Name: Mahnoor Afzal

Roll number: 46
Assignment : Civics
Submitted to : Mam Sania Akhtar

Government, State and Citizenship;

Rights and Responsibilities
Concept of State and Government:
The modern term "state" isderived
from the word
"status". It was Niccolo Machiavelli
( 1469 - 1527) who first used the term
"state" in his writings. His important
work is titled as "Prince".
Definitions:
The state is the highest form of human
association. It is necessary because it
comes into existence out of the basic
needs of life. It continues to remain for
the sake of good life.
.
 To Woodrow Wilson, "State is a
people organized for law within a
definite territory."
Aristotle defined the state as a
"union of families and villages having
for its end a perfect and self - sufficing
life by which it meant a happy and
good life.”
FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF STATE:
1. People
2. Territory
3. Sovereignty
4. Government

1. People refer to the inhabitants of the state. There is no strict

requirement on their number, but they must be of sufficient number
to be self-sufficing.
2. Territory is a fixed portion on the surface of the earth inhabited by
the people of the state.
3. Sovereignty is the supreme and uncontrollable power inherent in a
State.
KINDS OF SOVEREIGNTY:
Legal- is the authority which has the power to issue final
Political - is the power behind the legal sovereign, or the sum
total of the influences that operate it.
4.Government is the instrument that provides mechanisms in
determining, formulating, and implementing the policies of the state. It is
the essential instrument or machinery of the state that carries out its
will, purposes and objectives.
TWO FUNCTIONS OF
GOVERNMENT:
CONSTITUENT - Compulsory function
MINISTRANT- Discretionary function
ADMINISTRATION :
 Refers to the group of persons in whose hands the reins of the
government are held for the time being.
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
o According to the number of People who rule:
1. MONARCHY
2. OLIGARCHY
3. DEMOCRACY

LEGISLATIVE: Makes laws

 LAW-MAKING, FORMULATION OF POLICIES.
 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, BOARD MEMBERS, COUNCILORS

EXECUTIVE:Signs laws
 EXECUTE, IMPLEMENT, ENFORCE
 PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, MAYOR, PUNONG BARANGAY, SK
CHAIRMAN
JUDICIARY: Decides if laws are constitutional
 INTERPRET LAWS, JUSTICE.
 JUSTICES, JUDGES

The role of Government:

The Government contributes to providing political guidance and
exercising the executive function and regulatory powers.
The Government provides significant economic policy guidance
through its budget bill and related acts.

With regard to law-making, the Government has the power to

initiate legislation and may exercise legislative powers in the
following two cases, both of which are provided for and governed
exclusively by the Constitution:

 when Parliament specifically asks the Government to do so;

 in urgent circumstances, when immediate action is
required.
Under its ordinary powers, the Government may issue
regulations in order to:

 implement and complete legislative provisions;

 govern how public administrations are organised;
 govern matters which, according to the Constitution, do not
have to be regulated by law.
In addition to its regulatory powers, the Government also
appoints top-level officials within central government and public
bodies.

5.
These are the following functions of the state:
1. The main functions of the state, which are realized throughout its existence,
without which the development and existence of the state is impossible:
- economic;
- political;
- law enforcement;
- humanitarian;
- informational;
- public health;
- defense, etc.
A. Internal functions, the implementation of which is carried out within
the country and which ensure the domestic policy of the state:
 economical;
 political;
 social;
 ecological;
 humanitarian;
 law enforcement, etc.
B. External functions, the implementation of which is carried out in the
international arena, which ensure the foreign policy of the state:
 diplomatic, related to the establishment and maintenance of
relations with foreign countries;
 international cooperation in various fields;
 environmental;
 maintenance of international law and order;
 protection of the state from external encroachments, etc.

b) Civic responsibilities and duties

Civic Duty

The privileges bestowed on those who receive U.S. citizenship are many. But with
these privileges comes a great deal of responsibility. These responsibilities are
referred to as civic duties, a set of obligations citizens are expected to fulfill throughout
their lives. This article will discuss what these duties entail, why they are important,
and why they are fundamental to American democracy.
The Meaning of Civic Duty
Civic duties are rights and responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with living in a
prosperous, democratic society. To carry out one's civic duty is to honor the implicit
contract between the government and the people. Examples of civic duties include
serving on a jury, voting in elections, or participating in community service projects.

Civic Duty Obligations and Responsibilities

Civic duties are divided into two categories - obligations and responsibilities. The
former is a requirement by law, while the latter though not mandatory, are
important ways for all citizens to get involved.

Civic Duty Obligations

Civic obligations are actions citizens must take to participate in society and
avoid legal repercussions.
 Obeying the Law: Citizens must follow federal, state, and local laws and abide by the
Constitution.. Obeying traffic signals is an example. By complying with road regulations,
citizens keep themselves out of danger and protect others
 . Jury Duty: Individuals charged with a crime have the constitutional right to a speedy and
fair trial before a jury of peers. It, therefore, becomes the responsibility of citizens to fulfill this
role. Prospective jurors are issued a summons that calls them to the court for an interview.
Not everyone summoned for jury duty will serve. But all citizens 18 and older must
participate if called upon.

 Taxes: Citizens are responsible for reporting their income to the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) and paying federal, state, and local taxes. Tax collection keeps the government up
and running and pays for essential services like clean water, paved roads, schools, and the
police and fire departments.

 Education: Child citizens are required by law to obtain an education. This civic obligation
can be satisfied by attending school or an alternative method (i.e., homeschooling, distance
learning). By attending school, citizens commit to developing the skills needed to contribute
to and function effectively in society.

 Defense of the State: Citizens are required to defend their State if called upon. While
participation in the military is voluntary, registering for the selective service (also known as
the draft) is required for men aged 18-25. The federal government reserves the right to call
upon those registered for military duty.

Civic Duty Responsibilities

Civic responsibilities are not required but are fundamental ways to contribute to society.

 Voting: Though not required in the United States, voting is a critically important right for all
citizens 18 and older. The first step is registering to vote, but civic responsibility doesn't end
 at the ballot box. It requires a commitment to learning about candidates and policy
initiatives, staying informed about important issues, and educating oneself to make informed
 decisions. It includes being politically aware, researching and questioning political
candidates, and other matters arising during elections to make meaningful decisions.

 Sharing Concerns and Opinions: An essential component of democracy is citizens' ability

to articulate their opinions and voice any concerns they have. An example is contacting the
city about a troublesome pothole or a downed power line so it can be repaired.
 Community Service: Getting involved in the community can take many forms. Cleaning up
the neighborhood park, volunteering to serve on the local school board, and tutoring
children after school are all examples.
 Respect Across Differences: Democratic societies are composed of people who hold
diverse beliefs. So citizens must be accepting of those who may not share their same views

Civic Duty Examples

There are endless opportunities for citizens to fulfill their civic duties. Examples can
be as formal as
1. An example for respect across differences: if a neighbor supports a different political party,
there is no need for an argument. It is the responsibility of all citizens to accept these
differences. People have a right to maintain their values and diverse views often come
together to help improve society.
2. An example for voting: During a presidential election, a citizen would need to learn about
candidates at the federal, state, and local levels, understand what they represent, research
any referendums or initiatives on the ballot and make careful decisions that consider their
interests and society at large before casting a vote.

Importance of Civic Duty

Citizenship offers many privileges (e.g. freedoms, protections, and legal rights) but it also
comes with significant responsibilities. It also helps empower each citizen to become more
engaged in civil society, whether it be on the local, state, or federal level of government.
Active involvement in the community not only ensures citizens have a voice but also helps
strengthen democracy for the rest of society.
c) Ethical consideration in civil engagement
(accountability, transparency, non-violence, peaceful
dialogues, civility, etc.)
The expression "basic ethical principles" refers to those general judgments that serve as a
basic justification for the many particular ethical prescriptions and evaluations of human
actions.
Accountability :
in terms of ethics and governance is eqauted with answer ability , culpability ,liability and the
expectation of account giving.
As in an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the
public sector, nonprofit, private (corporate), and individual contexts.
Benefits:
o Social Accountability supports good governance and fosters better service delivery.
Institutional accountability mechanisms alone are often not effective in promoting
good governance, leaving room for opaque and corrupt practices in the management
of public resources.
o Social accountability can safeguard against wastage, 'leakage' and corrupt When
properly applied in monitoring implementation, evaluation and audit of services and
projects social accountability mechanisms and tools can enhance transparency.
 o A key benefit of social accountability is that it strengthens the relationships and builds
trust between the government and citizen. influence decisions concerning their
development and hold them accountable between elections.
o It enables bringing all members of the community together around a common
interest.
Peaceful Dialogue:
1. These are formal meetings at the community level where local officials and citizens
have the opportunity to exchange information and opinions on community affairs. It
enables the citizens to raise their concerns in front of elected officials and
bureaucrats on the one hand and an important feedback mechanism for the officials
to gain a better understanding of the citizens' experiences and views.
It is also an opportunity for citizens receiving local services and officials providing
services to share on matters of public interest.

2. It provides citizens with the opportunity to put forward personal and community
related problems to the service providing officials.
3. It helps make service providers accountable to citizens, and increases transparency
in the service provider's activities.
Benefits
o Makes those holding public positions and providing services accountable to
stakeholders.
o Increases transparency in public service delivery.
It is also an opportunity for citizens receiving local services and officials providing
services to share on matters of public interest.
o It provides citizens with the opportunity to put forward personal and community
related problems to the service providing officials.
o It helps make service providers accountable to citizens, and increases transparency
in the service provider's activities.
Non-violence:
Nonviolence is not a very exact term. It not only describes a whole class of activities, but
also describes attitudes and life-style.
In this special series, we discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s six principles of nonviolence.
By emphasizing virtues such as understanding, love, peace, and learning, King laid out a
vision for collective action as the moral and necessary path toward achieving
justice .Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
1. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
2. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
3. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
4. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
5. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
Civility:
is "the behaviors that help to preserve the norms for mutual respect in the workplace. Civility
reflects concern for others" and is usually demonstrated through manners, courtesy,
politeness, and a general awareness of the rights, wishes, concerns, and feelings of others.
Aristotle saw civility as a form of friendship, which he understood as a mutual feeling of
good will.
At the Institute for Civility, we believe the call to civility is nothing short of a call to our shared
humanity where respect, kindness, compassion, and dialogue grow out of a commitment to
an ever-deepening understanding of self and others.

Transparency (behavior):
As an ethic that spans science, engineering, business, and
the humanities, transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for
others to see what actions are performed. Transparency implies openness,
communication, and accountability.
Transparency is practiced in companies, organizations, administrations, and
communities. For example, in a business relation, fees are clarified at the
outset by a transparent agent, so there are no surprises later. This is opposed to
keeping this information hidden which is "non-transparent".
A practical example of transparency is also when a cashier makes changes after
a point of sale; they offer a transaction record of the items purchased (e.g., a
receipt) as well as counting out the customer's change.
1. Government transparency refers to holding public
officials accountable for their operations. Transparency
ensures accountability, openness, and communication between the public
and government.
A Good Example of GovernmentTransparency:
The transparent government beholds the credibility of citizens. Proactive
disclosure is revealing the information without being asked. It increases the flow
of information for the public about the government offices. Citizen engagement
software, another example, provides the platform for government and citizens to
interact, solicit feedback, and curbs the gap between government and citizens.

Source: from
Google and
different
websites