Arms of Governments – Basic 4 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

What are Arms of Government?

The three main parts of government that work together to run a country. Each arm has different work to do, like parts of your body!

The Three Arms

1. LEGISLATIVE ARM 📜

Nickname: The Law Makers

Who They Are:

• Senate
• House of Representatives
• State House of Assembly

What They Do:

• Make new laws
• Change old laws
• Approve budget
• Represent the people

Simple Example: Like your school’s rule-making committee

2. EXECUTIVE ARM 💼

Nickname: The Law Implementers

Who They Are:

• President
• Governors
• Ministers
• Police

What They Do:

• Carry out the laws
• Run daily government
• Provide services
• Keep peace

Simple Example: Like your principal running the school

3. JUDICIARY ARM ⚖️

Nickname: The Law Interpreters

Who They Are:

• Judges
• Courts
• Magistrates

What They Do:

• Explain laws
• Settle disputes
• Punish lawbreakers
• Protect rights

Simple Example: Like teachers settling class disputes

How They Work Together

Legislative → Makes laws

    ↓

Executive → Carries out laws

    ↓

Judiciary → Judges those who break laws

Easy Way to Remember

• Legislative = Law makers
• Executive = Enforces laws
• Judiciary = Judges cases

In Your School

• Legislative: Student council makes rules
• Executive: Principal enforces rules
• Judiciary: Disciplinary committee judges cases

Why Three Arms?

• No one gets too powerful
• They check each other
• Better decisions
• Protects citizens

Remember!

The three arms are like a three-legged stool – remove one leg and everything falls!

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

1. There are _______ arms of government.
2. The _______ arm makes laws.
3. The _______ arm carries out laws.
4. The _______ arm judges cases.
5. The President belongs to the _______ arm.

B. True or False:

1. Legislative arm enforces laws. _______
2. Judges work in the Judiciary. _______
3. Executive arm makes laws. _______
4. There are four arms of government. _______
5. The arms work together. _______

C. Match arm to function:

D. Circle the correct arm:

Who makes laws?

• Executive
• Legislative
• Judiciary

Who arrests criminals?

• Executive
• Legislative
• Judiciary

Who settles disputes?

• Executive
• Legislative
• Judiciary

E. Who belongs where?

Write L (Legislative), E (Executive), or J (Judiciary):

• Judge _____
• President _____
• Senator _____
• Police _____
• Governor _____

F. Answer:

1. Name the three arms of government.
2. What does the Legislative arm do?
3. Which arm does the Governor belong to?

G. Complete:

• Legislative = Makes _______
• Executive = _______ laws
• Judiciary = _______ cases