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