FA Civics (Elective) Syllabus

Civics (Elective) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Civics (Elective) in FA, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction to Civics

   3 topics

   • Meaning and scope of Civics
   • Individual and society
   • Citizen and citizenship
2. 2

   Society, Community and Association

   2 topics

   • Concepts and differences
   • Functions of social institutions
3. 3

   State and Government

   3 topics

   • Elements of the state
   • State vs government
   • Origin and theories of the state
4. 4

   Forms of Government

   3 topics

   • Democracy and dictatorship
   • Unitary and federal systems
   • Parliamentary and presidential systems
5. 5

   Law, Liberty and Rights

   3 topics

   • Concept of law
   • Liberty and equality
   • Fundamental rights and duties
6. 6

   Public Opinion and Political Parties

   3 topics

   • Public opinion and its formation
   • Role of political parties
   • Pressure groups

Civics (Elective) flashcards for FA

20 of 51 cards from the Civics (Elective) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the literal/etymological meaning of the word 'Civics', and from which words is it derived?

   The word 'Civics' is derived from the Latin words 'Civis' (meaning citizen) and 'Civitas' (meaning city-state). It is the study of the rights and duties of citizens.

2. Define Civics as an academic subject.

   Civics is the branch of social/political science that studies citizens, their rights and duties, their relationship with the state and its institutions, and the principles of good citizenship and government.

3. What is the scope of Civics (what main areas does it cover)?

   Its scope covers the citizen and citizenship, rights and duties, social institutions (family, society, state), the structure and functions of government, law, and the relationship between the individual and the state.

4. How is Civics related to and different from Political Science?

   Both study the state and government, but Political Science deals broadly with the state, sovereignty and theories of government, while Civics focuses specifically on the citizen, citizenship, rights, duties, and civic life.

5. What did Aristotle mean by calling man a 'social/political animal' (Zoon Politikon)?

   Aristotle meant that man cannot live in isolation; by nature he lives in society and the state, and his personality and needs can be fulfilled only through social and political life.

6. What is meant by 'society', and what is the basic relationship between the individual and society?

   Society is an organized group of people bound by common interests, relationships and a shared way of life. The individual and society are interdependent: the individual develops within society, and society is formed by individuals.

7. Who is a 'citizen' in the civic/legal sense?

   A citizen is a person who is a permanent member of a state, owes allegiance to it, and in return enjoys full civil and political rights (such as voting and holding office).

8. Define 'citizenship'.

   Citizenship is the legal status or relationship of being a member of a state, carrying with it a set of rights, duties and privileges that bind the citizen and the state together.

9. What are the two main methods of acquiring citizenship?

   (1) Citizenship by birth (by blood/descent 'jus sanguinis' or by place of birth 'jus soli'), and (2) Citizenship by naturalization (acquired later through legal process, e.g., long residence or marriage).

10. What is the difference between a citizen and an alien?

    A citizen is a permanent member of the state enjoying full civil and political rights, whereas an alien is a foreigner residing in the state who enjoys only civil (not political) rights and cannot vote or hold public office.

11. What is the difference between 'nation' and 'state'?

    A nation is a body of people united by common race, language, history, culture and a feeling of unity; a state is a politically organized people occupying a definite territory under a sovereign government. A nation can exist without a state, but a state always has a population.

12. What is the difference between 'nationality' and 'citizenship'?

    Nationality is membership of a nation based on shared origin, culture and feeling of oneness; citizenship is the legal-political membership of a state carrying defined rights and duties.

13. What is a 'social institution'?

    A social institution is an established pattern of organized relationships and rules that fulfils basic and recurring needs of society, such as the family, school, religion, economy and the state.

14. What are the main functions of the family as a social institution?

    The family provides reproduction and continuity of society, care and upbringing of children, primary education and socialization, economic support, and emotional security and moral training.

15. What are the main functions of education/school as a social institution?

    It transmits knowledge, skills and culture to the next generation, socializes individuals, develops personality and citizenship, and prepares people for economic and social roles.

16. What are the main functions of religion as a social institution?

    Religion provides moral and spiritual guidance, promotes social control and ethical conduct, gives meaning and identity, and fosters social solidarity and unity among people.

17. What is the central function of the state as the highest social/political institution?

    The state maintains law and order, provides security and justice, protects rights, regulates other institutions, and promotes the general welfare of its citizens.

18. Define the 'state' (political-science definition).

    The state is a community of people occupying a definite territory, organized politically under a government, and possessing sovereignty (supreme authority over its people and free from external control).

19. What are the four essential elements of the state?

    (1) Population, (2) Territory, (3) Government, and (4) Sovereignty.

20. What is meant by 'population' as an element of the state, and is there a fixed number required?

    Population means the body of people who permanently inhabit the state. There is no fixed ideal number; a state simply needs enough people to sustain its political and economic life.

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