Week topic

1. Define government as an institution of the state.

2. Government as a process of administering a given state is what?

3. Mention the three arms of government?

4. State five (5) characteristics of government.

5. Highlight 4 importance of government.

6. what is a state

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: BASIC CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT (I)

Learning objectives

At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to:

1. 
   Define power
   
2. 
   Explain Authority as a concept
   
3. 
   State the characteristics of power?
   
4. 
   State the characteristics of sovereignty?
   

Power is the ability to make people obey one's will. Properly so defined, power is the ability to compel obedience from people through one's possession and application of the instrument of coercion, force or threat. This instrument of coercion or force may be physical, political or economical in nature. Power relations exist wherever people are involved and for this reason, power is said to be relational. This simply means that the application of power usually involves two sides. The first is the actor who possesses and exercises the power while the second group is the person or group of persons that are influenced by the actor. It indicates leadership and followership relationship. The exercise of power is usually characterized by threat of punishment, coercion and force. For example, parents have power over their wards, teachers have power over their students and government over the citizens.

1. 
   Political Power: This is the ability to make authoritative and binding decisions, the ability to mobilize public resources, influence the behaviour of people, determine and direct public goals. People seek political power so as to have access to and have control over the allocation of scarce resources.
   
2. 
   Military Power: This is the power of the military or the armed forces to take overpower through violent means or the barrel of the gun (coup d’ etat) to achieve an intended goal.
   
3. 
   Economic Power: This is the ability to use wealth or one’s access to economic resources to influence people in the society and direct a course of action. In Nigeria, people like Mike Adenuga, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Otedola and other notable and influential Nigerians have and exercise economic power because of their wealth or affluence.
   
4. 
   Intellectual or Expert Power: This form of power involves knowledge and expertise in a particular field or profession.
   
5. 
   Physical/Naked/Coercive power: This is the type of power based on raw physical strength. It involves the use of physical strength to compel obedience. The resultant effect can be grievous, injurious and unpleasant.