BECE JHS
Governance is how a country is ruled. In a democracy the people choose who holds power, and the law limits that power.
A constitution is the highest law. It says how the country is governed and it states the rights and duties of citizens. Democracy means rule with the consent of the people, shown through elections, free speech and the rule of law. The rule of law means everyone, including leaders, is subject to the law. Power is shared so that no one arm can do everything.
The legislature makes the law. In Ghana that is Parliament. The executive, led by the President, carries the law out and runs the day to day government. The judiciary, the courts, interprets the law and settles disputes. Each arm is meant to check the others. A citizen has rights, such as personal liberty and freedom of speech, and duties, such as obeying the law and paying lawful taxes. An answer that lists rights and never duties is incomplete when the question asks for both.
Use the name of the arm and its job. "Parliament judges cases" is wrong. The courts do that. Do not claim a right that the constitution does not give, and do not invent a punishment. If you are asked why separation of powers matters, the point is to stop power collecting in one place, not to make government slower.
These are practice questions in the style of the paper, with a model answer and a mark scheme. They are not a promise of what your paper will ask.
3 marks
State the main function of each of the three arms of government. (3 marks)
The legislature makes laws. The executive implements laws and runs the government. The judiciary interprets the law and settles disputes.
4 marks
(a) What is the rule of law? (2 marks)
(b) State two duties of a citizen. (2 marks)
(a) The rule of law means that everyone is subject to the law, including people in authority, and that the law is applied fairly.
(b) Obeying the law, and paying lawful taxes.
4 marks
Give two reasons a country writes its system of government into a constitution. (4 marks)
A constitution sets out how leaders are chosen and removed, so power is not taken by force. It also states the rights of citizens, so those rights can be claimed in court.
More questions on this topic are inside GLearn, marked as you answer, with the reason written out. The first ones need no account.
Practise Social Studies freeThe legislature makes laws. In Ghana that is Parliament. The executive, led by the President, carries the laws out. The judiciary, the courts, interprets the laws and settles disputes.
It means the law stands above every person, including leaders. Decisions are made by the rules that have been published, and disputes can go to a court. It is a check on arbitrary power. All BECE Social Studies past questions