Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Guided discovery

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: Describe the structure of Government

(Section A, # 22)

Term: 2 Unit Number # 1 Government

and Title:

Duration: 70 minutes Week Number: 5

Lesson Number # 16- The Structure, Composition and

and Title: function of the Legislature

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) differentiate between a unicameral and bicameral legislative
bodies.
2) identify the persons who make up the Lower and Upper houses of
the Legislature.
3) explain the roles associated with each unit in the Legislature.
4) diagrammatically reproduce the structure chart of a bicameral
legislature.
5) value the importance of the functions of the legislature.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) the roles and importance of government.
2) the principles of democracy.

Important Points
1) The legislature is the law making body of the country. As the body
which creates changes within the constitution, it has legal
supremacy and is considered the highest authority.
2) The Jamaican legislature has a bicameral structure; that is, it is
made up of two houses. These houses are the Upper House or the
Senate and the Lower House or the House of Representatives.
a. The maximum life span of both houses is five years
(similar to a political term).
3) The Senate is a nominated house. Members are nominated by
either the Prime Minister or the Leader of Opposition.
a. Numerically, government senators outnumber other
senators (13 to 8); a fact which gives the prime minister

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 majority votes in the senate (an advantage which it also
enjoys in the lower house).
b. They are responsible for different aspects of social life
such as social welfare and business.

4) The House of Representatives comprises members of government

from the cabinet (a group of advisors chosen by the prime minister
as an executive council), other members of the governing party as
well as members of the opposition party. The common factor is
that they are all elected by the electorate and represent their needs
on a constituency basis.
a. As of the year 2011, there are 63 members of the Lower
House to represent the 63 constituencies in Jamaica.

b. Typically the governing party has the higher number of

representatives as is required with the First-Past-the-
Post system.
5) The essential function of the legislature is to make, amend and
repeal laws.
a. The Lower House passes and repeals legislation,
amends the constitution when necessary, approves the
national budget, authorizes the spending of public
funds, ratifies international treaties and examines the
governments performance and activities.
b. The House of Representatives is aided in the execution
of its duties by the speaker, the deputy speaker, the
clerk of parliament, the leader of government business,
the prime minister and other Cabinet ministers, the
opposition and elected non-cabinet members.
c. The Senate has to examine the bills passed in the Lower
House before they can become law. They also introduce
bills (except for money bills).

Key Terms

Bicameral Legislature Government Senator House of

Representatives

Independent Senator Legislature Parliament

Parliamentary Opposition Senator Senate

Questions
Unicameral
legislature

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Challenge Areas
This may be completed as an individual assignment or with the aid of
your friends.

a) Use materials available to you to create a model showing the

legislature at work in Gordon house.
OR
b) Create and post a video which models a session of parliament
at Gordon House. It should reflect the correct number of
members, roles and functions of its members and be related to
an issue currently being addressed in parliament.

Equipment/Materials Needed
Multimedia projector, computer with internet access

Note to Teacher
Be careful that the discussions in this lesson remain as objective as
possible. Students are already exposed to political socialization at
home and in their communities and might already have fixed notions
about how our government works. Also, ensure that discussions are
well monitored to prevent personal arguments from developing.

Ensure that the opportunities are used to reinforce the principles taught
on democracy and separation of powers.

Teachers Lesson Notes

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Introduction
1) Introductory Activity

Talk shop? Parliament? Debate? What is the legislature all

about?
a. Instruct the students to watch and listen to the video clips
below very closely. They may be asked to view it on their
individual computers or you may use the multimedia
projector to show the clips.

http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GjqwAES4OfI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF1Tv06oM_Q&fe
ature=related

b. After viewing the clips, use the questions to generate a

discussion.
i. What occasion is taking place in the first video clip?
ii. Who are some of the persons taking part in this
event?
iii. What position does each person have?
iv. One person was a representative of the queen. Why
was he or she included in the event?
v. What does the clip tell us about the type of
government?
vi. What is the event being referred to in the second
clip?
vii. Who are the persons or what are the positions
represented in the second clip?
viii. Why are these persons involved in the event?
ix. What kinds of activities were reported in this clip?
What did they pertain to?
x. What are the similarities between the first and the
second event?
xi. What are the differences between the first and the
second event/clip?
Expected responses: The first clip shows the
historic first opening of Parliament in Jamaica while
the second shows a report on a recent sitting of
parliament. The first was significant in marking

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 independence for Jamaica: complete with a
representative from the queen, it marked the type of
government system which the country would use.
The second clip highlights some of the progress
made by the government. It features similar
positions and persons as the first. However, in
keeping with the trend started with the first opening
of parliament, a governor general represents the
queen in opening parliament.

Some of the positions represented are a Leader of

Government Business, Speaker, Prime Minister,
Leader of Opposition and various ministers

c. At this point it should be reinforced that both clips refer to

the legislative arm of the government. Project the diagram
below onto the white board to reinforce this point. Ask the
students to say what they recall about this arm from the
previous lesson on separation of powers and democracy.
i. Allow a student writer to jot down the students
correct responses in the text box for legislature.
Figure 16.1: Arms of Government

Body of Lesson
1) Structure How can we describe the framework of the
legislature of the Jamaican government?

a. Instruct each student to identify one or two partners with

whom to work. Then allow them to listen carefully for any
noted divisions in the legislature and write them down.

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 b. Now instruct them to visit the following websites and read
the documents carefully. They should allocate each website
to one person to encourage efficiency. Students should look
for divisions/arms or sections of the legislature mentioned
in the article. This information they will then discuss
collectively, noting the:
i. Sections of the legislature
ii. Persons or offices associated with each division;
iii. Procedure or criterion for determining membership
in each section of the legislature;
iv. The function of each division

http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/country_brows
er/jm_profile.asp

http://www.caribbeanelections.com/education/government.asp

http://www.jis.gov.jm/pdf/GovernmentOfJamaica.pdf

As the students work, visit each group to ensure that they

understand the material and to check the accuracy of their
work. Also ensure that students work within the time
allotted.
Expected answers:
Section Senate
1. 21 members appointed by the governor general based on their
nomination by the prime minister (13) and the leader of
opposition (8). This body reviews bills and other proposals as
well as introduces bills except money bills.
2. House of Representatives 63 members elected by popular
votes in the constituencies. This house initiates most bills
including money bills, and controls the governments finances.
3. The Queen represented by the Governor General. He assents
to bills and delivers the throne speech once a year.
4. Collectively their functions include introducing, debating
proposals for policies and laws.

c. When comfortable with students answers, instruct them to

use an application of the Microsoft office of their choice to
create a diagram showing the structure, composition and
functions of each section of the legislature. Pictures and
any other creative tools can be used.
Again, periodically check the students progress and
provide feedback as they work in their groups.

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 d. After students have finished creating their diagrams, select
the work of a reasonable number of groups to project using
the multimedia projector and discuss the structure of the
legislature. Encourage students to pay keen attention and
make corrections to their diagram where necessary.

e. For formative assessment ask the students to state True of

False to following questions:

i. Jamaica has a bicameral legislature.

Expected answer: False
ii. The life span of the Senate in Jamaica is a
maximum of five years.
Expected answer:True
iii. The Upper House is divided into four sections
Expected answer:False
iv. The Lower House is made up of elected
representatives of the people.
Expected answer:True
v. The upper house controls the governments
finances.
Expected answer:False
Ask them to answer this question: What is the difference
between a Bicameral legislature and a unicameral
legislature?
Expected answer: A unicameral legislature has one house,
the bicameral has two.

2) Who make up the legislature of the Jamaican government?

a. Using the same activity above, select the work of other

students (none of those who already presented) to highlight
the composition of the legislature.

b. Next, for further assessment have the students complete the

following activity without the help of their partners.

Box 16.1: Close Exercise

Using the information gathered from the websites you
explored, fill in the blank spaces in the following passage.

The ________ is a nominated house. Members are nominated

by the Prime Minister (approximately 2/3rd of them)) and the
________of ________ (the remainder). Consequently,
numerically, government senators outnumber________

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 senators (13 to 8); a fact which gives the prime minister
majority votes in the senate.

The __________ of ______________comprises members of

government from the __________ (a group of advisors chosen
by the prime minister as an executive council), other members
of the governing party as well as members of the opposition
party. The common factor is that they are all elected by the
electorate and represent their needs on a constituency basis.

As of the year 2011, there are ______ members of the Lower

House to represent the ___________ in Jamaica.
Typically the governing party has the higher number of
representatives as is required with the __________
__________ ____________ ___________electoral system.

Other key positions in the house of parliament: the speaker, the

_________ speaker, the clerk of parliament, the __________
of government business, Cabinet ministers, the opposition and
elected non-cabinet members.

Expected answers:
For answers see the important points in the section above. Assess the
students performance collectively.

3) What does the legislature do in the Jamaican government?

a. Use the same procedure as used above to uncover the

various functions of the legislature. Differentiate between
the general/overall functions and those which are specific
to different houses or subgroups such as the opposition in
the parliament.

b. Next, direct the students to the websites below to examine

within their groups or pairs. Ensure that there is effective
delegation of tasks within the groups.
Instruct students to examine the content at each link and
use it to do the following:
i. Identify examples for the functions highlighted in
the presentations above;
ii. Create a list of issues dealt with in parliament;
iii. Results of dealing with the above issues in
parliament;

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 iv. Select any two of the issues highlighted and explain
why you think that it is important for the parliament
to have addressed the issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KtAqAmVFUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_oO0BV97WE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0QVXZbuLFw&fe
ature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL98776DA222
28FDAE
http://www.japarliament.gov.jm/index.php?option=com
_content&view=article&id=236:senator-lightbourne-
tables-child-pornography-act-in-
parliament&catid=1:news&Itemid=8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIdFEe2JFU&feat
ure=bf_next&list=PL98776DA22228FDAE
http://www.japarliament.gov.jm/index.php?option=com
_content&view=article&id=387:house-committee-
suggests-12-hour-cap-on-work-
days&catid=1:news&Itemid=8

c. Allow each group to present on one aspect of this

assignment.
i. Guide students to develop a set of criteria to
evaluate presentations, making corrections where
necessary and highlighting important points.
Expected answers:
Functions Examples Issues dealt with in
Parliament
Debating the Debating taxes, Budget
budget aspects of the Taxes
Proposing and budget Dual citizenship
discussing laws Re fishing Divestment
Monitoring arms practices Courts
of government Procurement
procedures
Child Pornography

4) In what ways do the Speaker and the Leader of Government

business and the clerk of Parliament contribute to the
functioning of the legislature?

a. Instruct the students to complete the following activity with

the aid of their textbooks as well as internet search:

Match the following functions listed on the left to the

appropriate positions on the right.

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 Figure 16.2: Functions of the Speaker, Leader of
Government Business and the Clerk of Parliament

Presides over meetings of

the house

Regulates House debates Leader of Government

Business

Introduces policy issues in

parliament.

Parliamentary Clerk
Ensures time is allotted for
examination of various
matters

Prepares and distributes

order paper and ensures Speaker of the House
debates are recorded in the
Hansard

Arbitrates matters
concerning parliamentary
procedures

Helps members of the

house to draft private bills

Consults with the Leader

of opposition to set agenda
fi
of business to be discussed

Expected answers:
Leader of Government Business Introduces policy issues
in parliament; Ensures time is allotted for examination of
various matters; Consults with the Leader of opposition to
set agenda of business to be discussed

Speaker of the House Regulates House debates; Presides

over meetings of the house

Parliamentary Clerk - Prepares and distributes order papers

and ensures debates are recorded in the Hansard; Helps
members of the house to draft private bills

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Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Write a short essay outlining why the legislature is an important
and powerful arm of government in your country.

Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Either arrange a field trip for the students to attend a sitting of
Parliament, or direct students to PBC Television at the appropriate
time to view an agreed on sitting of Parliament. After viewing
they should write a report on the session highlighting how the roles
of each office in the legislature were executed. Note shortcomings
and strengths of each. (You may design a specific checklist for the
students to use in this exercise).

2) In preparation for the next lesson, tell students to pay keen

attention to the activities of the Opposition and its leader and take
notes on how it operates.

Glossary of Terms

Bicameral This is a legislature with two houses (usually a

Legislature Senate (upper house) and House of
Representatives (lower house).

Government This is a senator who was nominated by the

Senate president of the governing party.

House of This refers to the lower house in the legislature.

Representatives It comprises elected representatives of the people
from all political parties.

Independent This is a senator who was nominated by the head

senator of state of the country. He or she is expected to
be neutral/independent and not aligned to any
political party.

Legislature This is the law making arm of the government.

Opposition This is a senator who was nominated by the

senator leader of the opposition party.

Parliament It is in one sense the national representative body

which holds final legislative power in a country.
In another, it is considered a formal conference

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 or talk shop for the discussion of public
affairs.

Parliamentary These are questions put to a cabinet member on

questions the floor of the House of representatives
regarding his portfolio.

Senate This is the smaller of the houses of parliament

referred to as the upper house. In Jamaica, the
senate comprises 21 senators.

Unicameral This is a legislature which has only one house or

legislature legislative chamber.

CSEC (type) Questions

1) The legislature is a powerful arm of the government in a
parliamentary democracy.
a. Define the terms:
i. Parliament
ii. House of Representatives 4 marks
b. Differentiate between a unicameral and a bicameral
legislature. 2 marks
c. Explain ONE reason the legislature is considered a
powerful arm of the government. 2 marks
d. Suggest THREE strategies that can be used to reduce
partisanship decision making and attitudes in the
legislature. 6 marks
e. Explain why each of the strategies suggested above will
work. 6 marks
Total 20 marks

Recommended Materials
http://jamaica.gov.jm/
http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/34.htm

Bibliography
Brathwaite, S., Reynolds, P. (2004). Social Studies CSEC self study
and Distance Learning. Caribbean Examinations Council

Ruddock, L. C. and Robinson-Glanville, S. (1977). New Civics for

Young Jamaicans. Jamaica, Carlong Publishers.

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Sandy, M. C., Grayson, S. C. (2004). Social Studies Essentials with
SBA, Study Guide and Exercises. Kingston: Carlong Publishers

Source:
Confused Stickman
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2d_k4shoxtY/S37_UfWC2II/AAAAAAAA
A_M/q-aBdFrwNoE/s320/headscratch_stickman.jpg retrieved June 8,
2012.

Websites used in this Lesson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqwAES4OfI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF1Tv06oM_Q&feature=related

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