Back to: Religion and National Value JSS 3
Welcome to class!
In today’s class, we’re going to be talking about the features of colonial constitutions. I trust you will enjoy the class!
Features of Colonial Constitutions
Meaning of Colonial Constitutions
Colonial constitutions refer to the laws and principles that governed various territories during the colonial era. These constitutions were often imposed by colonial powers and had several common features:
- Imposition by Colonial Powers
– Colonial constitutions were not created by the people living in the colonies but were imposed by the colonial rulers.
– Example: The 1914 Constitution of Nigeria was enacted when the country was a British crown colony.
- Centralized Authority
– Power was centralized in the hands of the colonial governors who were appointed by the colonial powers.
– Example: Under the Clifford Constitution of 1922, the governor had significant powers and there were no Africans in the executive council¹.
- Limited Representation
– Early colonial constitutions provided very limited representation to the local population.
– Example: The 1922 Clifford Constitution introduced the elective principle but only allowed a small number of Africans to be elected into the legislative council.
- Division of Territories
– Constitutions often divided territories into regions for easier administration.
– Example: The 1946 Richard’s Constitution divided Nigeria into three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern¹.
- Introduction of Legislative Bodies
– Colonial constitutions introduced legislative bodies, though these were often controlled by the colonial powers.
– Example: The 1951 Macpherson Constitution introduced a bicameral legislature for the northern and western regions of Nigeria.
- Gradual Increase in Local Participation
– Over time, colonial constitutions allowed for increased participation of local people in governance.
– Example: The 1954 Lyttleton Constitution allowed for more autonomy for the regions and introduced a unicameral legislature at the federal level.
- Pathway to Independence
– Later colonial constitutions laid the groundwork for eventual independence.
– Example: The 1960 Independence Constitution established a bicameral federal legislature and set the stage for Nigeria’s independence.
We have come to the end of today’s class. I hope you enjoyed the class!
In the next class, we shall be discussing Constitutions After Independence.
In case you require further assistance or have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section below, and trust us to respond as soon as possible. Cheers!
Question Time:
- What were colonial constitutions, and how were they different from modern constitutions?
- Why did colonial powers impose constitutions on their colonies?
- Discuss how the centralized authority under colonial constitutions impacted the governance of colonies.
- Explain the significance of limited representation in the early colonial constitutions. How did this change over time?
- How did the division of territories in colonial constitutions affect the administration of colonies?
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