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Citizenship Lesson Note

For
Grade 10
 Quarter III
4.5. The roles of indigenous social institutions in
ensuring sustainable peace
Indigenous social institutions provide the following roles:
A. Building community cohesion:
indigenous social institutions keep community
values alive and help build common grounds
between members providing a sense of
togetherness and a collective sprit which enhances
solidarity which can also be harnessed for
community-led development.
 Indigenous social institutions promote the
virtue of peace, solidarity, harmonious
living, respect for one another and honesty.
 This help the institutions to create an ideal
environment for conflict resolution through
mutual exchange of privileges, goods, favor
and obligations.
B. Restoration of order and relationships
indigenous conflict resolution aims at the
restoration of order and harmony of the
community.
Cooperation between conflicting parties has to be
guaranteed for the future.
Indigenous conflict resolution is thus geared
towards the future.
Reconciliation/compromise is necessary for the
restoration of social harmony of the community
in general and of social relationships between
conflict parties in particular.
C. Addressing the psycho-social and spiritual
dimensions of conflicts and sustainability of peace
indigenous social conflict resolution institutions not
only deal with material issues, reason and talk, but also,
they deal with the spiritual aspects, feelings and non-
verbal communications.
Traditional methods of purification and healing that
are carried out by customary healers, priests, sheiks
and other spiritual authorities are of utmost importance
for the mental and spiritual rehabilitation of victims
and perpetrators.
D. Providing for inclusion and participation
As all parties (and every member of each
party) are responsible for the conflict,
everybody also has to take responsibility for
its solution. A solution can only be achieved by
consensus.
Traditional institutions creates a fertile env’t
for parties to participate and discus on their
common issues and problems.
E. Ensuring accessibility to the community
unlike other modern institutions,
indigenous social institutions are
accessible to communities. When conflicts
arise, they are immediately solved by
making consensus among the conflicting
parties.
 Unit - 5
5. Federalism In Ethiopia
5.1 The Meaning of Federalism
Objective: by the end of the lesson the students will be
able to: explain what is the concept of federalism.
 What is federalism?
 Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between federal
and regional governments.
 Federalism is a structure of state in that promotes division of power among
central and regional authorities or it promotes decentralization of power.
 Federalism helps to avoid monopoly of power and abuse of power by the
central government.
 Federalism combines partial self-government with partial
shared government.
 Federal systems are usually associated with culturally
diverse or territorially large countries.
 Federalism is a system of government that establishes a
constitutionally specified division of powers between
different levels of gov’t.
 Federalism is a devise for organizing two or more levels
of government that assume different sets of
responsibilities and manage the affairs of a country.
 In federalism, Federal/central governments have
exclusive authority on some important national affairs
such as defense, foreign relations, and management of
major resources.
 Federalism is characterized by devolution of power.
Devolution; means to transfer power to the regions. It
makes neither the federal nor the regional governments
supreme, rather it makes coordination of power.
 Federalism is a political organization in which the
activities of government are divided between regional
governments and a central government.
Generally, Federalism is an institutional arrangement
in which;
A. public authority is divided between state gov’ts
and a central government,
B. each level of government has some issues on
which it makes final decisions, and
C. a high federal court adjudicates disputes
concerning federalism.
 Federal states
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Iraq,
Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia,
South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, United
Arab Emirates, United States of America,
Venezuela.
5.2 types of federalism
Objectives; by the end of the lesson you should be able to
explain types of federalism and their features.
 Federal systems are usually known for dividing power

between the federal government and the states. Laws

made by regions apply to respective regions, but laws
made by the federal gov’ts are to all regional states.
 Federal governments have direct authority over citizens

by legislating laws and rules.

 Based on how the federal governments executes power across regional states federalism
classified as:
I. Dual federalism
 Dual federalism is a system that clearly divides government authority between
state and national gov’ts.
 State governments will have their own powers where the central government
could not intervene.
 There is clear separation of power between federal and regional governments.

Advantages of dual federalism

1. It allows protection of local jurisdictions from federal Government overreach.
2. It also allows local laws to develop and imply reflecting on the wants of the
local constituents.
 Disadvantages of dual federalism
1. It brings tension between federal and regional
governments.
2. Because of the existence of tension, it leads to
decreasing levels of cooperation between the
federal and state governments.
3. It decrease unity between federal and regional
governments.
II. Cooperative federalism
 state and national governments share power and collaborate on
overlapping functions.
 federalism in which federal, state, and local governments interact
cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems.
 The line between federal and regional government is blurred.
The advantages of cooperative federalism
1. It allows the National and state governments to work
together.
2. States have an incentive to cooperate with the federal
government.
3. States can influence how programs are
implemented.
4. It prevented either the state or the national government
from gaining an excessive amount of power.
 Disadvantage of cooperative federalism is, it allows the

national government to interfere in the power of

regional governments.
 N.B dual federalism refers to ‘layer cake’ federalism

and cooperative federalism defined as ‘marble cake’

federalism.
 5.3. Key features of federalism
Objectives; by the end of the lesson the students will be able
to;
 Identify the key features of federalism
 Evaluate the features of federalism
 some essential features characterizing federal state structure are;

1. Division of power
 In a federal state political power (commonly related to legislative,
executive, judicial and financial functions) is constitutionally
divided between the federal government and the states. This means
in federal form of gov’t the central and regional governments have
constitutionally specified power and function.
Cont………
2. Decentralized system of government
 Federalism is characterized by absence of
centralization of power. Federal and regional
governments have their own share of power in
the country.
 Regional/ state governments are not subordinate
to the central gov’t.
 Bothe the federal and regional governments
drive their power from the constitution.
3. Written and Supreme federal constitution
 In a federal form of state the division of power

between federal and regional governments is based

on the supreme written constitution.
 The Constitution is expected to be written and rigid

enough so that neither central nor the federating units may

change it at their own will.
4. Dual Government
 In a federation two sets of governments co-exist. The

national (also called central or federal) gov’t and the

government of each constituent State.
5. 4 Advantage and disadvantage of federalism
Objectives; in the completion of the lesson you should be
able to:
 Differentiate advantages and disadvantages of federalism.

I. Advantages of federalism
 Some of the advantages of federalism are;

1. Division of power
 federalism allows both the federal and regional

governments to have their own share of power. This help

to avoid abuse of power by the central government.
2. Separate government
 In federalism both the central and state gov’t have their

own set of governments. Both levels have their own

branches of government.
3. Written and Rigid constitution
 Federalism provides written constitution that is easily

accessible to citizens and that is not easily removable/rigid.

4. Special judiciary
 Federalism allows to have special judiciary that is

responsible to settle disputes arising between federal and

regional governments and between regional state.
5. Better understanding of local issues and
demands
 Federalism creates fertile ground for smaller branches of

governments to deal with problems and issues arise in the

local level.
6.Increasing citizen participation
 Due to the existence of dual level of gov’t federalism

increases citizens level of participation in the government

decision making at the grass root level.
7. protection against tyranny
 The division of power among the federal and regional

gov’t and the three branches of gov’t serves as a

deterrent to tyranny
8. More efficiency
 When some of the powers of the government are

dispersed/spreade among the states, giving states the

right to solve some of their own problems; it allows more
efficiency within the system.
II. Disadvantages of federalism
 Some of the disadvantages of federalism are:

1. Conflict of authority
 Because of there are dual governments, power struggle will arise.

 Both central and state governments intend to assert their power

over the other which at times causes conflict between them.

2. Regionalism over patriotism
 Federalism can put one region against another and take away

from the feeling of patriotism that should be present all over the
entire country.
3. Lack of accountability
 When power is shared, it is easy for one sector to release
responsibility for the other, and vice versa. This decreases sense
of accountability.
4. Inequalities between states
 Federalism allows inequalities between states because of

development disparities and other differences.

5. Blockage of nationalist policies by state
 States can fight against the existence of certain national laws by

challenging them in court, or going out of their way to not

enforce those national laws, or even deliberately obstructing
enforcement of national laws.
5.5. The roles of federalism in accommodating
diversity in Ethiopia
Objectives; by the end of the lesson you should be able to: describe
the roles played by federalism.
 Some of the roles of federalism are:

 Reconciliation of ethnic diversity in political unity.

 It offer promising formula for smooth and satisfactory process of

unity.
 aim to accommodate the interest of distinct ethnic groups in

Ethiopia.
 It helps to accommodate rights, needs, claims and demands

emerging among diverse ethnic groups.

The features of Ethiopian federalism
 Some of the peculiar features of the Ethiopian federal
system are:
1. Power division between states and the federal
government.
 There is division of power between federal and
regional governments. Their inter-governmental
relationship is regulated by the federal constitution.
 The federal constitution list down the power and
function of federal and regional governments. Art 50,
51 and 52.
2. Bi-cameral legislature
 Ethiopian federalism has the house of federation and

house of people representatives.

A. House of people’s representative /HPR
 The highest authority of the federal government rests up

on the HPR.
 They are representatives of all Ethiopian people.
 They have the power to appoint and question the prim

minister. Art 55/ powers and functions.

B. The house of the federation
 The house of the federation is a representatives of each nation,
nationalities and peoples.
 The house is made up of representatives of nation and
nationalities for tenure of five years. Each nations and
nationalities are represented by at least one representative for
each one million people.
 Members of the house are elected by the people directly or by the
state council.
 The house is responsible to interpret the constitution. Art 61-
members
Art 62- powers and functions.
 Challenges of Ethiopian federalism
 The institutional framework's weakness, the federal government's

inability to manage disputes between ethnic groups.

 Disputes over natural resources such as grazing land and water

between people of the regions.

 constituent units have not yet been able to evolve as viable regional

governments.
 The lack of experience, skilled manpower and resources in regional

levels.
Homework; review exercise of unit 5
write the homework on front page of
your exercise book.
 Unit 6
Human Rights
Objectives: At the end of this unit, you will
be able to:
• Internalize human right
• Appraise the realizations of human rights
• Know the instruments for the protection of human rights.
6.1. The concept of human right
Objective: in the completion of the lesson you should be
able to define human rights and realize human rights.
Human rights ;
 are basic to humanity.
 apply to all people everywhere.
 Infers fundamental entitlements belong to every member of

the human race.

 are privileges someone can claim just because he/she is a

human being without any discrimination based on

conditions.
 derived from fundamental human dignity and worth.
 provide the minimum standards indispensable for
people to live worth-living life.
 allow people to live the life they deserved to live, they
aspire to live, and to live a life with dignity and equality.
 Human rights give people a full control of their life and
the freedom to choose how they live, how they express
themselves, and what kind of government they want to
support, among many other things.
 The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR, Article 2), stipulates
that human rights belong to every
human being without distinction of
political or other opinion the only
criteria someone must fulfill to enjoy
these rights is being a human.
The basic features of human right
 The salient features human rights are;

1. Universalism
 human rights apply equally to all people everywhere in the

world, and with no time limit.

 Every individual is entitled to enjoy human rights without

distinction on the basis of any ground.

2. Eternality
 Human rights exists as far as human exists.
 The only time individuals stop enjoying their human rights

is at the time of natural death.

3. Inalienability
 Human rights are inseparate with humans.
 They are inherent to all human beings.
 Everyone cannot lose them because they are linked to the

very fact of human existence.

4. Indivisible and interdependent
 different human rights are intrinsically connected and

cannot be viewed in isolation from each other.

 one set of rights cannot be enjoyed fully without the other.
4.Inviolability
 Human rights are expected not to be

violated or even restricted by any one.

5. Human rights are irrevocable
 Human rights cannot be taken away/

changed by any power or authority because

they belong to a person simply because
he/she is a human being.
 Classification of human rights
The major classification of human rights are;
1. First generation rights.
 The first tier or “generation” consists of civil and political

rights.
 They are related to Think of “life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness.
 Stated under article 2 -21 of UDHR.

2. Second generation rights: include economic, social, and

cultural rights. Article 22-27 of UDHR
3. Third generation rights
 Include those rights that go beyond the mere civil and

social, as expressed in many progressive documents of

international law.
 known as Solidarity human rights, they are rights that try

to go beyond the framework of individual rights to focus

on collective concepts, such as community or people.
 They include the right to economic and social

development; and the right to participate in and benefit

from “the common heritage of mankind.”
Human right provision under the federal constitution
Objective; by the end of the lesson you should be able to describe
human rights include under the FDRE constitution.
 The FDRE constitution gives emphasis on internationally
recognized human rights.
 The fundamental principles of human rights are stipulated under
article 10.
 The constitution in its chapter three clearly stated list of rights that
are divided into two categories, namely that of ‘Human Rights’ and
‘Democratic Rights’. Article 14 – 28 human rights
Article 29 -44 democratic rights
6.2. Citizens and state obligations in realizing
human rights
Objectives; by the end of the lesson you should be able
to; identify the obligations of citizens and the state to realize
human rights.
1. Citizen’s obligation; Human right involve
responsibility and duty towards other people and the
community. So, all individuals has the obligation to respect
the right of others while practicing their rights.
2. State obligations in realizing
Some of the obligations of state to realize rights are;
A. Obligation to respect
Means parties should refrain from interfering in the
enjoyment of rights and should not violate rights of citizens.
B. Obligation to protect
requires States to protect individuals against abuses by state
and non-state actors acting outside of their official capacity.
This include preventive and curative approaches.
C. Obligation to fulfill
States are required to take positive action to
ensure that human rights can be realized. This
mainly include creating “the legal, institutional
and procedural conditions that rights holders
need in order to realize and enjoy their rights in
full’’.
Instruments for the protection of human rights
1.The universal declaration of human rights (1948) adopted on
December 10 1948 by UN to protect human rights. All member states
of UN are obliged to observe and respect and to incorporate in their
national laws.
2. International human rights conventions; besides the UN there are
other international treaties/ conventions adopted to protect human
rights like;
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide (1948), the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
(1951), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR)………
See page 135 of your text book for more lists.
3. Regional mechanisms
Includes human systems functioned in different
regions of the world like America, Europe and
Africa.
4. The Ethiopian human rights instruments
The Ethiopian human rights instruments are; the
FDRE constitution, Ethiopian human rights
commission, the ombudsman and the court.