action. (3) all interests are harmonized

Demerits: (1) it can lead to tyranny (2) the monarch cannot be changed even if he is bad

The difference between presidentialism and parliamentarianism

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

The difference between presidentialism and parliamentarianism

Presidential system	Cabinet system
The executive president is both head of state and head of government	The Queen or president is the head of state while the prime minister is the head of government
The people elect the president in a general election	the leader of the party that won the election is appointed the Prime minister
There is separation of power	There is fusion of power
Individual responsibility applies	Collective responsibility applies
Non-party members can be appointed ministers	Ministers can only be party members in the parliament
The president and the ministers are not part of the legislature	The prime minister and his ministers are part of the legislature
The president can be removed by the legislative through the process of Impeachment	The parliament can remove the prime minister by passing a vote of no confidence in the cabinet
There is supremacy of the constitution	There is supremacy of the parliament
There are effective checks and balances among the three organs of government	Fusion of power in the legislature does not allow effective checks and balance

The prime minister

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

The prime minister

(1)He is the head of government and the chief executive of the state.
(2) he is the leader of the of the party that won the highest number of seats in parliament.
(3) He chairs every cabinet meeting.
(4) he appoints his ministers from his party members in the parliament.
(5) He can dismiss a minister from his cabinet.
(6)he represents his country in international conferences
(7) He supervises the ministers and the ministries and other government departments

Collective responsibility and individual responsibility

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Collective responsibility and individual responsibility

Both principles refer to the cabinet of ministers, but they are features of two different systems of government: collective responsibility is applied in parliamentary system while individual responsibility is applied in presidential system. Collective responsibility implies that for each decision reached in the cabinet, all its members are responsible. If the prime minister dies or resigns, the whole members of the cabinet must also resign, and that government ceases to be in power. The Queen or President formally dissolves the parliament for a fresh election. Collective responsibility also implies that when the parliament casts a vote of no confidence on the cabinet, all the members are removed at once.

On the other hand, individual responsibility implies that each minister is held individually responsible for any decision he makes in his department or ministry if he is found wanting, he is dismissed and his dismissal doesn’t affect the other ministers.

Functions of the cabinet in parliamentary system of government

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Functions of the cabinet in parliamentary system of government

(1) As part of the legislature, they also make laws.
(2) Since they constitute the executive, they are involved in the general control and administration of the several departments of the government.
(3) Implementation of the law.
(4) The cabinet initiates government bills to the parliament.

Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary system of Government

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Merits 
(1) fusion of both legislative and executive functions make the implementation of decisions to be faster.
(2) separating the ceremonial functions of head of state from the head of government makes the prime minister to concentrate strictly on the serious business of governing the state, not on frivolous ceremonies.
(3) the fear of being collectively voted out of power makes them always come up with their best ideas.

Demerits 
(1) Restriction of ministerial appointment to members of the parliament derives the country of better hands outside the parliament 
(2) collective responsibility can make other hardworking ministers to suffer removal due to the poor performance of a particular minister. 
(3) the fusion of both executive and legislative powers creates room for oligarchy and dictatorship.

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Definition: it is a system of government headed by the parliament, with a ceremonial head of state. Thus, in this system of government, the offices of the head of state and that of the head of government are two separate offices occupied by two different persons.

 Features
(1) the head of state is the Queen or the president
(2) the head of state only performs ceremonial function
(3) the head of government is the prime minister who is also a member of the parliament.
(4) the prime minister is not elected by the public, but appointed.
(5)the other members of the cabinet can only be chosen from the parliament.
(6) there is fusion of power as the cabinet exercises both legislative and executive functions.
(7) members of the cabinet are collectively responsible for any decision taken by them.
(8) the other members of the parliament can pass a vote of no confidence on the executive (the cabinet)
(9)coalition government is possible if none of the political parties could secure absolute majority of seat in the parliament.
(10) supremacy of the parliament.

Non-Negotiability of Nigerian Unity

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term
On January 15, 1970, in Dodan Barracks, Lagos, Biafran acting Head of State, Gen. Philip Effiong, Colonel David Ogunewe, Colonel Patrick Anwunah, Colonel Patrick Amadi and police commissioner Patric Okeke submitted Biafra’s document of surrender, which officially marked the end of the civil war. 
For Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the rising sun of Biafra has set forever. This implies that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable. Now you can understand why the average Nigerian is not perturbed by the current hoopla about Biafra. 

Functions of the president

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Functions of the president as the head of state.
(1) He has the power to assent to bills passed by the legislature.
(2) He represents the country at or sends delegates to international conferences.
(3) Ceremonial function: to grace important occasions like Independence Day Ceremonies etc..
(4) To receive dignitaries from other countries.

Functions of the president as the head of government. 
(1) He controls the civil service 
(2) He makes important appointments. 
(3) He is the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces 
(4) He allocates revenue. 
(5) He presents the annual budget, first to the legislature for approval, and then to the nation. 
(6) He formulates foreign policy objectives and sees to its implementation. 
(7) He maintains law and order in the country. 
(8) He has the prerogative of mercy. 
(9) he appoints the Chief Justice 
(10) He initiates policies

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Merits 
(1) the freehand given to the president in his choice of ministers allows him to pick capable hands wherever he can find them whether within or outside the party.
(2) Checks and balance in the system keeps everyone up and doing.
(3) The principle of individual responsibility upheld in this system makes each minister to be careful and accountable.
(4) Since the president is chosen by popular vote, his government gains legitimacy.
(5) Separation of power, like division of labour, makes the government efficient.
(6) the individual responsibility of the ministers to the president allows him to efficiently control them in line with his manifesto.
(7) It is democratic.
(8) The supremacy of the constitution helps to prevent both anarchy and dictatorship.
(8) tenure system allows the people the option of changing a government.
(9) the weakness or failure of each arm of government is easily identified due to separation of power (10) since the same person is both the head of state and head of government there is no room for divided loyalty.

Demerits
(1) There is delay in implementation due to bureaucracy.
(2) the difficulty in the process of impeachment may make the president to abuse power and still complete his term.
(3) There is no job security for the ministers as they can be dismissed at the president’s will.
(4) Lobbying.
(5) If the opposition is the majority in the parliament, they can frustrate the president’s actualization of his manifesto.
(6) this kind of system is very expensive to operate.

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

                PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Meaning: it is a system of government in which the head of state of the country is also the head of government. In this system of government, all executive powers are vested in one person called the president. He is assisted by the vice president to whom he can delegate some of his duties. Presidential system of government holds the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.

Features
(1) the executive president is both the head of state and the head of government.
(2) The president performs both ceremonial and executive functions.
(3) The president is chosen by general election.
(4) Members of the president’s cabinet are individually responsible to the president for their actions. So, he has control over them.
(5) The president appoints cabinet members but the appointment is subject to legislative ratification. (6) The president can dismiss or reshuffle members of his cabinet.
(7) The president is elected for a fixed term of office.
(8) There is separation of power among the three arms of government.
(9) The president can be removed by the parliament through the process of impeachment if found guilty of gross misconduct.
(10) The executive and the legislature are mutually exclusive to each other, i.e. a member of the legislature cannot be a member of the president’s cabinet and vice versa.  
(11) Bicameral legislature
(12) Rule of law, Supremacy of the constitution
(13) checks and balance

HIV/AIDS

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

HIV/AIDS

Meaning of HIV/AIDS: HIV means Human Immune Deficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS which means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

How people can be infected by HIV/AIDS: Blood transfusion, Infected injection syringes, mother to unborn child, unsterilized hair cut instruments, sexual intercourse with infected persons.

Symptoms: there are two categories of HIV symptoms, namely: Major symptoms and Minor Symptoms. Major symptoms are: constant fever, loss of appetite for a long time, weight loss, prolonged diarrhea. Minor symptoms are: cough, whitish spots in the mouth, physical weakness, skin infections.

Prevention of HIV/AIDS: sterilize instruments before use, faithfulness to one’s uninfected spouse, use of condoms, total abstinence from casual sex, screening of blood before transfusion.

Cure for HIV/AIDS: the medical/scientific cure for HIV/AIDS has not yet been found. But with God all things are possible. Since God can raise the dead while science cannot, then even though science cannot cure HIV/AIDS God can cure it. Believe in God.

Jesus’ care for the sick (John 4:46-54; 5:1-8; 9:17)

How the church prevail over oppositions

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

How the church prevail over oppositions
The church realizes that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. So, the church prevailed by
1. Faith,
2. Charity,
3. The Word of God,
4. Prayer,
5. Unity,
6. Hope and
7. Goodness.

Herod’s opposition to the Gospel

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

Herod’s opposition to the Gospel (Acts 12:1-24): Just to vex the church, Herod killed James. When he saw that the public were happy with this act, he also took Peter, but because it was the period of unleavened bread, he kept Peter in prison awaiting execution. Meanwhile, the church kept praying for Peter, and God answered by sending an angel to free him while the guards were asleep. He himself had thought it was a vision. When he got to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark where many believers gathered praying, he knocked and a damsel named Rhoda recognizing his voice said it was Peter but she was shunned. When they eventually opened the door, they were astonished to know that Rhoda was right, and they praised God for the miracle.

Opposition against Stephen

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

Opposition against Stephen (Act 6:8-15; 7:1-10): Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen preached the word of God. Then, certain men of the synagogue disputed with him, but they were unable to gainsay him. So, they conspired and leveled false accusations against him. He was arrested and tried at the Council. During his trial, he preached a very long sermon which touched them, but they hardened their hearts, and convicted him and stoned him to death. While he was dying, he prayed to God for their forgiveness.

OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

Arrest and imprisonment of the apostle (Act 4:1-31; 5:17-42): After the healing at the Beautiful Gate, Peter and John entered the temple. While they were preaching, the Sadducees arrested them for teaching the people that Jesus resurrected, thereby converting a great number that day. The next day, Peter and John were made to stand before the High Priest and the members of his Council. They were amazed at the apostles’ boldness. They knew that the miraculous healing at the gate was too convincing for the people not to believe. So, they had to free them after instructing them not to preach the Gospel anymore.  On another occasion, the apostles were arrested and imprisoned for preaching, but that night, an angel freed them and told them to continue preaching in the temple. The next day when they wanted to arraign them before the High Priest, they weren’t found in the prison. So, they went back to the temple and re-arrested them. At a point in their trial, there was tension which made Gamaliel to tell the council to be careful what they do to these men. He made reference to similar movements in the past (Theudas, Judas the Galilean), and advised that if this present one is not of God, then it will fizzle out just the same way as the others, but if this is of God, then fighting them, you would only be fighting God in vain. The council heeded Gamaliel’s advice.

Peter and the Gentile Converts

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

Peter and the Gentile Converts (Acts 10:1-48; 11:1-18): Cornelius was a Captain in the Roman Regiment. He lived in Caesarea. He was religious. One afternoon as he was praying, he had a vision in which an angel told him that he should send for Peter. The next day as the messengers were on their way to Joppa where Peter was, Peter himself had a vision in which he saw all kinds of animals, and he was told to kill and eat. But Peter refused, saying that he never ate anything unclean. The voice cautioned him not to call unclean what God has declared clean. This happened 3 times after which the thing was taken back up into heaven. While Peter was trying to understand the meaning of that vision, the 3 men arrived at the place. The Spirit urged him to go with them. So, he welcomed them and asked them to spend the night. The next day, they set out. When they got to Caesarea, Cornelius with his household were waiting. Peter let him know that although a Jew is prevented by his religion from entering the house of a gentile, yet he came to his house because God has instructed him not to call defiled what He has declared clean. So, Peter started preaching the Gospel, and while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down upon all. Then, the Jewish believers who came with Peter were surprised about the fact that God pours out his spirit even upon the Gentiles. After that, they were all baptized. The news went throughout Judaea, and in Jerusalem, Peter was criticized for entering the house of a Gentile, but Peter explained to them and they stopped criticizing him and started praising God.

Peter’s Ministry in Lydda and Joppa

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

Peter’s Ministry in Lydda and Joppa (Acts 9:32-42): As peter went about spreading the gospel, he got to Lydda where he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for 8 years. Peter healed the man and this miracle made the people of Lydda and Sharon to give their life to Christ. In Joppa, there was a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek, meaning a deer), a believer. She spent her time and money helping the poor. Then, she became sick and died, but they didn’t burry her immediately. They sent for Peter who at that period was in Lydda (not far from Joppa). When Peter arrived, Tabitha’s corpse was already surrounded by widows crying and showing him the coats she did for them while she was alive. Peter prayer brought her back to life, and the news spread across Joppa such that many people got converted. Peter remained many days in Joppa in the house of Simon a tanner of leather.

Significances of Saul’s conversion

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

Significances of Saul’s conversion: (1) It shows that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Whereas God doesn’t like the way Saul was persecuting the believers, yet God still loved Saul and made him to be converted so that his soul might be saved. (2) Nothing is too difficult for God to do. Saul was notorious yet God converted him. (3)Saul did what he did against the believers out of sincere passion for God. This is why when he discovered that it is the same God he thought he was fighting for that he was actually fighting against, he channel the same magnitude of passion into the new religion. (4) it is possible for a person to be doing a bad thing with a good intention. (5) Christians should pray for the conversion of their persecutors because most times, they really do not know what they are doing.

Saul’s Conversion

SS2 CRS

2nd Term

Saul’s Conversion (Act 9:1-30): Saul was a devout of Judaism. As a religious exclusivist, he detested every other religion. So, he perceived the advent of Christianity as a movement that would contaminate the sacredness of Judaism. Thus, he was determined to eliminate those “enemies of God”. In order to do this legally, he asked the High Priest to give him a letter to the Synagogue at Damascus so that he can catch the believers and drag them in chains to Jerusalem. On his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked “who are you?” and Jesus replied “ I’m Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.” The sudden brightness of Jesus’ appearance got Saul blind. He rose from the ground and was led by the hand into the city of Damascus. For 3 days, he couldn’t see, eat or drink anything. Then, one believer named Ananias was directed in a vision to go to the street called Straight where he would see Saul praying. He was to lay hands on Saul for him to regain his sight. But Ananias replied that he had heard a lot about how Saul had been persecuting the Christians. God assured Ananias that he has chosen Saul to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles. So, Ananias went, laid his hand on Saul, and Saul regained his sight. He was baptized, and immediately, he started preaching. Then, people who knew him were surprised. After some days, the Jews started plotting to kill him. Saul got to know about their plot, so while they waited at the gate, his disciples passed him though an opening in the wall, and lowered him in a basket. Getting to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the company of believers there, but they were all afraid of him because they didn’t believe he had been converted. So, Barnabas presented him to the believers assuring them he is now one of us. Being accepted in the fold, he went with them preaching in Jerusalem. Paul’s message caused a dispute between him and the Hellenists. They planned to kill him. When the believers learned about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.