ADDIS ABABA MEDICAL & BUSINESS

COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF
ACOUNTING AND FINANCE &
BUSINESS

MANAGEMENT

COURSE TITTLE: - MORAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION

COURSE CODE: - (MCED 1011)
GROUP NAME
1. JALETO SUNKEMO
2. HANA ABERA
3. HANA MULATU
4. MAHLET BELETE

Moral And Civic Education (MCED 1011) group Assignment Page 1

 5. FIKRTE ABERA
6. FERUZA ISMAEL
7. ZARAWORK GANAME
8. HERAN ABERA
9. SEGNE KEBETO
10. SHEGU ROBA
11. MABRAT THOMAS
12. MINTSNOT ESUBALW

Table of contents

1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
2. Objective.............................................................................................................................................4
3. Body of term paper..............................................................................................................................5
3.1. Discuss the evolution and development of Human Rights and Democracy?...................................5
3.2. Explain and justify the central values and principles of democracy?...............................................6
3.3. Pinpoint the classifications and categories of Human Rights?.........................................................8
3.4. Define each and differentiate constitution from constitutionalism?...............................................10
3.5. Identify the classifications of constitution?....................................................................................11
4. Summary...........................................................................................................................................12
5. References.........................................................................................................................................13

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 1. Introduction
The peoples always talk about democracy, right, and constitution. Moral and civics education
based on the seeks of promote in students core moral, democratic and education values morality
and ethics. The constitution is the document that contains the basic and fundamental law of
the nation, setting out the organization of the government and the principles of the
society. The questions have five instructions and that is found in the end of chapter two.

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 2. Objective
 The main objective of assignment is :-
 To understand the evolution and development of human and democratic rights
 analyze ideas and concepts of principles democracy
 discuss values of democracy
 Conceptualize constitution, constitutionalism
 Identify the Classification of constitution

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 3. Body of term paper

3.1. Discuss the evolution and development of Human Rights and Democracy?
 The evolution of human right: - “Human rights” are rights inherent to all human beings,
regardless of our nationality, residence, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national
or ethnic origin, color, religion, language or any other status. We are all equally entitled to
our human rights without discrimination.
 Human rights experts agree that human rights concepts such as dignity and peaceful co-
existence can be traced far back in time. According to experts, more recent, and international,
human rights are at least a couple of centuries old.
 The earliest of the modern human rights arise during the Enlightenment. One of the first and
most significant records is the United States Declaration of Independence, which was signed
in 1776, and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted in 1789.
 This is the modern concept of our fundamental rights but it was not always this way. 
 The belief that everyone, by virtue of her or his humanity, is entitled to certain human rights
is fairly new and is something stemming from an evolution of the consideration of human
dignity over the last centuries. Its roots lie in earlier tradition and documents of many
cultures.
 The origins of Human Rights are ideally pinpointed to the year 539 BC. When the troops of
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. Cyrus freed the slaves, declared that all people had the
right to choose their own religion, and established racial equality. These and other principles
were recorded on a baked-clay cylinder known as the Cyrus Cylinder, whose provisions
served as inspiration for the first four Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 The right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person
and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural
and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully
realized.
 Evolution of democracy: - Democracy is an international activity that involves an increasing
number of institutions—indeed a growing number of different types of institution, some of them
more specialized than others. On one side or the other they engage the majority of the world’s
countries in what in historical terms is a relatively new activity. Here the story parts company
with what is known about the larger business of international development cooperation, or what
is sometimes called development assistance or foreign aid—something that has evolved over
many more years. Development assistance has lengthy experience of trying to assess the
performance of development aid interventions. For a long time development economists have
tussled with complex and at times seemingly insurmountable issues concerning how to evaluate
the performance of aid.
 One further and rather special reason for evaluating democracy support is to use it as an exercise
in exemplifying and transferring democratic values, or the principles that democracy purports to
stand for and represent. The act of evaluation itself becomes an exercise in democracy support, in

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 addition to whatever purpose it might have for improving the support activities that are under
evaluation

3.2. Explain and justify the central values and principles of democracy?
 Values of democracy
 These words represent basic values of democratic political systems, including that of
the United States. Rule by absolute monarchs and emperors has often brought peace
and order, but at the cost of personal freedoms. Democratic values support the belief
that an orderly society can exist in which freedom is preserved. But order and
freedom must be balanced.
 the fundamental values of democracy are:-
1. Liberty:- is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by
prescription or by grant 
 The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions
imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.
  Protects us from having our freedom arbitrarily taken away. This
right is particularly important for people held in immigration
detention or in the criminal justice system or detained under mental
health laws.
2. Justice:- is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the
interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving"
 It can be understood in the three general sense of fairness.
These are distributive justice (the sense of distributing benefit
and burdens in society via agreed up on standard of fairness),
corrective justice (the sense that proportional response should
be in place to correct wrong and injuries) and procedural
justice (the idea that procedure used for gathering information
and making decisions should be guided by such principles as
importantly and openness of proceedings.
3. Equality Democratic societies emphasize the principle that all people are
equal. Equality means that all individuals are valued equally, have equal
opportunities, and may not be discriminated against because of their race,
religion, ethnic group, gender or sexual orientation. In a democracy,
individuals and groups still maintain their right to have different cultures,
personalities, languages and beliefs.
 Principles of democracy are:-
 Citizen Participation One of the most basic signposts of a democracy is citizen
participation in government. Participation is the key role of citizens in democracy. It
is not only their right, but it is their duty. Citizen participation may take many forms
including standing for election, voting in elections, becoming informed, debating
issues, attending community or civic meetings, being members of private voluntary
organizations, paying taxes, and even protesting. Participation builds a better
democracy.
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  Politically tolerant This means that while the majority of the people rule in a
democracy, the rights of the minority must be protected. People who are not in power
must be allowed to organize and speak out. Minorities are sometimes referred to as
the opposition because they may have ideas which are different from the majority.
Individual citizens must also learn to be tolerant of each other. A democratic society
is often composed of people from different cultures, racial, religious and ethnic
groups who have viewpoints different from the majority of the population. A
democratic society is enriched by diversity. If the majority deny rights to and destroy
their opposition, then they also destroy democracy. One goal of democracy is to
make the best possible decision for the society.
 Accountability In a democracy, elected and appointed officials have to be
accountable to the people. They are responsible for their actions. Officials must make
decisions and perform their duties according to the will and wishes of the people, not
for themselves.
 Transparency for government to be accountable the people must be aware of what
is happening in the country. This is referred to as transparency in government. A
transparent government holds public meetings and allows citizens to attend. In a
democracy, the press and the people are able to get information about what decisions
are being made, by whom and why.
 Regular, Free and Fair Elections One way citizens of the country express their
will is by electing officials to represent them in government. Democracy insists that
these elected officials are chosen and peacefully removed from office in a free and
fair manner. Intimidation, corruption and threats to citizens during or before an
election are against the principles of democracy. In a democracy, elections are held
regularly every so many years. Participation in elections should not be based on a
citizen's wealth. For free and fair elections to occur, most adult citizens should have
the right to stand for government office. Additionally, obstacles should not exist
which make it difficult for people to vote.
 Economic Freedom People in a democracy must have some form of economic
freedom. This means that the government allows some private ownership of property
and businesses, and that the people are allowed to choose their own work and labor
unions. The role the government should play in the economy is open to debate, but it
is generally accepted that free markets should exist in a democracy and the state
should not totally control the economy. Some argue that the state should play a
stronger role in countries where great inequality of wealth exists due to past
discrimination or other unfair practices.
 Control of the Abuse of Power Democratic societies try to prevent any elected
official or group of people from misusing or abusing their power. One of the most
common abuses of power is corruption. Corruption occurs when government officials
use public funds for their own benefit or exercise power in an illegal manner. Various
methods have been used in different countries to protect against these abuses.
Frequently the government is structured to limit the powers of the branches of
government: to have independent courts and agencies with power to act against any
illegal action by an elected official or branch of government; to allow for citizen
participation and elections; and to check for police abuse of power.

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  Bill of Rights Many democratic countries also choose to have a bill of rights to
protect people against abuse of power. A bill of rights is a list of rights and freedoms
guaranteed to all people in the country. When a bill of rights becomes part of a
country's constitution, the courts have the power to enforce these rights. A bill of
rights limits the power of government and may also impose duties on individuals and
organizations.
 Accepting the Results of Elections In democratic elections, there are winners
and losers. Often the losers in an election believe so strongly that their party or
candidate is the best one that they refuse to accept the results of the election. This is
against democratic principles. The consequences of not accepting the result of an
election may be a government that is ineffective and cannot make decisions. It may
even result in violence which is also against democracy.
 Human Rights All democracies strive to respect and protect the human rights of
citizens. Human rights mean those values that reflect respect for human life and
human dignity. Democracy emphasizes the value of every human being. Examples of
human rights include freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of
assembly, the right to equality and the right to education.
 Multi-Party System In order to have a multi-party system, more than one political
party must participate in elections and play a role in government. A multi-party
system allows for opposition to the party, which wins the election. This helps provide
the government with different viewpoints on issues. Additionally, a multiparty
system provides voters with a choice of candidates, parties and policies to vote for.
Historically, when a country only has one party, the result has been a dictatorship.

3.3. Pinpoint the classifications and categories of Human Rights?

 What are human Rights?
 Human rights are freedoms established by custom or international agreement that impose
standards of conduct on all nations. Human rights are distinct from civil liberties, which are
freedoms established by the law of a particular state and applied by that state in its own
jurisdiction. Human rights are basic to humanity
 Human rights are commonly understood as "inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is
inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being."  Human rights are thus conceived
as universal (applicable everywhere) and egalitarian (the same for everyone). These rights may
exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national and international law.
 Human rights include the right to personal liberty and Due Process of Law; to freedom of
thought, expression, religion, organization, and movement; to freedom from discrimination
on the basis of race, religion, age, language, and sex; to basic education; to employment; and
to property. Human rights laws have been defined by international conventions, by treaties,
and by organizations, particularly the United Nations. These laws prohibit practices such as
torture, Slavery, summary execution without trial, and arbitrary detention or exile.
Ten failed to provide civil and political rights.
 Classification human rights
 Natural Right: Such rights include intellectual rights, rights of the mind and also
rights of acting as an individual for his own comfort and happiness, provided they are
not injurious to natural rights of others.

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  Moral Rights: these rights are based on the general principle of fairness and justice.
These are simply aspirations and ideals of the peoples who claims for it. Sometimes,
people justify these rights on the ground of the role they perform or the position they
occupy in society
 Fundamental Right: There are certain rights which are more important and basic
than the others. For example, right to life is the most basic of all rights upon which the
enjoyment of other rights depends
 Legal Rights: Legal Rights are otherwise known as positive rights. These rights are
laid down in law. They also guaranteed and protected by the law of the state. Thus legal
rights are uniform and open to all irrespective of the caste, color, race or culture.
 Civil and Political Rights: Rights that are granted by government or civil society are
called Civil and Political Rights. These rights provide the bases for the fulfillment of
elementary conditions of the social life without them, civilized life is not possible and
they are, therefore, considered very essential for the progressive life of man. Civil and
political rights, however, include the right to freedom of speech, of assembly, the right
to move freely, to hold property and practice trade or profession and the right to take
part in the government of one's country
 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: These are entitlements of the individual
vis-a-vis the state, in order to eradicate social inequality, economic imbalances and to
limit disadvantages caused by nature, age and so-on. These rights, however, are
bestowed by the state. The state is not bound to meet these entitlements all at once. It
depends upon the economic resources of the society. Most of the Socialist States
recognize these rights as fundamental rights of the people. Right to equality, right to
work, right to have family, right to privacy, right to information, right to public
assistance during old age and sickness, right to health care, right to special care during
childhood and during motherhood are some of the examples of these ri

 Categories of Human Rights

 Civil and Political Rights: Rights that are granted by government or civil society are
called Civil and Political Rights. These rights provide the bases for the fulfillment of
elementary conditions of the social life without them, civilized life is not possible and
they are, therefore, considered very essential for the progressive life of man. Civil and
political rights, however, include the right to freedom of speech, of assembly, the right
to move freely, to hold property and practice trade or profession and the right to take
part in the government of one's country
 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: These are entitlements of the individual
vis-a-vis the state, in order to eradicate social inequality, economic imbalances and to
limit disadvantages caused by nature, age and so-on. These rights, however, are
bestowed by the state

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 3.4. Define each and differentiate constitution from constitutionalism?
 What is Constitution?
The definition of constitution is quite complex and has significantly evolved during
the last two centuries. According to the Western conception, constitution is the
document that contains the basic and fundamental law of the nation, setting out the
organization of the government and the principles of the society. Yet, although many
countries have a written constitution, we continue to see the phenomenon of “living
constitution” in many parts of the world. As society change, so do laws and
regulations. Furthermore, in some cases there is no single document that defines all
aspects of the state, but rather several different documents and agreements that define
the power of the government and provide a comprehensive – although not unitary –
legal framework. Constitution has also been defined as:
 Basic norm (or law) of the state;
 System of integration and organization of norms and laws; and
 Organization of the government.
The constitution provides the foundation of the government, structuring the
political organization and guaranteeing individual and collective rights and
freedoms.
 What is Constitutionalism?
Constitutionalism is a system of governance in which the power of the government is
limited by laws, checks and balances, in order to reconcile authority with individual and
collective freedoms. The principle of constitutionalism must be understood in opposition
to non-constitutionalism – a system in which the government uses its powers in an
arbitrary fashion, without respecting the citizens’ rights.
The idea of constitutionalism (and of constitution) is strictly linked with the progress and spread
of democracies. In monarchic, totalitarian and dictatorial systems there is generally no
constitution or, if it exists it is not respected. Individual and collective rights are often disregarded
in dictatorial regimes, and the government cannot be held accountable as there is no legal
document that defines its limits. The concept of constitutionalism has evolved during the last few
centuries thanks to political changes and progress of democratic ideals.
 The main difference between constitution and constitutionalism lies in the fact that
the constitution is generally a written document, created by the government (often
with the participation of the civil society), while constitutionalism is a principle and a
system of governance that respects the rule of law and limits the power of the
government.
 Most modern constitutions were written years ago, but laws and norms had already
been evolving and mutating for centuries, and continue to do so. The constitution
(and laws in general) is a living entity that should adapt to the changing features of
the modern world and of modern societies. Failing to adapt the constitution – without

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 losing its core principles and values – may lead to an obsolete and unadapt
governance system.
 Other differences between the two concepts include:
 Constitutionalism is based on the principles outlined in the constitution – or in
other core legal documents – but it is also a principle of its own. The idea of
constitutionalism is opposed to the concept of authoritarian and despotic rule and is based
on the belief that the power of the government should be limited in order to prevent
abuses and excesses;

3.5. Identify the classifications of constitution?

 Classification of Constitution.

Constitutions are widely classified into two categories

Written and Unwritten constitution

A written constitution is one in which the fundamental principles concerning state administration are
embodied and which has, as a specific document, been passed by a specific body So a written
constitution can be produced and shown as a single document. The US constitution, Indian
Constitution, Bangladesh Constitution provides examples of written Constitution. On The other hand,
where the constitution has not been passed formally as a specific document by a specific body and the
fundamental principles concerning state administration exist in political customs, Judicial decisions
and in some scattered documents, the constitution is an unwritten one. The British Constitution
provides the glaring example of unwritten constitution. Views, of course are expressed by different
writers that this classification of Constitution  ( written and unwritten ) is not a scientific one since no
Constitution can, in practice, be fully written or unwritten, An unwritten Constitution must have some
written elements. Likewise, a written constitution cannot be fully written , some elements of it exists in
unwritten form.

Written Constitution Unwritten Constitution

Written constitution is found in legal documents duly An unwritten constitution consists of

enacted in the form of laws. principles of the government that have never
been enacted in the form of laws.

It is precise, definite and systematic. It is the result of It is unsystematic, indefinite and un-precise.
the conscious and deliberate efforts of the people. Such a constitution is not the result of
conscious and deliberate efforts of the people.

It is framed by a representative body duly elected by It is not made by a representative constituent

the people at a particular period in history. assembly. So, it is sometimes called an
evolved or cumulative constitution.

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 Written Constitution Unwritten Constitution

It is always promulgated on a specific date in history. It does not have a specific date, as it is

The Constitution of India is the best example of written The constitution of England is the best
constitution (promulgated on 26th January 1950) example of an unwritten constitution.

A written constitution is generally rigid and its Unwritten constitution is not rigid and its
amendments need constitutional laws.  In other words amendments DO NOT need any laws.  In
a distinction between constitutional law and ordinary other words a distinction between
law is maintained. The first is regarded as superior to constitutional law and ordinary law is NOT
the second. maintained.

A written constitution may also be termed as an Unwritten constitution may also be termed as
enacted constitution. an un-enacted constitution.

4. Summary
 Democracy is an international activity that involves an increasing number of institutions—indeed
a growing number of different types of institution, some of them more specialized than other
 values of Democracy is support the belief that an orderly society can exist in which freedom is
preserved
 principle of democracy These principles often become a part of the constitution or bill of
rights in a democratic society
 Human rights are freedoms established by custom or international agreement that impose
standards of conduct on all nations.
 Citizen Participation One of the most basic signposts of a democracy is citizen participation
in government
 Equality Democratic societies emphasize the principle that all people are equal.
 All democracies strive to respect and protect the human rights of citizens
 Human rights mean those values that reflect respect for human life and human dignity.
 The definition of constitution is quite complex and has significantly evolved during the last two
centuries.
 Constitutionalism is a system of governance in which the power of the government is limited
by laws, checks and balances, in order to reconcile authority with individual and collective
freedoms.
 Written constitution is found in legal documents duly maintained in the form of law.
 An unwritten constitution contains principles of government that have never been implemented
as law.
 Unwritten constitution consists of principles of the government that have never been enacted in
the form of laws.

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 5. References
1. Cohen, Joshua, 2001: “Money, Politics, and Political Equality.” Pp. 47-80 in Fact and
Value, ed. Alex Byrne, Robert Stalnaker, and Ralph Wedgwood. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press.
2. C. J. Friedrich, Constitutional Government and Democracy, 4th ed. (Waltham, Mass.,
1968) pp. 171, 133
3. Dahl, Robert. [1956] 2006. A Preface to Democratic Theory. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
4. Dworkin, Ronald. 2002. Sovereign Virtue. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
5. Elster, Jon. 2013. Securities against Misrule: Juries, Assemblies, Elections. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
6. Kelsen, Hans. [1929] 2013. The Essence and Value of Democracy, ed. Nadia Urbinati
and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, trans. Brian Graf. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
7.  Maududi, Abul A'la (1976). Human Rights in Islam. Leicester: The Islamic Foundation. ISBN 0-
9503954-9-8
8. Ringen, Stein. 2007. What Democracy Is For: On Freedom and Moral Government? Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
9. Scheuerman, W.E. 2014. “Professor Kelsen’s Amazing Disappearing Act”. Pp. 81-102 in Émigré
Scholars and the Genesis of International Relations, edited by Felix Rösch. London: Palgrave
Macmillan.
10. Turner, Stephen and Regis Factor. 1987. Decisionism and Politics: Weber as Constitutional
Theorist. Pp. 334-354 in Max Weber, Rationality and Modernity, edited by Scott Lash and Sam
Whimster. London: Allen and Unwin, 334-354.
11. Urbinati, Nadia and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti. 2013. “Editors Introduction.” Pp. 1-24 in Hans
Kelsen, the Essence and Value of Democracy, Trans by Brian Graf. Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield.

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