Inquiry Focus – Working for the good of society: Whose responsibility is it?

This issue invites you to begin exploring what it means to be an informed, concerned and participative citizen. You will learn more about your roles as citizens and that of the government. In a complex society and world, how you understand your role as a citizen will influence how your respond to various situations and issues in Singapore and the world. This will serve to develop a stronger sense of civic consciousness enhancing the roles you play as citizens who are rooted in Singapore with a global outlook.

Key Understandings

• Understanding of citizenship is varied and complex.

• Different groups of people in society have competing interests and managing these interests requires trade-offs to be made.

• Both citizens and government can play complementary roles in working for the good of society

Key Concepts

• Citizenship

  • the state of being vested with the rights, privileges, and duties of a citizen.

  • the character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen:

• Trade-offs

  • the exchange of one thing for another of more or less equal value, especially to effect a compromise.

• Governance

  • government; exercise of authority; control.

  • a method or system of government or management.

At the end of the issue, you should be able to understand:

• The different attributes shaping citizenship

• The challenges of determining what is good for a society

• The functions of government and how governments work for the good of society

• How citizens and organised groups can participate in working for the good of society.