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You are welcome to the lecture. Today we will be treating a very cogent topic and i will like you to give me your maximum attention as you go through this lecture i suggest you:

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»READ SLOWLY AND JOT SOME POINTS

At the end of the lesson we believe you might need little or nothing from any other textbook

Topic: BASIC CONCEPTS IN GOVERNMENT
Tutor: Mr Elon Vinci
''The basic concepts in the study of Government are the cogent or essential aspects which serve as a knowledge base for the general study of government. They are ''Basic'' because through out your study of government you will always refer to them.
Some of the basic concepts in Government are:
>> Power
>> Authority
>> Sovereignty
>> Democracy
>> Legitimacy
>> Political Culture
>> Political Socialization
>> Feudalism
>> Communalism
>> Fascism
>> Totalitarianism
>> Oligarchy
Basic government concepts on Economics are:
>> Capitalism
>> Socialism
>> Communism
>> Mixed Economy
We will go through each of this concept to details. To start with is the first concept:
POWER

Power is the ability to affect other people's behaviour through coercion or at the fear of sanction.
Power can be legitimate or illegitimate that is with the people's consent or against their will thus a person not in government can wield power just like any political leader does.
N.B: The Major pillar for the exercise of power is Sanction. Sanctions are used if there is non-compliance or defilance.

FORMS OF POWER
Power can come in several forms but today i will give you some of the basic forms of power.

1) POLITICAL POWER: This is a power gotten from holding a political post with the ability to direct and control public goals.

2) PHYSICAL POWER: This is a form of power in which a person has an intimidating physic to exert force or injury for compliance.

3) MILLITARY POWER: This is a form of power exercised by the arm forces. Millitary power can be used in toppling an erring civilian government(Coup d'etat) and for the defence of the state against external aggressions.

4) ECONOMIC POWER: This is the power gotten from material assets and wealth in which through his economic resources can affect issues in the state.

5)SOCIAL POWER: This is the power gotten from the ability to organize people and canvass them to your will. It can also be referred to as CHARISMATISM.

SOURCES OF POWER
1) Through Charisma

2) Through Coercion

3) Through Economic Resources

4) Through the Constitution(Ref:
Political power)

5) Through Inheritance (In terms
of monarchy where a king
succeeds a moribund king)

2. AUTHORITY

Authority is the legal right to effect decisions or direct public goals i.e make laws and enforce such laws.
Authority is LEGAL because it is accepted by the people and endorsed by them through election. It is also legal because authority is subjected to the control of the CONSTITUTION.
The Only source of authority is the Constitution and the mandate of the people i.e its highly political.

TYPES OF AUTHORITY
1) TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY: This is the authority gotten from a traditional post in the society

2) POLITICAL AUTHORITY: This is the authority gotten by election or being in a politcal office.

3) CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY: This is the authority gotten from being bold or being able to get people to believe in you.

4) COERCIVE AUTHORITY: Authoritu acquired by coercion e.g Millitary Government

5) TECHNICAL AUTHORITY: This is an authority gotten as a result of professionalism in a particular career.

6) DELEGATED AUTHORITY: Delegated authority is the authority given to a body to exercise on behalf of another, e.g delegated authority.
The Exercise of authority is based on two principles: The legitimacy of a ruler to make laws and enforce such laws (De Jure Authority) and the acceptance of the ruled to be ruled by the ruler (De-Facto Authority)DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POWER AND AUTHORITY
1) Authority is legitimate and has the consent of the people in line with the constitution as well while Power is may not be legitimate as the people obey by force and not of their will

2) Power is exercised by Force or coercion while authority is exercised democratically.

3) Penalties of a defiance to decree or order is more gruesome in power while penalties given in Authority is as the constitution stipulates.

4)Authority can be delegated but power can not be delegated.
3. SOVEREIGNTY
Sovereignty is the ability of a state to exercise its authority and decision without the interference of another state. Sovereignty is a major characteristic of a state which has an absolute authority over its territory.
The theory of sovereignty was propounded by a french political thinker, JEAN BODIN.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOVEREIGNTY
In our study we are going to be considering the basic characteristics of sovereignty which are:
1) INDIVISIBILITY: Sovereignty is considered indivisible because it cannot be delegated(Just like power) although government can delegate authority to certain agencies, sovereignty remains indivisible.

2) PERMANENCE: Sovereignty is permanent as long as the state exists.

3) INDEPENDENCE OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE: Sovereignty is always free from foreign interference as stated in the definition when we started the class.

4) ABSOLUTENESS: The sovereignty of a state is absolute and cannot be restricted within its territory.

In addition the exercise of sovereignty in a state are in different forms and in different organ or location in a state. In this lesson we are going to deal with both of them i.e the types and forms of sovereignty.

TYPES OF SOVEREIGNTY:
1) Legal Sovereignty: The body that makes law and enforces it possesses legal sovereignty.

2)Political Sovereignty: Exercised by the electorate in a democratic state.

3) Defacto sovereignty: This is a sovereignty exercised by a coercive government in which citizens are forced to obey the government.

4)De Jure Sovereignty: This is exercised by a government which rules on the basis of the law.

LOCATION OF SOVEREIGNTY
The location of sovereignty in a state is determined by the system of government practised in such a state and could be located in any institution or group in a state.
1) The location of sovereignty in a FEDERAL STATE is the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT and its COMPONENT UNITS.

2) The location of sovereignty in a UNITARY STATE is the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT only.

3) The location of sovereignty in a DEMOCRATIC STATE is the ELECTORATE.

4) The location of sovereignty in a MILLITARY STATE is the PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL.

Despite the absoluteness of sovereignty their are some limitations to its exercise in a sovereign state...which are:
1) The constitution: It defines the power of a Government in a state

2)The Electorate/Public opinion: They tend to influence government decisions

3) International Laws and Conventions: Just like laws by the UN
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