What I will learn

  • Systems of government in Kenya, Britain and the USA in comparison to South Sudan’s system
  • Important similarities and differences between the government of South Sudan and other world countries.

What I will do

  • Investigate systems of government around the world.
  • Explore and solve problems associated with global interdependence.
  • Explore the benefits of international partnership to challenge international conflict and promote peace
Introduction
Introduction to systems of government

A government is a group of people with legal authority to govern and lead the affairs of people in a given society.

A system of government refers to how administrative units in a given country are organised to properly function.

In Level Five, we studied the functions of various organs of government such as the parliament in South Sudan.

In this topic, we shall examine and explore the systems of government in Kenya, Britain and the United States of America.

Activity 8.1

Group work

Q1. What do you understand by the term Government?

What are the ways of conducting free and fair election?

Kenya

Kenya is a country found in the Eastern part of Africa. It borders South Sudan to the South.

It is an ally of South Sudan in economic, social and political aspects.

Kenya has played a significant role in the attainment of peace and political stability in South Sudan.

The Republic of Kenya.

Kenya has a democratic system of government where citizens elect their leaders to run the affairs of the country. This is done through an electoral process conducted by an independent body.

The electoral process in Kenya

According to the Kenyan Constitution 2010, elections in Kenya are held after every five years.

The elections are conducted by an independent body known as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The elections are guided by the following principles:

  • Rights of all citizens to vote.
  • Gender equity, that is, the balance between males and females.
  • Free and fair elections.
  • Universal suffrage, that is, one man one vote.

The following are ways of conducting a free and fair election in Kenya:

  • Elections are done through secret ballot.
  • Elections should be free from intimidation, violence and corruption.
  • Transparency has to be upheld.
  • Elections to be run by an independent body.
Stages of the Electoral process in Kenya
  • Dissolution of parliament. After every five years, the Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) is dissolved to give way for the new elections. The presidential elections also take place during this time.
  • Registration of voters. This process is carried out by an electoral body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The following conditions must be met for one to be registered as a voter:

  • Be a Kenyan Citizen.
  • Be of sound mind.
  • Be 18 years and above.
  • Possess a Kenyan passport or the national identification card.
  • Nomination. The electoral commission announces election dates and gives the timetable for:
  • Party nominations.
  • Presentation of nomination documents by candidates.
  • Date for the beginning and ending of campaigns.

For one to qualify as a presidential candidate, he or she must be:

  • A Kenyan citizen by birth.
  • Nominated by a political party or run as an independent candidate.
  • Nominated by at least 2000 voters from each of a majority of the counties.
  • For a parliamentary candidate he or she must:
  • Be a Kenyan citizen.
  • Have attained the age of 21 years.
  • Be a registered voter in the parliamentary constituency he wishes to represent.
  • Be nominated by a political party or run as an independent candidate.
  • Disqualification of a candidate from contesting
  • However, a parliamentary candidate may be disqualified if he or she:
  • Is holding a public office.
  • Is a member of county assembly.
  • Has not been a citizen of Kenya for at least 10 years before the election.
  • Is declared bankrupt by the court of law.
  • Is found to be of unsound mind.

For the county assembly candidate, he or she must:

  • Be a citizen of Kenya.
  • Attain the age of 21 years.
  • Be nominated by a political party or run as independent candidate.
  • Be a registered voter in the ward he or she wants to represent.
  • Presentation of nomination papers. Here the candidates will present their nomination papers to the IEBC officials.
  • Campaigns. They begin after candidates have presented their nomination papers. Candidates must adhere to the electoral code of conduct during the campaign period. For example, they should desist from acts of violence, bribery and intimidation of opponents with their supporters.

h Polling or voting. This is the day when the citizens go to their respective polling stations to cast their votes. It begins at 6 am and ends at 5 pm. Voters must present identification documents before voting.

People on a queue to vote.

  • Announcement and declaration of winners. After voting, counting is done and the winners of various electoral positions declared. This is done by electoral officials at various levels, like polling stations and consistency.

Activity 8.2

Group work

Q. Describe the stages of electoral process in Kenya?

Q. What are the qualification of the presidential candidate?

Functions of electoral commission (IEBC) in Kenya
Formation and functions of the government of Kenya

The government of Kenya is at two levels;

The national government and the

County or devolved government.

Both these levels of government are formed after the general elections.

According to the constitution of Kenya, 2010, there are 47 counties.

Each county has a government that has a County Executive, County Assembly and a County Public Service.

All counties are headed by a Governor assisted by a Deputy Governor. Hence the governor is the chief executive officer of the county.

The national government of Kenya is divided into the;

Legislature or Parliament,

Executive and the

Judiciary.

The Legislature

The Legislature has two houses:

Senate

National assembly

The National Assembly has 290 members elected from each constituency, 47 women elected from 47 counties, 12 nominated members by political parties and the speaker as an ex-officio member.

The Senate has 47 members elected from each county, 16 women members nominated by political parties; a man and a woman to represent persons with disabilities; a man and a woman to represent the youth and a speaker as an ex-officio member.

The functions of the National Assembly are:
  • To make and change laws of the land.
  • To control government revenue and expenditure.
  • To be a check on the government so that it does not misuse its powers.
  • To act as a link between the people at the local level and the government.
  • To pass a vote of no-confidence in the government and the president if necessary.
  • To approve government actions making them acceptable.
The functions of the Senate are:
  • To make and amend law in collaboration with the National Assembly.
  • To determine the money to be allocated to counties.
  • To ensure that money allocated to counties is properly utilized.
  • To ensure that public servants do their work accordingly.

Activity 8.3

Pair work

  • State the levels of government in Kenya?
  • Outline the functions of the national assembly and the senate house in Kenya?
The Executive

The Executive consists of:

The President

The Deputy President

Cabinet

The Attorney General

The public service

National security organs

Correctional Service.

The president of Kenya is the Head of the Executive and he or she is the one who appoints cabinet secretaries with the approval of parliament.

The Cabinet consist of between 14-22 cabinet secretaries.

The power and functions of president of Kenya are:
  • He or she chairs Cabinet meetings.
  • He or she is the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
  • He or she ensures the protection of rights and freedoms of the people as enshrined in the constitution.
  • He or she can appoint and dismiss public officers in line with the constitution.
  • He or she can offer pardon to convicted persons.
  • He or she receives and entertains foreign leaders and presidents of other countries.
The cabinet has a role in:
  • Making government policies.
  • Defending the government and its functions.
  • Advising the president on issues of governance.
  • Taking part in the process of making the budget.
  • Acting as a link between the government and the people.
The Public Service

The Public Service is headed by a Public Service Commission made up of members appointed by the president. The roles include:

  • Interpreting the government policies to the people.
  • Implementing government policies.
  • Collecting government revenue and accounting for expenditure.
  • Maintaining law and order through the National Police Service.
  • Giving advice to cabinet secretaries on policy matters.
  • Offering important and essential services to the people such as medical care.

The composition of the national security organs is the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Intelligence Services and the National Police Service.

The Kenya Defence Forces have the duty to:

  • Defend the country from external aggression.
  • Maintain international peace and security through peace keeping mission.
  • Help in the maintenance of law and order.
  • Provide emergency services during times of natural disasters.

The National Police Service comprises of the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service.

Its roles include preventing crime, arresting and prosecuting criminals and law breakers and helping fight international crime in collaboration with the International Police (Interpol).

They collect information on crime and act on it as well as protecting life and property.

The Judiciary

The Judiciary is the arm of government that interprets laws and is headed by the Chief Justice.

It is made up of a system of courts; the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the magistrate’s courts, the Kadhi’s courts, the Courts Martial and the Tribunals.

Functions of the Judiciary in Kenya involve the following:

  • The Supreme Court listens and determines disputes from presidential elections.
  • The High Court hears cases that are being tried for the first time.
  • The Court of Appeal listens to cases appealed from the High Court.
  • The Magistrates courts will hear and determine criminal cases.
  • The Kadhi’s courts will settle specific Islamic disputes related to marriage, divorce and inheritance.

Activity 8.4

Assignment work

Q1. Compare and contrast between South Sudan and Kenya electoral process?

Q2. What similarities do you see in the system of governance in Kenya and South Sudan.

Britain
Introduction to the system of government in Britain

Britain is found in Europe and it is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The position of Britain on the map of Europe.

Britain has a constitutional monarchical government. This is a government where the head of state is a queen or a king. The King or Quess rules according to the law of the land which means in effect they follow the advice of their government and by tradition cannot tell the government what to do or how to rule on any issue provided it is within the law.

The residential place of the monarch is in Buckingham Palace.

Britain is a parliamentary democracy where the principle of representation by elected leaders is central.

Electoral process in Britain

Unlike other democratic countries like South Sudan,

there is no specific date for elections in Britain. The date of elections is announced by the Prime Minister but must be held within five years of the last one.

Elections in Britain are conducted by the Electoral Commission of Britain.

The role of the Electoral Commission of Britain include

registration of political parties,

conducting of civic education on electoral issues and

distribution of election materials.

They also help in counting of votes and announcing results.

They have a responsibility of controlling how political parties use their campaign money

Activity 8.5

Group work

1 State the role of the electoral commission in Britain?

2 Explain the procedures of electoral process in Britain?

.

The electoral process in Britain involves the following procedures:

  • Dissolution of the parliament by the Prime Minister with the approval from the Monarchy.
  • Issuance of a legal notice for holding elections – This makes it possible for elections to be held at various levels. It is the lawful way of notification for elections.
  • Voter Registration – This is a continuous process and voters must be of 18 years and above.
  • Setting of election dates – This is done by the Prime Minister.
  • Nomination of parliamentary candidates – This is done by political parties. The nominees must be of 21 years and above. They must also be British citizens.
  • Campaigns – This is done for two weeks. Here, candidates sell their policies through rallies and use of media.
  • Polling or voting – It is done through a secret ballot. It begins as early as

7.00 am and ends at 10.00 pm The voter’s name must be on a voter’s register before voting.

  • Vote collection – This takes place after voting within the constituency in the presence of candidates or their agents. On conclusion, the returning officer announces results and declares the winner.

Activity 8.6

Assignment work

  1. Q. Identify similarities and differences between the electoral processes in South Sudan and the electoral process in Britain.
The structure and functions of the British government

The British government has four arms; the Monarchy, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

The Monarchy

The unwritten constitution of Britain recognizes the role of the monarch who operates on policies approved by parliament.

  • The monarch is the legal head of state in Britain and his or her position is hereditary

The following is the role of the Monarch:

  • To advice the government or Prime Minister on administrative matters.
  • To invite the leader of the party with many seats after elections to form a government.
  • To give royal assent to parliamentary bills for them to become laws.
  • To address both houses at the beginning of a new session.
  • He or she serves as the head of the Commonwealth.

Activity 8.7

Group work

  • Outline the levels of government in Britain?
  • Discuss the role of monarch in Britain?
The Executive

It comprises of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Civil Service. The functions of the Prime Minister are:

  • He or she is the head of government.
  • He or she chairs cabinet.
  • He or she implements government policies.
  • He or she is the chief spokesperson of the government in the House of Commons.
  • He or she acts as a chief legal adviser of the Monarch.
  • He or she represents the government in international events

The Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister with approval from the Monarch. It is made up of members from the House of Commons.

The role of the Cabinet

is to determine the policies to be presented before parliament as well as ensuring that they are implemented.

The Civil Service is comprised of individuals who work for the government in various departments such as doctors, lawyers, clerks and messengers. Their main function is to implement government policies.

The Legislature

It is bi-cameral in nature, that is, it has two houses;

House of Lords and

The House of Lords has a total of 900 members who are appointed by the Monarch or inherit their positions.

They include the dukes, the princes, the barons and the head of the Church of England.

Their functions are to;

check on executive powers and debate on issues important to the nation.

They also act as a final court of appeal.

They as well Introduce bills to parliament. The House of Commons is the main arm of legislation or law-making body in Britain.

It has elected members representing constituencies. It also has the speaker who chairs parliamentary meetings or sessions.

On the other hand, the role of the House of Commons is to;

make and repeal laws,

advice the Prime Minister and direct governance policies.

They also act as a link between people and the government.

They also have a role to determine how the government will acquire money through revenue collection as well as determining how the government will spend the money.

In addition to those roles, they have powers to terminate the life of the government.

Activity 8.8

Group work

Explain the functions of legislature and the judiciary in Britain?

The Judiciary

This is the British legal system made up of courts.

The Judiciary is based on the supremacy of the rule of law.

Its court system is divided into two; the civil courts and the criminal courts.

The civil courts include the County Courts, the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice.

The criminal courts are the Magistrates courts, the Court of Quarter, the Sessions Courts of Assize and Courts of criminal Appeals.

There are also tribunals which are specialised courts dealing with road traffic, agriculture and rents.

The functions of Judiciary in Britain are:

  • Settling disputes between individuals and government.
  • Interpreting the constitution.
  • Protecting citizen rights and freedoms.
  • Punishing offenders through administration of justice.
United States of America (USA)

Introduction to the system of government of USA

USA is the most powerful nation in the world today.

Its origin dates back to 1776 when 13 states declared their independence from Britain. Today, the USA is made up of more than 50 independent states.

The constitution of USA provides for a federal system of government.

Electoral Process in USA

Elections in the USA are conducted by two main bodies;

The National Party Convention and

The Electoral College.

The National Party Convention is entitled to announce party candidates to the public for the presidency and declare party manifestos to the people.

The Electoral College has electors from each state with varying numbers. The candidate with the highest number of votes from the Electoral College is declared the winner.

The following are some of the stages of the USA electoral process:

Voter registration

This is a major requirement before elections are held. For one to be voter he or she must;

  • be 18 years and above.
  • be a citizen of the USA.

Campaigns

After nominations, election campaigns begin.

The election campaigns are controlled by the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Types of elections in USA

There are three levels of elections in the USA;

The presidential - The presidential elections are meant to elect a federal government. These elections are held every four years in the month of November and the US presidents serve a maximum of two-four year terms, a total of 8 years.

Congressional elections - These elections are conducted to elect members of the Congress. The Congress has the Senate and House of Representatives.

State elections. State Elections are elections conducted to elect state governors and members of state congresses.

Conditions for presidential candidates

For one to be elected US president,

he or she must be 35 years and above,

be a naturally born citizen of the US and must have been living in the USA for at least four years prior to elections.

Qualifications for election to the Senate and House Representatives are:

  • He or she must be 35 years and above.
  • He or she must be a citizen of USA and should be residing in the US for nine years before the nomination.
  • He or she must be a resident in the state in which he or she intends to be elected.

Activity 8.5

Group work

Q. Outline the functions of the US government’s Legislature and judiciary

The formation and the functions of the US government

The US government is made up of three arms; the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.

Legislature

Legislature is also called the Congress. It is bi-cameral, that is, the Upper House and the Lower House.

The roles of the Congress are:

  • To make and ammend laws of the country.
  • To control foreign and domestic trade
  • To act as a link between states and the federal government.
  • To control government revenue and expenditure.
  • To discuss and find solution to common problems in the federation.
  • To confirm senior government appointments made by the Head of State.

Functions of the House of Representatives are to:

  • Impose impeachment charges against government officials including the president.
  • Determine taxation and other financial policies.
  • Explore legal ways to remove president from power.
The Executive

The Executive is comprised of the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet and the Civil Service.

The President

He or she has the following functions:

  • Protect American citizens and people from other nations within USA.
  • He represents the voice of Americans at home and abroad.
  • Guides and controls foreign policies as approved by congress.
  • He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
  • Appoints government officials and civil servants which are approved by the senate.
  • Can offer pardon to any person convicted of breaking the law.
  • Issues rules, regulations and instructions to the US public.

President Donald Trump of the US Barrack Obama, the former US

president.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet is made of secretaries of state appointed by the president with the approval of Congress. They are also known as the Executive Heads of Departments.

The US Cabinet is entitled to:

  • Advice the president on issues touching on their departments.
  • Implementing government policies.
  • Come up with public policy.
The Judiciary
  • The Judiciary is an independent legal organ made up of the system of courts. These courts are;

Supreme court

Courts of Appeal

  • District court

State Courts

Special Federal Courts

Courts of Custom

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is headed by a Chief Justice and eight other judges.

The judges are appointed by the president with the approval from the Congress. The Supreme Court plays the role of:

  • Settling disputes which are legal between states.
  • Interpreting the law and the constitution.
  • Settling disputes between USA and foreign nations.
  • Hearing appeals with regard to sea or ships.
  • The Court of Appeal:
  • Hears appeals on decision in cases related to international trade.
  • Hears appeals on decisions made by lower courts.

The US State Courts are mandated to:

  • Have wide powers to hear most types of cases
  • Are ultimate authority on all State Laws
  • Hear most civil and criminal cases where the crimes are within the State boundaries
  • Settle family disputes at family courts and legal contract disputes
  • Where any issue is seen as also contravening Federal law or the Constitution, then State court decisions can be appealed at federal level

The Special Federal Courts have a duty of:

  • Hearing cases where the USA is sued for damages.
  • Listening to and determining appeals on US cases office ruling.
  • Hearing cases that specifically relate to federal rather than State level laes.
  • Hearing appeals from the court martials.
Differences in systems of government between South Sudan and those of the selected countries
  • South Sudan, Kenya and the USA are headed by the president while Britain is headed by the Prime Minister with the Monarch as a head of state.
  • South Sudan, Kenya and the USA have two levels of government while Britain has one level of government.
  • In South Sudan, Kenya and Britain the citizens vote directly to elect their leaders while in USA the Electoral College has a final say on the presidential results.
  • Britain is run by the constitutional monarchy while the rest have a presidential democratic system.
  • All have the Supreme courts as the highest court of the land except Britain
Similarities in the South Sudan system of government with that of Kenya, Britain and the USA

Activity 8.6

Assignment

Q. Find out from materials in your school library, magazine and newspapers the similarities in the South Sudan system of government with that of Kenya. Britain and USA.

  • All of them have a bi-cameral legislative system.
  • They all have multi-party provisions for democracy, which is the existence of many political parties.
  • They all have the three arms of government, that is, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
  • They all have an electoral body that takes charge of elections.
  • They all share the same principle of the public service.
  • In all cases the Executive implements government policies.
Grossary
  • Ally– A friend.
  • Intimidation– An act of scarring someone.
  • Transparency– To be clear over something.
  • Majority– Many people supporting an issue.
  • Bankrupt– The state having no money.
  • Code of conduct– The acceptable set guidelines on how to behave during a

particular exercise, for example elections.

  • Chief Justice– the senior most judge in a country.
  • Pardon– To forgive someone for a crime committed.
  • Convicted– To be found guilty by the court of law and jailed.
  • Prosecute– To charge someone in the court.
  • Monarchy– An institution of the queen or king.
  • Assent– To accept.
  • Globalisation– The process where people become integrated through

free trade, free transfer of capital and labour in the world.

  • Commonwealth– Refers to all countries that are former colonies of Britain
Última alteração: segunda-feira, 12 de janeiro de 2026 às 17:12