social studies notes and lecture slides
individual, family and society
This section is made up of the individual, the family and society, which comprises of the institutions. The social institutions include: family, government, education, religion, legal and economic systems and the health care system.
Check out the following useful links for the Individual, Family & Society:
Check out the following useful links for the Individual, Family & Society:
- CXC Guide: http://www.caribexams.org/node/1669
- The electoral process: http://www.caribexams.org/node/1670
family
SOCIAL ISSUES
Below is a presentation of contemporary social issues that affect Caribbean Family Life:
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
In order to understand culture in T&T, it is important to grasp the history of our society and our origins:
groups & leadership
institutions
GOVERNMENT
A government is a group of people who are in charge of the affairs of the country. They are given the responsibility to govern the country. There are 3 arms or branches of Government:
1. Executive or Cabinet
2. Legislative or Parliament
3. Judiciary or Courts
The stages of a Bill: Within each House there are steps, or stages through which a bill must pass. These are: first reading, second reading, committee of the whole, report from committee of the whole, third reading.
1. The Bill is discussed in the Lower House, After the steps above, it is then passed on to the Upper House
2. The Bill is passed in the Upper House. If there are any changes, it is sent back to the Lower House to be approved of once more.
3. The Bill then goes to the President to be assented (agreed) or dissented (disagreed).
4. Once the President assents the Bill, it FINALLY becomes a Law.
1. Executive or Cabinet
2. Legislative or Parliament
3. Judiciary or Courts
- Executive or Cabinet is comprised of the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Ministers of the countries. Each of these Ministers has a portfolio of which he or she is responsible. For example, the Minister of Education is in charge of the affairs of the country regarding education, whereas the Ministry of Tourism is responsible for managing all issues
related to tourism. - Legislative or Parliament is the law-making body in the country. This arm of government is comprised of the Bi-cameral system or two houses of Parliament. The two houses of Parliament are: 1) the Upper House or Senate and 2) the Lower House or House of Representatives.
The stages of a Bill: Within each House there are steps, or stages through which a bill must pass. These are: first reading, second reading, committee of the whole, report from committee of the whole, third reading.
1. The Bill is discussed in the Lower House, After the steps above, it is then passed on to the Upper House
2. The Bill is passed in the Upper House. If there are any changes, it is sent back to the Lower House to be approved of once more.
3. The Bill then goes to the President to be assented (agreed) or dissented (disagreed).
4. Once the President assents the Bill, it FINALLY becomes a Law.
- Judiciary or Courts is the branch of Government responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. The Chief Justice is in charge of the Judiciary. There are many courts in the land including:
o Magistrate’s Court – is the lowest court of the land. They deal with first offences or summary criminal matters. They also facilitate Preliminary Cases in serious offences such as indictable offences (cases that warrant a trial by the jury).
o High Court – is the next level of courts in Trinidad & Tobago. This court is responsible for indictable criminal matters, family matters, and civil matters. This court has a jury of your peers (fellowmen) who would decide the fate of the defendant after hearing both sides of the case with the evidence presented to them.
o Court of Appeal or Supreme Court – if a person does not agree with the ruling made by the jurors then they could go to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court where a Tribunal of Judges will review the case and make a judgement.
o Privy Council – was the highest court of the British Caribbean used as the final court of the appeal. It used to be in England because it was felt that a foreign body would be more impartial and fair.
o Caribbean Court of Justice – is now the highest court of many Caribbean countries. If someone is unhappy with one of the rulings made, they can go to the CCJ for a final appeal. They serve the same purpose of the Privy Council but they are based in the Caribbean.
o Family Court – matters pertaining to family issues are dealt with here including divorce, child maintenance and custody of children.