DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN
BENIN CITY.
1
POL 103: Organization of Government 2023/2024 Academic Session
Lecturers: Prof. Otoghile (lead Lecturer), Mr. Arasomwan, Mr. Kadiri, Mr.
Amadasun, Dr. Ben, Dr. Omoruyi, Mr. Omoregie
Course Description
Every state around the world is structured around a governing body known as the
government, which is responsible for overseeing the affairs of that state. In order to
effectively fulfill this duty, the government is structured based on the principles of
separation of powers, administrative convenience and the provision of the Instrumentalities
of political interaction like political parties, pressure groups, interest groups and many
others. Therefore, this course aims to provide students with an overview of the nature,
scope, and functions of modern state governments. Understanding the essential role and
significance of goverment as the primary institution of the state is crucial. The course begins
with an introductory module that will deepen students' understanding of the structure and
characteristics of modern state governments. Topics covered include the definition and
components of government, the operations and regulations of government, various types of
political and administrative systems, and the mechanisms of political interaction.
The course objectives are:
● Help students to have a comprehensive knowledge of the nature and scope of the
government of modem states.
● Help students to know why government powers are separated and how it's been
separated in modern states.
● Students will be able know the different types of administrative system.
● Students will be expose to the nature of the administrative systems and the
differences between them
● The students will able to state the differences between the Presidential and
Parliamentary forms of government.
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
● Discuss the nature and functions of the three organs of government.
● Identify the guiding principles of political systems such as separation of powers and
rule of law.
● Explain the reasons for the adoption of the different administrative systems
●

● State the differences between the Presidential and Parliamentary forms of

government.
● Explain the nature of the administrative systems and the differences between them.
Outline
. Understanding the Concept of Government: Meaning and Functions of
5
. Government and Major theories of the origin of Government (
4
. Evolutionary Theory, Force Theory, Devine Right Theory, and Social Contract Theory)
3
. Organs of Government: The Legislature, Law-Making Process, Delegated Legislation,
2
the Executive and the Judiciary.
. Operations and Regulation of Government: The Theory of Separation of Powers, The
Doctrine of Checks and Balance and Rule of Law
. Forms of Political Administrative Systems (Classification of Political system):
Unitarism, Federalism and Confederalism.
. Forms of Government: Oligarchy, Monarchy, Aristocracy, Democracy, Presidentialism
and Parliamentarianism.
. Instrumentalities of Political Interaction: political parties, pressure groups, interest
groups
Method of Assessment
Continuous Assessment (Test) 30%
Final Examination 70%
Recommended Reading Texts
. Anifowose, R. & Enemuo, F. (Eds.). (2005). Elements of Politics. Lagos:
Sam Iroanusi Publishers.
. Appadorai, A. (1975). The Substance of Politics. Delhi: Oxford University Press.