Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 9
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Civic Education
Curriculum Theme: National Values Education
Previous Lesson: .
Topic: CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY
Subject Matter: Types of constituted authority, democratic constituted authority, bureaucratic constituted authority

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define constituted authority.
Identify and explain the different types of constituted authority.
Distinguish between democratic and bureaucratic constituted authority.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of respecting constituted authority.
Show willingness to obey laws and regulations established by constituted authority.

Psychomotor Domain:

Provide examples of democratic constituted authority.
Provide examples of bureaucratic constituted authority.

Participate actively in discussions about the roles of constituted authority in society.
Promote obedience to legitimate authorities in their communities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Civic Education.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Civic Education SSS 1.
Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools 1 by Macmillan Publishers.
Relevant charts and posters displaying different authority figures.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing examples of constituted authority.
Posters illustrating democratic and bureaucratic structures.
Civic Education textbook for SSS 1.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the concept of authority and its various forms in society. It enables pupils to recognize legitimate power structures, which is important for promoting order, obedience, and responsible citizenship within their communities and the nation.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of rules, laws, and leadership in their homes and schools.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

Definition of Constituted Authority

Constituted authority refers to a recognized body or individual vested with the legal power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience within a particular system, organization, or society. This authority is established by law, tradition, or a recognized process.

Types of Constituted Authority

Constituted authority can be broadly categorized into the following types:

Democratic Constituted Authority
Bureaucratic Constituted Authority
Traditional Constituted Authority (briefly mentioned for context)
Charismatic Constituted Authority (briefly mentioned for context)

Democratic Constituted Authority

Democratic constituted authority is a form of authority derived from the people through elections or popular consent. Leaders and representatives are chosen by the citizens, and their power is exercised according to constitutional provisions and the will of the majority.

The following are characteristics of democratic constituted authority:

Power is derived from the people.
Leaders are elected through free and fair elections.
There is accountability of leaders to the people.
Rule of law is supreme.
Examples include the President, Governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, Local Government Chairpersons.

Bureaucratic Constituted Authority

Bureaucratic constituted authority is based on a system of rules, procedures, and official positions within an organization or government. It relies on a hierarchy, clear division of labor, and impersonal application of rules to ensure efficiency and consistency.

The following are characteristics of bureaucratic constituted authority:

Authority is based on established rules and procedures.
Positions are arranged in a hierarchy.
Officials are appointed based on technical competence or merit.
Impersonal application of rules and regulations.
Examples include civil servants, police officers, judges, school principals, military officers.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them questions about rules in their homes and schools, and who enforces these rules. The teacher then links their responses to the concept of authority.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the questions and share their experiences.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the idea of authority figures and the need for rules.

Step 2: Definition of Constituted Authority

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines constituted authority, explaining that it is a recognized power given by law or established process. The teacher writes the definition on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, ask questions for clarification, and copy the definition into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning of constituted authority.

Step 3: Types of Constituted Authority

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Classification/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the main types of constituted authority, focusing on democratic and bureaucratic. The teacher briefly mentions traditional and charismatic authority for broader understanding. The teacher lists these types on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the board, and identify the different types of authority.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the various categories of constituted authority.

Step 4: Democratic Constituted Authority

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Examples
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains democratic constituted authority, highlighting its source of power (the people) and how leaders are chosen. The teacher provides examples like the President and Governors.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note down the key points and examples.
Learning Point: Pupils understand democratic authority and can identify its examples.

Step 5: Bureaucratic Constituted Authority

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Examples
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains bureaucratic constituted authority, emphasizing its reliance on rules, hierarchy, and merit. The teacher provides examples such as police officers and civil servants.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note down the key points and examples.
Learning Point: Pupils understand bureaucratic authority and can identify its examples.

Step 6: Class Discussion and Real-life Application

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a short discussion, asking pupils to identify constituted authorities in their school and local community (e.g., principal, class captain, traditional ruler, local government chairman) and classify them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate by identifying and classifying authorities around them.
Learning Point: Pupils apply their understanding to real-life situations.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define constituted authority.
List two types of constituted authority.
Explain what democratic constituted authority means.
Give two examples of bureaucratic constituted authority.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by reiterating the definition of constituted authority and its main types, emphasizing the importance of respecting all legitimate authorities for societal peace and order. The teacher assigns homework.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and copy the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils recall the main points of the lesson.

Lesson Keywords

Authority – The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
Constituted Authority – A recognized body or individual with legal power established by law or process.
Democratic Authority – Authority derived from the people through elections or popular consent.
Bureaucratic Authority – Authority based on a system of rules, procedures, and official positions within an organization.
Election – A formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research and present on the functions of specific constituted authorities. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified examples and use visual aids more extensively to explain concepts.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure to use local examples of constituted authority to make the lesson more relatable to the pupils. Encourage open discussion while maintaining classroom discipline. Emphasize the importance of obedience to constituted authority for a stable society.