GRADE SIX SOCIAL STUDIES
1. B 2. C 6. B 7. C 11. B 12. A 16. A 17. C 21. B 22. C 3. A 8. D 13. D 18. B 4. C 9. A 14. C 19. D 5. D 10. D 15. B 20. A
Hello Boys and Girls, Let’s learn about how our country and people are governed.
What does it mean to govern? – To govern a country and its people means to be officially in charge of the country and to be responsible for making laws, managing the economy and having control of public services. In our country citizens go to the polls, that is, have elections to choose the people they want to govern or rule the country. That group of people with the responsibility for governing or controlling the affairs of the country is referred to as the Government.
After Guyana became an independent country in May 1966, the Government made its own laws and rules to govern the country, and no longer depended on Britain to make its laws and rules. Why do you think laws and rules are essential in governing a country? In your school and in most homes there are rules. What happens when children do not obey the rules? Yes, there is most likely chaos, confusion, disorder and sometimes quarrels and fights. So you see, in a country citizens need to be controlled by some rule of law to prevent chaos, lawlessness or riot which can lead to murder.
Guyana’s laws were written in a book called the People’s Constitution. The constitution is the supreme law of the country. It came into effect on 6th October, 1980. It is supreme over parliament. We must know that parliament is the highest law-making body of the country. What does the constitution do? Let’s find out. The constitution does the following: ● Creates the Government and makes rules
for how it must work ● States the essential rights of citizens, for example, rights to education, free medical attention and social care for old age persons and those with disability; rights to work, to rest, recreation and leisure ● States that the Government cannot take
away certain rights from its people ● Allows to government to keep certain
rights and responsibilities ● Sets out the functions of officers and offices of state and the standard to be used in appointing officers of state and in putting an end to their service ● Puts limits on how long Government
leaders can be in office.
Work of the Government What do you think are the main work of the Government? – The Government has three main jobs. They are as follows. 1. Making laws for the people and the Government
2. Carrying out the laws and ensuring that people obey the laws 3. Settling disagreements about the laws and punishing people who do not obey the laws
There are three branches or three arms of Government. Each branch of Government does one of these jobs.
Branches of Government The three branches or arms of government are the Legislative Branch which is also called the Legislature; the Executive Branch; and the Judicial Branch which is also called the Judiciary.
Legislative Branch This branch of government is responsible for
● making laws;
● amending or altering existing laws;
● repealing or cancelling those laws which are no longer applicable or relevant to our society;
● approving national budgets;
● debating the principles of proposed leg islation and to make certain that each bill serves the people; and
● confirming executive appointees courts and ministries. Parliament Building (Laws are made here)
to
The Legislature is made up of Parliament or the National Assembly. The main job of this body is to make laws for peace, order and good government. The laws proposed (bills) must be debated upon, passed in National Assembly and signed by the President before they can become laws.
The National Assembly is comprised of 65 elected members from the political parties and three-non elected members plus the Speaker. The President appoints the Prime Minister who is an elected member to be his chief assistant. The Prime Minister performs the functions of the Government in the National Assembly.
Parliament consists of the President and the National Assembly. The members of parliament sit as representatives of the people who elected them. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the National Assembly.
Executive Branch This arm of Government is made up of the various ministries and departments. Each ministry is headed by a Minister. The President is the leader of this body of Ministers which make up his cabinet. The Prime Minister is also in this group. This Executive Branch of Government is concerned with making all decisions about government policies; sets priorities for programmes and services and oversees the carrying out of the laws.
Judicial Branch The basic roles of the judicial arm of government are to determine and interpret the law; enforce the law by the administration of justice and to make case law. These functions are the responsibility of the court system, which maintains law and order. The court system is fair, independent, impartial and subject only to the constitution and law of the country.
The chief person who represents judicial authority in our country is the Chancellor of the Judiciary. The Supreme Court consists of a Court of Appeal headed by the Chancellor and a High Court presided over by a Chief Justice. The lower courts are known as Magistrate Courts. These courts are presided over by magistrates in criminal cases and civil suits which involves small claims. There is no jury.
The High Court, generally hears both criminal and civil cases; judge and jury for criminal matters and judge alone for civil cases. The Court of Appeal usually comprising of three judges and the Chief Justice hear all appeals of High court rulings. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the final court of appeal.
Exercise
1. The ___________ is composed of the President, Prime Minister and ministers of the Government.
2.
The ______________ is the head of the executive branch of government.
3. Upholding the laws of the country is a function of the ____________ arm of government.
4. One of the functions of the ____________ branch of government is to make laws for the country.
Keep your focus by revising an hour or so a day. Eat well, get adequate rest and you will be well on your way to success.
Goodbye boys and girls!