Importance of study of civics in a democratic country
Civics is the science that refers to the rights and responsibilities of citizens. It tells how a country is governed. It speaks of the units into which the country is divided like the states, districts, municipalities and village units. It describes the powers of the units and their inter relationship. It gives an insight into the working of the constitution and how the three major wings, namely, the Legislature, the Administration and the Courts function. It explains how the money needed for the administration is being raised, in other words, the various sources of income to the government. Naturally, it tells also of the various types of state expenditure.
Now how does the study of civics become important in a democratic country ? Democracy, according to the famous definition given by Lincoln, is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. In short, in a democracy it is the people that count. They elect their representatives through whom the government of the land is run. If they want an able, efficient government they must elect wisely and in order to elect they must know whom they are electing, whether they will be able to deliver the goods or whether they will be able to give a good government. Since in democracies representatives are elected on party basis, the elector should know the philosophy, policies and capabilities of the various parties. Again since the representatives are elected through elections where the citizen exercises his franchise which is a worthy possession and birth right. he must know its sacredness. In order to exercise wisely he must also know how elections are being conducted, for there are many ways of electing a representative. Theoretically at least any citizen can aspire to the highest elected office in the country. That is why the study of civics is important in a democracy.
Besides the part the citizen plays in the governing of the country, the citizen has other civic responsibilities; for example, it is incumbent on him that he must keep his surroundings clean, gets himself and the members of his family vaccinated against small-pox, report to the proper authorities whenever there is an outbreak or epidemics. Unless he acts properly his health and others’ health may be affected. He must know the laws governing the preparation and sale of foodstuffs. If he contravenes the rules, the public health may be affected. Thus a citizen should know that adulteration of food stuffs is a serious crime. For effective citizenry, civics must be studied.
Can the study of civics make intelligent, enlightened wide-awake citizens ? Mere study alone does not go to make a good citizen. How far one puts things learnt in civics into practice depends on its success. “Black market” is against all canons of civics. Tax evasion is another major crime indulged in by many a knowing citizen who deliberately defrauds the government.
Again take elections. No election can be said to be fairly fought or won. Honesty may be the best policy but in elections honesty is one of the major casualties and still elections are said to be sacred; no vote can be asked or solicited or given. Does it happen anywhere ? The people who run the elections know how to win.
Just as the study of history has not made the people wise in shunning war, so too the study of civics cannot be said to make intelligent, enlightened and wide-awake citizens. Study alone cannot help him unless he has the moral courage to practice what he has learnt or what he knows to be correct. People would not be warring if they were civic conscious. Ending on a skeptic note the study of civics has not succeeded in making intelligent, and enlightened wide-awake citizens.
