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INTRODUCTION

TO CIVICS

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CIVICS

Civics is the study of the rights andresponsibilities of citizens.

It focuses on the nature and significanceof government and society and is closelyrelated to politics.

As such Civics is often referred to as thescience of government or the science ofpolitics.

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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

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Citizenship

Citizenship is defined as

Membership in a state,

nation , country withguaranteed rights,

privileges as well as duties

and responsibilities.

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What is Citizenship

Citizenship of Jamaica is

acquired through Birth,marriage or naturalization.

Naturalization- The process bywhich a foreign citizenbecomes a citizen of a newcountry.

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Rights & Responsibilities of

Citizens

As Citizens we all have rights. Theseare:

Protection of right to life Protection from arbitrary arrest

Respect for private and family

life

Protection for privacy of homeand property

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Rights (CONTINUED)

Protection of freedom of

conscience Protection of peaceful

assembly

Protection fromdiscrimination

Protection of expression

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Rights Continued

Rights to fair trial

Right to vote

Freedom of worship

Freedom of movement

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Rights.

One of the greatest

right of citizen is toshare in the

government of thecountry.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Every citizen or member of acommunity is obligated to:

1. Pay his/her share of tax that is

levied for the good of thecommunity;

2. Obey the laws of the land

3. Serve as a witness in the court ifsummoned

4. Serving on a jury if called

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Voluntary ResponsibilitiesBeing loyal to one's country

Understanding and using the

Judicial process accordinglyBeing an active member in the

community

Being an active member incivic organizations

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Voluntary Responsibilities

Voting properly and wisely inelectionsBeing a cooperative citizen

with law enforcement agenciesBeing well informed on current

affairs or issuesBeing helpful and respectful to

one's neighbours

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Government

The term government refers

to the way in which a groupof political officials conduct

the affairs of the country on

behalf of the citizens whoelected them (L.C. Ruddock

et al).

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Govt- Continued

The System of government

in Jamaica is Democratic.This is so because the

government is elected by

the people. Election occursevery five years.

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From this election the

parliamentarians are

decided.

Parliament comes from theLatin word Parliamentum

which means "a talking

shop".

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FUNCTIONS OF PARLIAMENT

The functions of Parliament are toenact 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 ofParliament is five years.

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Composition of Parliament

The Jamaican Parliament

consists of two Houses - theSenate/Upper House andHouse of Representativess/TheLower House. The work ofParliament is done throughboth houses.

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PARLIAMENT

Parliament has legal

supremacy. This means thatParliament has the highestauthority within theConstitution. It is the Parliamentthat effects changes within theConstitution.

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MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES

PEOPLES NATIONALPARTY

(PNP)

JAMAICA LBOURPARTY (JLP)

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Party leaders..

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Party Control since 1944

The parties and their control

of the Parliament since thefirst election under Universal

Adult Suffrage are as

follows:

El ti Wi i P tParty Leader &

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Election Winning PartyTitle

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, Chie

Minister

July 28, 1959 PNP

Rt. Excellent

Norman

Manley, Chie

Minister

April 10, 1962 JLP

Sir Alexander

Bustamante,

Premier

February 21, 1967 JLP

Sir Donald

Sangster PrimeMinister ( Died

in office) Hon.

Hugh Lawson

Shearer April

1967 - Februar

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,

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Parliament is composed of:

The Governor General - who is the

representative of Her Majesty the Queen, whoappoints him on the advice of the PrimeMinister.

A Senate comprising 21 persons, 13 from the

governing party and eight from theopposition. Senators are appointed by theGovernor General on the advice of the PrimeMinister.

The role of the Senate is to review thelegislation passed by the House ofRepresentatives

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The House of Representativesconsists of persons who beingqualified for election asMembers in accordance withthe provisions of the

Constitution have beenelected, one for eachconstituency and are known as

members of Parliament. Thereare sixty (60) members in thepresent Parliament

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The Prime Minister, the GovernorGeneral, and the House ofRepresentatives form the Cabinet.

The Cabinet is the centre of the thewhole system of Government as itinitiates all Government policies andprogrammes and is responsible for the

general direction and control ofgovernment.

This is the most instrumental body for

policy and decision making as itrelates to the development of thecountry.

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Local Government

There are 13 Local GovernmentCouncils, one for each Parish andKingston and St. Andrew incorporatedas one Parish for the purpose of Local

Government.

Local Government provides those publicservices and amenities which are localin the sense that they are intended for

citizens of the local communities.

Local Government Services include:Roads and Works, Water Supplies, PublicHealth, Social Welfare, Fire Brigade.

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Civil Service

The Civil Service is the middle forcebetween the politicians and the public.

It is a complex organization of employeeswho are expected to serve theconstituted, elected and reigning

Government. The Executives in Government set

mandates for the Civil Service. Beforepolicies decided by the government areeffected, the civil servants have to breakthem down into workable programmes.

The main Civil Service officer in eachMinistry is the Permanent Secretary.

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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