RI Government and Governance Worksheet 2021

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 1 Name: ____________________ ( ) Class: __________ Date: __________ Raffles Institution Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2: Government and Governance Part 1: Why Governments Exist A GOVERNMENT consists of the institutions responsible for making collective and binding decisions for society. It has coercive and authoritative powers: i.e. it has the power to enforce its decisions and is recognised as having the right to do so. Read Issues in Comparative Politics (pg. 9-14). 1. Summarise the reasons for and against government presented in the reading. How governments can bring benefit How governments can cause harm

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 2 Read pg. 69-80 of your SS Textbook. 2. The Singapore government meets the needs of its citizens by addressing specific areas of concern. Which of the concerns highlighted in this section is the most important to you? Explain your answer. Read Heed History’s Ghosts of City States. 3. What is a social contract? Explain the concept using what you have learnt in Philosophy earlier this semester. 4. How has the social contract between the Singapore government and its citizens changed? What are the reasons for this change? 5. What do you think are the implications of a changing social contract in Singapore?

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 3 Read I went through a luxury-hotel quarantine in Singapore to beat the coronavirus — and it works. But Americans just wouldn't find it acceptable. 6. How is Singapore’s social contract different from countries in the West like the USA? 7. Under Singapore’s social contract, what are some actions by the government considered acceptable to its people but unacceptable to the people in the West? Read pg. 29-34 and 39-43 of your SS Textbook. 8. What are trade-offs? Why are they unavoidable in government policymaking? Read The Big Read: E-scooter footpath ban – lessons from the PMD saga and where to go from here. 9. Summarise the perspectives of the various parties involved in the recent issue having e-scooters on footpaths. Relevant Parties For/against ban Reasons for stance E-scooter riders

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 4 Pedestrians (walking on footpaths) Describe the final decision made by the government, explain why it made that decision, and identify the trade-offs involved (i.e. what each party had to give up). Govt.’s decision Rationale for decision Trade-offs involved Read In pushing for climate policy, Louis Ng recognises need for trade-offs and to cushion impact on businesses and The Big Read: As clamour grows for preservation in land-scarce Singapore, something’s got to give. 10. What are likely trade-offs that have to be made in Singapore’s move to become greener? 11. How can compromises be reached such that the above trade-offs do not severely affect any particular group’s interests?

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 5 Part 2: How Governments Work Read pg. 44-56 of your SS Textbook. 12. In the space below, use a concept map to describe the functions of and illustrate the relationship between the three branches of the Singapore government (organs of state). 13. Explain how the three branches of the Singapore government are involved in making any political decision for the country. You may use the previous case study of the PMD footpath ban as an example.

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 6 Read What is Good Governance? And pg. 57-65 of your SS Textbook. 14. What is governance, and why is good governance important? 15. What are the ideas shaping governance in Singapore? Using examples, explain how the Singapore government has applied such ideas or principles. Ideas shaping governance How the principle is applied through specific policies

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 7 Part 3: Democratic Government DEMOCRACY comes from the Greek words “demos” (people) and “krates” (rule). Read Democracy. 16. In your own words, explain what makes a country a democracy. Read Politics and Government (pg. 6-9) and Governments, Systems and Regimes (pg. 32-34). 17. Complete the following table by explaining why each feature is important for a democracy and giving specific examples to illustrate them. Feature Importance Examples Free and fair elections Political opposition Limits on government power

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 8 Protected civil and political rights Independent media Civil society 18. Which of the features listed above do you think is the most essential for a democracy to exist? Explain your answer. 19. How can democracy help ensure that a country is governed well?

2021 Year 3 Social Studies Unit 2 Worksheet RI/SS/2021/GYF Page 9 Read pg. 82-97 of your SS Textbook. 20. How can citizens contribute to the political decision-making process and meeting the needs of society? Read The Lee Kuan Yew Conundrum and China doesn't respect America anymore – for good reason. 21. What are some problems that democracy can lead to? 22. In your opinion, how can the problems of democracy be mitigated or avoided? 23. On a separate sheet of paper, use a graphic organiser to consolidate what you have learnt in this unit.