Grade 6 Social Studies: Government and Political Systems
Free Grade 6 Social Studies unit on Government and Political Systems: 10 lessons in order. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
Purposes of government
Define government, state, sovereignty, public order and public services, explain the main purposes of government (keeping order and safety, making and enforcing laws, providing services, protecting rights, managing the economy, representing the country abroad), explain why people accept government (legitimacy, consent, benefits), explain that governments differ in how they work but share similar purposes, and discuss what happens when government functions weaken, without partisan comment.
Lesson 2Forms of government
Define monarchy, republic, democracy, direct and representative democracy, constitutional monarchy, authoritarian and federal and unitary, explain how forms of government are described by who holds power and how it is chosen and limited, describe historical and present examples neutrally (ancient Athens, constitutional monarchies, republics, federal and unitary states), and explain that real governments often combine features.
Lesson 3Constitutions and laws
Define constitution, statute, customary law, common law, bill of rights and amendment, explain what constitutions do (set up institutions, divide powers, protect rights, set rules for change), describe sources of law in Sierra Leone (the 1991 Constitution, Acts of Parliament, common law and customary law), explain why laws must be public, fair and equally applied, and explain how constitutions can be amended.
Lesson 4Separation of powers introduction
Define separation of powers, legislature, executive, judiciary, checks and balances and abuse of power, explain why dividing government power helps prevent abuse (Montesquieu, 1748), describe the three branches and examples of checks (veto, judicial review, oversight, impeachment), compare how separation is arranged differently in different countries, and use a fictional case to apply the idea.
Lesson 5Legislatures
Define legislature, parliament, bill, committee, unicameral and bicameral, explain the functions of legislatures (making laws, representing citizens, scrutinising the executive, approving budgets), describe how a bill becomes law in simple steps (proposal, readings, committee, vote, assent), describe Sierra Leone’s unicameral Parliament, and explain how citizens can engage with legislatures.
Lesson 6Executives
Define executive, head of state, head of government, cabinet, civil service and policy, explain what executives do (carry out laws, propose policy, manage public services, run foreign relations, respond to emergencies), compare presidential and parliamentary executives neutrally, describe the role of the civil service as permanent and politically neutral, and explain how executives are limited (constitution, legislature, courts, term limits, media).
Lesson 7Courts and justice systems
Define court, judge, jurisdiction, appeal, due process, presumption of innocence and independence of the judiciary, explain what courts do (settle disputes, apply laws, protect rights), describe Sierra Leone’s court levels in simple terms (magistrate and local courts, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court), explain fair-trial principles, and explain why judges need independence, using a fictional case.
Lesson 8Elections and representation
Define election, constituency, ballot, secret ballot, turnout, majority, plurality, proportional representation, representative and electoral commission, explain why free and fair elections matter, compare first-past-the-post and proportional systems neutrally with a made-up example, describe qualities of a free and fair election, and explain how electoral commissions and observers support trust.
Lesson 9Accountability and rule of law
Define accountability, transparency, rule of law, corruption, oversight, ombudsman, freedom of information and civil society, explain why those who hold power must explain and answer for their actions, describe tools of accountability (elections, legislatures, courts, audits, free press, civil society), explain why the rule of law means everyone is subject to law, including officials, and discuss corruption and anti-corruption in neutral, general terms with a fictional case.
Lesson 10Comparing government systems
Use a set of comparison criteria (who holds power, how leaders are chosen, how power is limited, how rights are protected, how citizens take part, how power is shared across levels) to compare two or three made-up systems and then two approved real systems neutrally using approved sources, distinguish description from judgment, practise writing balanced comparisons with evidence, and reflect on the idea that no system is perfect and each faces challenges.