intro to civics
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INTRODUCTION TO CIVICS
CIVICS Civics is the study of the rights and
responsibilities of citizens.
It focuses on the nature and significance of government and society and is closely related to politics.
As such Civics is often referred to as the science of government or the science of politics.
Topics to explore…. • Citizenship Rights and responsibilities of a
citizen • Constitution • Government • Parliament • Local Government • The Civil Service • Ministries • The Judiciary • How a Bill Becomes Law Garveyism
Citizenship
Citizenship is defined as Membership in a state, nation , country with guaranteed rights, privileges as well as duties and responsibilities.
What is Citizenship Citizenship of Jamaica is acquired through Birth, marriage or naturalization.
Naturalization- The process by which a foreign citizen becomes a citizen of a new country.
Rights & Responsibilities of Citizens
As Citizens we all have rights. These are:• Protection of right to life• Protection from arbitrary arrest• Respect for private and family life• Protection for privacy of home and property
Rights (CONTINUED) • Protection of freedom of
conscience• Protection of peaceful assembly
• Protection from discrimination
• Protection of expression
Rights… Continued • Rights to fair trial• Right to vote• Freedom of worship
• Freedom of movement
Rights….
One of the greatest right of citizen is to share in the government of the country.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Every citizen or member of a community is obligated to:1. Pay his/her share of tax
that is levied for the good of the community;
2. Obey the laws of the land3. Serve as a witness in the
court if summoned4. Serving on a jury if called
Voluntary Responsibilities
Being loyal to one's countryUnderstanding and using the Judicial process accordingly
Being an active member in the community
Being an active member in civic organizations
Voluntary ResponsibilitiesVoting properly and wisely in elections
Being a cooperative citizen with law enforcement agencies
Being well informed on current affairs or issues
Being helpful and respectful to one's neighbours
GovernmentThe term government refers to the way in which a group of political officials conduct the affairs of the country on behalf of the citizens who elected them (L.C. Ruddock et al).
Govt- ContinuedThe System of government in Jamaica is Democratic. This is so because the government is elected by the people. Election occurs every five years.
From this election the parliamentarians are decided.
Parliament comes from the Latin word Parliamentum which means "a talking shop".
FUNCTIONS OF PARLIAMENT
The functions of Parliament are to enact laws for the peace order and good government of the country and to evaluate proposals for new and amended legislation;
to carry out the existing laws and to provide taxation money for the work of Government. The life of Parliament is five years.
Composition of ParliamentThe Jamaican Parliament consists of two Houses - the Senate/Upper House and House of Representativess/The Lower House. The work of Parliament is done through both houses.
PARLIAMENT Parliament has legal supremacy. This means that Parliament has the highest authority within the Constitution. It is the Parliament that effects changes within the Constitution.
MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES PEOPLES
NATIONAL PARTY
(PNP)
JAMAICA LBOUR PARTY (JLP)
Party leaders..
Party Control since 1944The parties and their control of the Parliament since the first election under Universal Adult Suffrage are as follows:
Election Winning Party Party Leader &
Title
December 14, 1944 JLP
Sir. Alexander
Bustamante,
Chief Minister
December 20, 1949 JLP
Sir Alexander
Bustamante,
Chief Minister
January 12, 1955 PNP
Rt. Excellent
Norman
Manley, Chief
Minister
July 28, 1959 PNP
Rt. Excellent
Norman
Manley, Chief
Minister
April 10, 1962 JLP
Sir Alexander
Bustamante,
Premier
February 21, 1967 JLP
Sir Donald
Sangster Prime
Minister ( Died
in office) Hon.
Hugh Lawson
Shearer April
1967 - February
1972)
February 29, 1972 PNP
Hon. Michael
Manley, Prime
Minister
October 30, 1980 JLP
Hon. Edward
Seaga, Prime
Minister
Feb. 9, 1989 PNP
Hon. Percival
James
Patterson,
Prime Minister
March 30, 1993 PNP
Hon. Percival
James
Patterson,
Prime Minister
December 18, 1997 PNP
Hon. Percival
James
Patterson,
Parliament is composed of: The Governor General - who is the
representative of Her Majesty the Queen, who appoints him on the advice of the Prime Minister.
A Senate comprising 21 persons, 13 from the governing party and eight from the opposition. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The role of the Senate is to review the legislation passed by the House of Representatives
The House of Representatives consists of persons who being qualified for election as Members in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution have been elected, one for each constituency and are known as members of Parliament. There are sixty (60) members in the present Parliament
The Prime Minister, the Governor General, and the House of Representatives form the Cabinet.
The Cabinet is the centre of the the whole system of Government as it initiates all Government policies and programmes and is responsible for the general direction and control of government.
This is the most instrumental body for policy and decision making as it relates to the development of the country.
Local Government
There are 13 Local Government Councils, one for each Parish and Kingston and St. Andrew incorporated as one Parish for the purpose of Local Government.
Local Government provides those public services and amenities which are local in the sense that they are intended for citizens of the local communities.
Local Government Services include: Roads and Works, Water Supplies, Public Health, Social Welfare, Fire Brigade.
Civil Service The Civil Service is the middle force
between the politicians and the public. It is a complex organization of
employees who are expected to serve the constituted, elected and reigning Government.
The Executives in Government set mandates for the Civil Service. Before policies decided by the government are effected, the civil servants have to break them down into workable programmes.
The main Civil Service officer in each Ministry is the Permanent Secretary.
December 18, 1997 PNP
Hon. Percival
James
Patterson,
Prime Minister
October 16, 2002 PNP
Hon. Percival
James
Patterson,
Prime Minister
September 3, 2007 JLP
Hon. Bruce
Golding,
Prime Minister
December 29, 2011 PNP
Hon. Portia
Simpson-Miller,
Prime Minister