Law and Order and Constituted authority

RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

Authority is the use of power that is considered to be lawful and rightful. It is the tight to give orders and enforce obedience from people. It is the type of leadership established for smooth running of the functioning of the society.

Authority includes an organization with the power to make decision of have a particular area of responsibility in the society. Another type of authority is the official permission an individual or group has to do something.

These groups may be schools, clubs and associations and so on. Simply put, constituted authority can be defined as individuals, group of established constitution of government which the constitution of a society organizes and empowers to direct, manage and control activities.

Constituted authority include parent, guardians, teachers, principal, legislature, judiciary etc.

                                             ASSIGNMENT

1. Explain constituted authority
2. Outline four roles of constituted authority

LAW AND ORDER

RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

Authority is the use of power that is considered to be lawful and rightful. It is the tight to give orders and enforce obedience from people. It is the type of leadership established for smooth running of the functioning of the society.

Authority includes an organization with the power to make decision of have a particular area of responsibility in the society. Another type of authority is the official permission an individual or group has to do something.

These groups may be schools, clubs and associations and so on. Simply put, constituted authority can be defined as individuals, group of established constitution of government which the constitution of a society organizes and empowers to direct, manage and control activities.

Constituted authority include parent, guardians, teachers, principal, legislature, judiciary etc.

                                             ASSIGNMENT

1. Explain constituted authority
2. Outline four roles of constituted authority

Types of Constituted Authority

The following are some authority;

1. Traditional Authority:  this form of authority has its capacity from traditions, customs and beliefs. It protects the customs and traditions.

These set of rulers is usually are headed by a king or a queen.

Britain and Saudi Arabia are examples of modern states with traditional constituted authority while Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani pre – colonial political system were also traditional in nature.

However there are two types of monarchical traditional authority namely absolute and constitutional monarchy.

• Absolute Monarchy: these exercise absolute monarchy in the state he is the law and sovereign power. Saudi Arabia is an example of absolute monarchy.

Constitutional monarchy: it is the converse of absolute monarchy whose power are provided for and limited by constitutional provisions. In essence the power of such monarch is regulated by constitution. Britain is a country with constitutional monarchy.

Functions of traditional constituted authority

1. Educating people about government policies:  traditional rulers help government to educate their people on the need to cooperate with government in carrying out specific programs.
2. Protecting local traditions and customs: they ensure traditional festivals, beliefs are well preserved jealously as custodians of the same.
3. Maintenance of law and order:  they enjoin their subjects to be law abiding and organize youths into vigilante groups to ensure adequate security in the night.
4. Intermediary between government and people: they encourage people to be committed to the success of government policies and present their people’s needs to government’s regulatory.
5. Religious constituted Authority: this spiritual lords leads religious groups and organization. They include pastors, imams and shrine priests. They are either elected or nominated.
6. They attend to spiritual needs of their members
7. They help to educate members about government policies.
8. Maintenance of peace and order.
9. They act as intermediary between God and man.

Government constituted Authority

This are leaders that are constitutionally vested with power. Some of them are elected e.g. The president, governor, senator, local govt. chairman and councilors.

Functions of Government constituted Authority

1. Maintenance of law and order.
2. Provision of basic amenities for the populace.
3. Protection of citizen rights.
4. Protection of the constitution
5. Promotion of national unity.

Organizational constituted Authority

1. These leaders run private business organizations, Non – governmental organizations (NGO), political parties, pressure groups etc.

Functions of Organizational constituted Authority

1. They help make decisions and policies for their organizations.
2. They implement and execute policies on behalf of their organization.
3. They protect the interest of members.

Importance of constituted Authority

1. They helps in giving direction for smooth and peaceful running of an organization and institutions of government in general.
2. They help to provide employment to its teeming citizens’ thereby increasing standard of living and consequently reduce crime rate in the society.
3. Constitutional authority at all levels helps ensure the enthronement of orderliness in the society by making sure that standard rules and regulations are followed or adhered to.
4. Some constituted authorities like our parents, guardians act as agents of socialization and custodians of culture. Particularly they instill right values, norms and culture of the society into younger upcoming generations.
5. People in power or position of authority ensure that adequate security is provided for lives and properties. These are provided for by placing necessary mechanism as well as security agencies.
6. Constituted authorities makes people to have a purpose of living. Otherwise the absence of constitutional authority at any level would have led to anarchy or state of lawlessness

                                            ASSIGNMENT

1. State and discuss the various types of constituted authority with at least two roles each performed
2. Discuss two obligations of the people to the constituted authority