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