Social StSocial Studies
Chapter 1: Citizenship and governance
Attributes shaping citizenship
- Legal Status
Ways to become a legal citizen of a country:
- By descent: A child requires at least one parent to be a
citizen of that country.
- By country of birth (not practised in SG): citizenship is
granted to those born in the country
- By marriage: Requires marrying a citizen of that country.
The spouse of the Singaporean can gain citizenship after
two years of marriage
- By naturalisation: immigrants must have resided in that
country for a number of years. It also requires taking a
citizenship test and/or giving up their previous
citizenship. In Singapore, a Singaporean Permanent
Resident who is at least 21 years old and has been a PR
for two years can apply for Singapore citizenship.
Citizenship in a democracy
- Democracy: rule by people
- People can elect their own government
- Government has to act based on laws of country (constitution)
Rights of citizens
- The constitution protects the rights of citizens and their well
being
- Some rights of Singaporean citizens include: liberty of person,
prohibition of slavery and forced labour, freedom of
movement, freedom of speech, freedom of religion
,Responsibilities of citizens
Social responsibility- citizens must treat others with respect and
empathy, as well as practice their legal rights responsibly.
Legal responsibility- citizens have a responsibility to contribute
towards the good of their country. For example, all males have to
serve national service, as a responsibility of citizens in the area of
defence.
- Identity and Participation
- Sense of belonging
- Sense of identity creates the desire to be involved in the
affairs of the country and make it a better place to live in
- A sense of belonging comes from a shared belief that we
belong to the same country
- Common practices and experiences
,Chapter 2: Decisions for the good of society
The challenges in deciding what is good for society
Differing needs and interests
Describe: generally, people can agree on certain basic needs for
survival, such as food and water. However, beyond this, our diverse
population of individuals may not be able to agree on other needs
and common interests, such as public transport and public
healthcare.
Example: For example, an efficient public transportation system is
an important interest for people without their own mode of transport,
whereas people with their own mode of transport will be more
concerned with an efficient road and traffic system.
Explain: Not everyone can have their needs fully met. Those whose
needs are not fully met may not feel happy about the situation. This
could lead to tension among different groups of people.
Priorities of needs and interests
Describe: Individuals may have differing priorities, depending on
their stage of life, and life circumstances. Although citizens agree
that areas such as education and healthcare are important to the
country, they may not place the same priority on the same areas.
Example: Singaporeans of a lower income group prioritise public
housing, public healthcare, caring government and job security.
However, Singaporeans of higher income group prioritise public
healthcare, job security, safe and secure environment, holistic
education and honest government.
, Explain: This could lead to the government being at loss of which
areas to prioritise as they cannot please everybody. When the
government makes a decision, not everybody’s needs can be met.
This could lead to unhappiness, and eventually tension.
Unequal sharing of costs
Describe: Some costs may need to be made to accommodate to
the decisions of the government. These could include the giving up
of land, or bearing the inconvenience of upgrading works.
Whenever the government makes a decision for society, some
individuals or groups will benefit, but others might bear costs.
Example: For the government to improve on the efficiency of the
transportation system, it is necessary to build more expressways for
smooth traffic flow. While the society at large will benefit, residents
living near the construction will need to put up with the noise
generated from traffic as well as inconveniences such as pathway
blockages during the construction phase.
Common controversial issues: building of eldercare facilities, studio
apartments, or nursing homes for the elderly, building of
expressways or MRT lines, building of columbarium
Explain: Singapore has a limited land space, and public facilities or
developments will inevitably be built near where some people
live/where some businesses are. Some individuals may bear more
costs than others. This unequal sharing of costs could lead to
unhappiness among those inconvenienced.
Trade offs*
A trade off involves an exchange in which a decision is made
between two or more things cannot be obtained at the same time.
Chapter 1: Citizenship and governance
Attributes shaping citizenship
- Legal Status
Ways to become a legal citizen of a country:
- By descent: A child requires at least one parent to be a
citizen of that country.
- By country of birth (not practised in SG): citizenship is
granted to those born in the country
- By marriage: Requires marrying a citizen of that country.
The spouse of the Singaporean can gain citizenship after
two years of marriage
- By naturalisation: immigrants must have resided in that
country for a number of years. It also requires taking a
citizenship test and/or giving up their previous
citizenship. In Singapore, a Singaporean Permanent
Resident who is at least 21 years old and has been a PR
for two years can apply for Singapore citizenship.
Citizenship in a democracy
- Democracy: rule by people
- People can elect their own government
- Government has to act based on laws of country (constitution)
Rights of citizens
- The constitution protects the rights of citizens and their well
being
- Some rights of Singaporean citizens include: liberty of person,
prohibition of slavery and forced labour, freedom of
movement, freedom of speech, freedom of religion
,Responsibilities of citizens
Social responsibility- citizens must treat others with respect and
empathy, as well as practice their legal rights responsibly.
Legal responsibility- citizens have a responsibility to contribute
towards the good of their country. For example, all males have to
serve national service, as a responsibility of citizens in the area of
defence.
- Identity and Participation
- Sense of belonging
- Sense of identity creates the desire to be involved in the
affairs of the country and make it a better place to live in
- A sense of belonging comes from a shared belief that we
belong to the same country
- Common practices and experiences
,Chapter 2: Decisions for the good of society
The challenges in deciding what is good for society
Differing needs and interests
Describe: generally, people can agree on certain basic needs for
survival, such as food and water. However, beyond this, our diverse
population of individuals may not be able to agree on other needs
and common interests, such as public transport and public
healthcare.
Example: For example, an efficient public transportation system is
an important interest for people without their own mode of transport,
whereas people with their own mode of transport will be more
concerned with an efficient road and traffic system.
Explain: Not everyone can have their needs fully met. Those whose
needs are not fully met may not feel happy about the situation. This
could lead to tension among different groups of people.
Priorities of needs and interests
Describe: Individuals may have differing priorities, depending on
their stage of life, and life circumstances. Although citizens agree
that areas such as education and healthcare are important to the
country, they may not place the same priority on the same areas.
Example: Singaporeans of a lower income group prioritise public
housing, public healthcare, caring government and job security.
However, Singaporeans of higher income group prioritise public
healthcare, job security, safe and secure environment, holistic
education and honest government.
, Explain: This could lead to the government being at loss of which
areas to prioritise as they cannot please everybody. When the
government makes a decision, not everybody’s needs can be met.
This could lead to unhappiness, and eventually tension.
Unequal sharing of costs
Describe: Some costs may need to be made to accommodate to
the decisions of the government. These could include the giving up
of land, or bearing the inconvenience of upgrading works.
Whenever the government makes a decision for society, some
individuals or groups will benefit, but others might bear costs.
Example: For the government to improve on the efficiency of the
transportation system, it is necessary to build more expressways for
smooth traffic flow. While the society at large will benefit, residents
living near the construction will need to put up with the noise
generated from traffic as well as inconveniences such as pathway
blockages during the construction phase.
Common controversial issues: building of eldercare facilities, studio
apartments, or nursing homes for the elderly, building of
expressways or MRT lines, building of columbarium
Explain: Singapore has a limited land space, and public facilities or
developments will inevitably be built near where some people
live/where some businesses are. Some individuals may bear more
costs than others. This unequal sharing of costs could lead to
unhappiness among those inconvenienced.
Trade offs*
A trade off involves an exchange in which a decision is made
between two or more things cannot be obtained at the same time.
