Civics and Community Engagement Lecture 1

Civics and
Community
Engagement
INSTRUCTOR
MISHAL NADEEM
Course objectives
The course will provide you with some of the tools and skills
needed to be an informed, responsible, and active citizen.
Identify the rights and responsibilities of students.
Understand the importance of civic engagement and community

participation
What are the responsibilities of a good
citizen?
What is Civics ?
Civics –the study of Citizen- a member of a

citizenship, community with
government and the government and laws
rights and duties of that has certain rights
citizens and responsibilities
What is Civics?
•a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens
Civics is the study of the theoretical and practical aspects of citizenship, its rights and duties;
and the duties of citizens to each other as members of a political body and the government.
Civics involves the study of
1) Government
2) Democratic decision making
3) what it means to be an active informed citizen
Definition
E.M. White in his book ‘The Foundation of Civics’ defines Civics as ‘that useful branch of human
knowledge which deals with everything relating to a citizen (e.g. his social, intellectual,
economic, political, and even religious relation), past, present and future, local national and
human’.
This definition emphasizes three meanings of civics. Firstly, civics is a branch of human
knowledge. Secondly, it is a study of life of the citizen in all its aspects, namely social,
intellectual, economic, political and religious. Thirdly, Civics deals with civic life of the past,
present and future and also of the local, national and international spheres of human life.
Thus, Civics studies organized and collective life of Man in all several phases and in all its past,
present and future stages of development.
Scope of Civics
Civics it is all-embracing in its scope and content.
1. Personal aspect of its scope
Civics involve the problems and affairs concerning a citizen, his habits, his activities, his interests,
his rights and duties.
It also means a "civic sense" which means an awareness of what a citizen ought or ought not to
do for the good of other citizens and for his nation and society
2. local aspect
The science of civics relates to local life of citizens or the local affairs of civic life. Every citizen
lives either in a village, a town or a city. He has a family there and has some economic occupation
or work and participates in many social activities. The locality also includes the district and the
region where the village has a panchayat as its local self-governing body; the town or the city has
a municipality or a corporation while the district has a district council as their local self-
governing bodies.
3. National and Political aspect of Civics
A citizen is a member of the State whose boundaries extend over the whole country or nation. Hence Civics includes
all aspects of national life. The scope of Civics includes a study of society, of its institutions, customs, associations,
and organizations. It also deals with the State, Government and with the laws and other public bodies such as
district administrations etc.
All the problems of national life and Government which relate to the citizen's well-being and happiness form an
important and integral part of Civics.They are such matters as education, public health, sanitation,
agriculture, industrialization etc.
4. The International aspect
Modern life goes beyond the boundaries of a State or nation. The citizens of one country come into contact with
those of the other.
Civics also studies international relations and organizations. It begins with the village and ends with the world, or to
be more concrete, that is, it begins with the village panchayat and ends with the UNO.
In other words, the citizen has become the world citizen, so Civics is a study of world citizenship.
What is and what is
not Civics?
Civics embraces much more than a study of the structure and
functions of Governmental institutions. It includes public-
mindedness, the creation of the right attitudes towards
public duties: the formation of helpful, constructive,
participating citizenship
Importance of Civics
1. The need for active, intelligent and good citizenship
Civics seek to train good citizens. The modern age is quite different from all other earlier ages.
Today we need not be only good men but also good citizens. We need intelligent, active, and
honest citizens.
A good citizen performs his duties, enjoys his rights, and defends his freedom.
2. The necessity of informed citizenship in modern democracy
A successful working of democracy is an urgent need of the modern age, which is possible only
based on the knowledge of civic duties. This requires informed and intelligent
citizens. For example, during elections, people are required to vote for their leader.Civics seek
to train the citizens for the administration and Government of their country by themselves.
Hence the importance of Civics lies in the fact that it prepares every citizen to take an active part
in the Government of his country.
3. Necessity for responsible Government
In present times no government can perform adequately and effectively without the active co-
operation and support of its citizens. The importance of Civics lies in the fact that it informs and
prepares every young citizen to take part in the Government of his country intelligently and actively.
4. Its importance for students
Every student will become an active citizen after he has completed his studies in his school or college.
However, he would not be a good and active citizen, if he has not acquired the knowledge of very
student before he enters upon the duties and responsibilities of his or her adult life.
5. Problems of a new country
Pakistan, as a new nation, had inherited many problems from its former rulers, the British, such as
illiteracy, poverty, disease, ignorance, social misery etc. Civics is primarily concerned with the solution
of these problems of his nation but also with solving them to the best of his knowledge and ability.

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Civics and

Identify the rights and responsibilities of students.

Understand the importance of civic engagement and community

Civics –the study of Citizen- a member of a

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