Concepts of civic education
The word civics comes from the word civitas which means the resident of
the city. Civic and Ethical Education branch of social science which deal
about social ,political ,and economic and cultural aspects of humanity
life .Also it deal citizens’ rights and obligations.
Civic and Ethical Education is both art and science, since deals both
practical and theoretical aspects of human life.
Aims of civic education
The major aim of civic and ethical education is producing actively
participate citizens on their political, economic and cultural aspects of
human life.
It informs the right and obligation of citizens
It helps to promote and ensure good governance process, democratization
in the given Country .It is important to people to understanding wrong and
rights, moral and immoral as well as acceptable and unacceptable etc.
Unit one
Building Democratic System
Democracy means a system of government in which the supreme political
power is reside on the hand of the people. It means the rule of the people
by the people for the people according to abraham licon. Democracy can
be practiced by two forms
Direct democracy:-it is types of democracy in which people directly or
open participate on the decision making process of country.it is applied at
small number of population or sometimes it is known as pure, ancient,
Athenian democracy. E.g. referendum
Indirect democracy: - it is forms of democracy which is people participate
indirectly in their political, economic and social issue through their
representative but not directly. It is known as representative democracy
or modern democracy.
Basic Principles of FDRE Constitution
The Ethiopian constitution has five major principles .this are the
following
The sovereignty of the people(article 8) it deals on the superiority in
holding power and its authority .sovereignty means having power and
authority on holding and making any decision in social ,economic and
political condition of given country. According FDRE constitution ultimate
power holders are nation, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. Nation,
nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are groups of people who share the
same culture, language, similar customs and mutual common intelligence
of languages, belief in common of related identities. Sovereignty of the
people are expressed by three ways
All sovereignty power resides on the nation, nationalities and peoples of
Ethiopia.
This constitution is the expression of their sovereignty
Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representative elected
accordance with this constitution and through their direct democratic
participation.
The supremacy constitution:- means Constitution is above all laws, and
government organs the state ,all governmental and non-governmental
decision are under constitution. Supremacy of constitution is combination
of three most important things that, constitution which is written or
unwritten laws that allows state other institutions to exercise authority.
Supremacy highest in rank or authority. Supremacy of constitution is
constitution occupies the highest power or place than other laws in
practices and institution. Three things are important to ensure supremacy
of constitution
Obeying the constitution
Existence of check and balance
Existence of separation of power
According to article 9 of FDRE constitution of Ethiopia, if a policy, laws or
any acts is found against constitution, the act will be taken as an act with
no legal effects.
Respecting Human and Democratic Rights
Respecting human and democratic rights are principles of FDRE
constitution.
Rights are advantages which we claims morally, by laws to obtained from
government and non-governmental organization. Rights can be human and
democratic rights .Human rights includes, right to life, liberty ,security
rights of accused person.Democratic rights includes :- right to association
,right freedom of movement the right women ,children
Secularism
It is separation of state and religion as independent in democratic
country. Secularism is essential because of religion and state have
different objectives ,mission and values etc. separation and state religion
have four stages:-
A.Pre –state formation B. ,Erastianism ,C.Theocratism D. separation or
secularism
Transparent and Accountability
Finally ,the constitution underline the conduct and accountability of
government official and people representative are accountable to their
failure and duties .As citizens of Ethiopia we have the right to be informed
and the duties of criticizing the wrong doing of officials.
Citizens Duties
Obligation the burdens that we full fill to get our rights. Rights come from
our obligation that we fulfill. There are different obligations which rise
from different source. Source of obligation includes , constitution ,promise
,laws ,morally and others
Respecting the rights of citizens.
Defending our country from aggression and control.
Applying gender, religion, language and equality.
Respecting national flag etc.
Obeying constitution and other laws.
Fulfilling this and other obligation helps to use our constitutional
rights .Laws punish people do not fulfill their constitutional obligation.
Feature of Democratic System
Democratic system has various features .But the following are common
one’s Transparency, accountability, promotion of political tolerance.
Political tolerance means individual are able to express their different
views points freely on political decision .Political tolerance helps the
people to unify dereference among ethnic, religious linguistic and political
groups. As citizens of Ethiopian you have learn how to be tolerant when
you listen different ideas at home, school, and community.
Federalism
Federalism is a principle of democratic system that promotes the division
or sharing power between federal and regional government .Federalism
coordinate federal and regional government to work on common problem.
According to federalism, power of government is divided in to three
Executive power: - refers power which is exclusively given for federal or
regional government. exclusive power federal government includes:-
Organizing and management of national defense
Monitoring and controlling money print
Formulating and implementing foreign police issue, please refer article 51
constitution of federal government.
Exclusive power of regional government includes:-
Self-administration
Formulating regional constitution
Organizing and management of particular regional police please refers 52
FDRE constitutions.
B, shared power: - refers the power which is given both federal and
regional government in Ethiopia. E.g. Obeying federal constitution, tax
collection in the country.
C, Reserved power :- which means the power which never given both
federal and regional government but it is they work as condition .Today in
Ethiopia there are nine regional state which is formed based on
federalism particularly article 46 having four criteria for formation
The principle of federalism is known as devolution which means
transferring power from central government to regional states. Devolution
neither makes the federal and regional government is supreme.
Federalism has a number of importances.
It pave the ways for unity in diversity
It empowers all citizens their activity
Federalism creates a good confidence among citizens ,when they are
able to manage their affairs
It bring tolerance of diversity
It creates sense of responsibility on citizens
Now Ethiopia is federal state containing nine regional states with two city
administration.
Please read FDRE constitution article 62 which concerned house of
federation. The federal and regional government has their legislative,
executive and judiciary independently and function. Please read article 72
and 79 FDRE constitution.
Ethiopia and International Relations
International relation refers the external relation of a sovereignty state.
Ethiopia like other countries In the world and in a Africa does not operate
in isolation, and interact with other state. Ethiopia have the relationships
with other world countries and international organization such as UN ,LU
IGAD ,COMESA ,ECA ,WB AND IMF. Ethiopia jointed the league of nation in
1923 after three years of establishment .After failed of league of nation,
there is establishment of united nation after second world war to ensure
peace and stability in the world. Ethiopia becomes one of funding member
of united nation ,then Ethiopia contributed its peace keeping force to UN
mission for different African countries .Ethiopia sent its peace keeping
force firstly Korea,Congo ,in recently also sent to
Rwanda,Burundi,Liberia ,Darfur Somalia etc.
In 1963, Ethiopia contributed the establishment organization of Africa
unity (OAU),nonaligned movement .The major objective of the movement
was to be non-partisan in the cold war politics of west and east. Ethiopia
also contributes for establishment of sub-regional organization such as:-
Conman market for West and eastern Africa (COMWEA).
Inter governmental authority for development(IGD).
The major purpose of IGD is to promote peace and stability as well as
economic development in east and west Africa.
In general Ethiopia have long lasted foreign relation with European and
Africa countries.
Unit 2
Rule of Law
Rule of law means no one is above the laws, it means respecting and
obeying the existed laws properly. Rule of laws and rule of men different
concepts .rule of men is democratic ,whereas rule of men is undemocratic
Rule of Constitution
Rule of law is ensured under a democratic government with a democratic
constitution .In Ethiopia, there are two constitutions.
Federal constitution
Regional constitution
Federal constitution established the federal government that exercise
power all entities of country .Regional constitution established ,regional
government in line with federal constitution that act on regional
government. Both federal and regional government has their similarity and
difference .similarity of both constitutions is as follows:-
Power can only assumed according to laws stated under constitution that
is democratic election.
Everyone is subjected to the laws and jurisdictions of the courts
Both government and citizens shall act accordance to constitution.
Both constitution underline the respect of human and democratic rights of
citizens
Both constitutions emphasize on the need of promotion of democratic
system, and constitutionalism.
The major differences between two major constitutions are as follows:-
Federal constitution is the supreme laws of country and which gives
protection for all regional state constitution equally.
Regional constitution are subordinate of federal constitution
Regional constitution work only within the territory of given state not
beyond, But federal constitution works across all regional state. All
regional states of Ethiopia have their constitution but they are different in
formation with federal constitution.
A regional constitution, which is some similarity with federal constitution
in formation, was SNNPRS Constitution. The constitution of SNNPRS was
formulated by state council who are equipment of house of federation. No
other regional state has such types of council eth-cultural groups with
region.
Importance of Rule of Laws
Rule of law is muti-directional advantages, some of them are:-
Providing security this can be achieved because rule of law makes the
people to feel more secured by providing order and predictable.
Governing human conduct rule of law states how the people act properly
and doing what we are order to do and not doing what we are order not
do.
Protecting rights if there is rule of laws, all human and democratic rights
are respected. Anyone who violates the human rights will be accountable
for rule of laws.
Regulating human relationships rule of law clearly defined how the
relationships among human relationships look like with government.
Absences of rule of laws have a number of negative impacts among
individual, nation as general.
Inequality and injustice
Absence of independent judiciary
Existence of conflict among individual and other social, political and
economic problems.
Conflict is a disagreement among the people because of the ideal
difference, and divergent of interest in society. There are different causes
of conflict on particular population.
Working together on common problems
Identifying commonly shared values and goals
Encouraging good communication among people etc.
Limited and Unlimited Government
Government is the administrative wings of the state who have full control
over its boundaries .Based on how government exercise its power we
classify the government in to two limited and unlimited government.
Limited Government
This is types of government whose power is restricted by constitutionally
and laws. Most democratic countries are limited government. Limited
governments have the following features
Citizens human and democratic rights are respected
There is transparency and accountability of government official
There is independent judiciary, check and balance ,secularism
There is separation of power among government branches
Existence of constitutionalism-is political doctrine that indicates state
ideology which up holds rule of law in environment of government. It
means the strict observance of the constitution by the government. E.g
UAS ,BRTAIN, ETHIOPIA recently.
B Unlimited Government
Unlimited government is types of government who exercise its power
without any limitation or restriction .Unlimited government includes
athotarianism and totalitarianism.
Totalitarianism is a types of unlimited government in which the political
rule is typically established by the consent of government without
governed. E.g. monarchical absolutism
Totalitarianism is types of unlimited government in which political power
or rule is manipulation of open terror and brutality which is bad rule. E.g.
communist countries such as fascism, Nazism etc. Unlimited government
has the following features:-
No independent judiciary ,there is no separation of power
There is no rule of laws but there is rule of men etc.
In Ethiopia context there is history both limited and unlimited government
Unlimited government during absolute monarchy and military
dictatorships
Limited during FDRE government
Rule of Law and Combating Corruption
Rule of law has its role to reducing corruption in the country. Corruption
refers using public property for personal use. It means acting dishonestly.
Types of Corruption
There are different types of corruption but the following are major such as
Nepotism which is showing favoritism for our relatives or friends. If we
make favoritism for our friends it called cronyism in the time.
Embezzlement the conversation of money or property which is entrusted
to one’s own use. It is committed by producing false recite and mainly
committed by cashier, mangers , auditors etc.
Vote buying convincing the electorate in consistency to vote for you by
promising them money or special favoritism return.
Fighting Corruption
Fighting against corruption has two major aspects .Coming against
corruption has responsibility of every individual and there are two roles
such as individual and institutional roles.
Individual role includes the following
Developing the honesty and trustfulness behavior in our life
Having respect for rules and regulation of country
Deciding to fighting corruption by every legal means
Institutional role includes:-
Ensuring transparency and accountability
Nominating ethical officer who investigate the case of corruption
practices
Encouraging their employs and others to express their views openly
Establishing strong justice system and institution of anti-corruption
Prepared by your civic
Civic and ethical Education
