JAMB Government 1980 past questions and answers

An electoral district is

1. A.a polling booth
2. B.a constituency
3. C.a ward
4. D.a local government area
5. E.a subdivision of the state

Pressure groups' politics are usually directed to

1. A.limited or sectoral goals
2. B.national objectives
3. C.the interests of the Nigerian Medical Association
4. D.the goals of the Nigeria Union of Teachers
5. E.none of the above

The principle of separation of powers ensures

1. A.the erosion of executive power
2. B.that the legislature is supreme
3. C.the preservation of the fundamental liberties of the citizens
4. D.that all the branches of government have equal powers and functions
5. E.that the rights of the ethnic minorities are safeguarded

A democratic system of government is

1. A.an efficient government
2. B.a mass government on behalf of the people
3. C.a government that grants absolute freedom to all citizens
4. D.a patriotic government
5. E.a government of the people, by the people and for the people

When we talk about the constitution of any given country we mean

1. A.the general body of rules and principles controlling the distribution of governmental power
2. B.a guide book containing the functions of trade union movements
3. C.a document embodying rules and principles regulating the exercise of governmental power
4. D.a document defining the relations between the rulers, and ruled
5. E.A, C, and D above

The concept of Indirect Rule in Nigeria is usually associated with

1. A.Sir George T. Goldie
2. B.Sir Donald Cameron
3. C.Major Claude Macdonald
4. D.Lord Lugard
5. E.Sir Arthur Richards

In a parliamentary system of government, a Bill is almost certain to be passed after the

1. A.second reading
2. B.third reading
3. C.fourth reading
4. D.fifth reading
5. E.none of the above

A good example of a country which operates a cabinet system of government is

1. A.France
2. B.the United Kingdom
3. C.the USA
4. D.the Soviet Union
5. E.none of the above

A constitution is a document

1. A.drafted by the Constituent Assembly
2. B.which states in written form the basic laws governing a country
3. C.which spells out how the president is to be elected
4. D.which forms the basis upon which a government rules a given State
5. E.which states that the central government is superior to State governments

The legislative arm of a government is always

1. A.the Parliament
2. B.the Cabinet
3. C.the highest organ of government
4. D.the body that makes laws
5. E.the body that interprets laws

The Executive is the body that

1. A.executes armed robbers
2. B.interprets laws
3. C.implements laws
4. D.enacts laws
5. E.none of the above

The principle of separation of powers implies that

1. A.the Executive is supreme
2. B.the Executive is powerless
3. C.power is shared by different but co-ordinate organs in the State
4. D.the rule of law obtains
5. E.power is shared by competing departments in the State

The term 'rule of law' is applicable only

1. A.in Western-type democracies
2. B.in Socialist countries
3. C.in developing countries
4. D.in State where laws are supreme
5. E.if the regime is not military

A presidential system of government is one

1. A.where the Head of State possesses real power
2. B.where the principle of separation of powers is inapplicable
3. C.which provides for a ceremonial Head of State
4. D.in which the president is not accountable to any one
5. E.in which the Parliament cannot remove the President from office before the expiration of his term of office

Fundamental human rights of citizens are provided for in

1. A.the United Nations Charter
2. B.the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
3. C.the OAU Charter
4. D.Amnesty International Edict
5. E.the constitutions of states

It is the duty of every citizen

1. A.to go to school
2. B.to participate in the Operation Feed the Nation scheme
3. C.to perform his civic responsibilities
4. D.not to jump queues
5. E.to sing the national anthem every day

A one party state is a state where

1. A.there are no general elections
2. B.the President cannot be opposed
3. C.there is complete agreement on issues among party members
4. D.the ruling party is the only legal one
5. E.all of the above

The term 'franchise' refers to

1. A.French-speaking people
2. B.property owners
3. C.the right to choose representatives to the Legislature
4. D.the educated electorate
5. E.the voting card

The doctrine of 'The Dual Mandate' was put forward to justify

1. A.apartheid in South Africa
2. B.Neocolonialism
3. C.the introduction of Islam in Africa
4. D.slavery
5. E.colonialism

Delegated legislation

1. A.means sharing responsibility between central and local government on a fifty fifty basis
2. B.decentralizes responsibility for law making subject to agreed controls from the centre
3. C.has advantages and disadvantages
4. D.once permitted is almost impossible to control
5. E.decentralizes problems without providing suitable solutions

The main role of pressure groups is to

1. A.influence the Legislature and the Executive to make decisions favourable to them
2. B.inject emotional and selfish issues into national debates
3. C.influence the general public
4. D.use all means, including bribery, to achieve their objectives
5. E.assist selected multinational corporations in fulfilling their objectives

Within a democracy, citizens

1. A.can use all and any means to overthrow an offensive government
2. B.have the right and duty to be involved in the political process
3. C.have the duty to eliminate their political opponents
4. D.are advised to be eternally vigilant
5. E.have the positive right to physically prevent military coups from taking place

The concept of Parliamentary Government in Britain is

1. A.turning into Prime Ministerial and Whitehall government in practice
2. B.now a complete myth
3. C.in fact indentical with the Presidential system in the USA
4. D.supported by a tiny segment of the population
5. E.rejected by the aristocracy of that country

The basic element of the United States Constitution is that

1. A.it presupposes and relies upon the existence of a highly educated and very articulate electorate
2. B.Presidents like Richard Nixon cannot get away with gross abuse of power
3. C.it guarantees the enjoyment of equal rights and protection by every citizen
4. D.murderers who are found guilty by law courts are executed on electric chairs
5. E.it embodies the concept of separation of powers

Military coups are a common feature of many African countries. Which of the following pairs of West African countries have not experienced a military coup?

1. A.Mali, Cameroun
2. B.Gambia, Liberia
3. C.Togo, Libya
4. D.Benin, Ethiopia
5. E.Upper Volta, Ghana

Which of the following constitutes the political sovereign in a democracy?

1. A.The Executive
2. B.The Judiciary
3. C.The Press
4. D.The Legislature
5. E.The Electorate

The principle of the 'Separation of Powers' in the new Constitution of Nigeria is different from that of the USA because

1. A.traditional rulers can play a dominant role
2. B.there are two houses of the National Assembly
3. C.the President is above the law
4. D.the Vice President is not the President of the Senate
5. E.the Senate has the power of veto

The determination of issues before the courts in accordance with the body of rules backed by the organized force of the community, refers essentially to

1. A.judicial revision
2. B.human rights
3. C.the rule of law
4. D.habeas corpus
5. E.certiorari

The five political parties recognized by the Nigerian Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) for the 1979 elections were

1. A.UPN, GNPP, NPN, PRP and NPC
2. B.GNPP, PRP, UPN, NPP and NAP
3. C.PRP, UPN, MOP, GNPP and NPP
4. D.NPN, NPP, UPN, PRP and GNPP
5. E.NPP, PRP, GNPP, NPN and NEPU

The common colonial institution in British West Africa included

1. A.the West African Research Council and Gambian Police Force
2. B.the West African Universities Commission and West African Joint Admission and Matriculation Board
3. C.the West African Currency Board and the West African Airways Corporation
4. D.the West African Teachers Association and West African Labour Union
5. E.none of the above

An ideology is essentially

1. A.a guide to political action
2. B.a manual for revolution
3. C.a curse on political actors
4. D.a non-political concept
5. E.negative in connotation

In all countries, the roles of law-making and law interpretation revolve respectively on

1. A.the Executive and Judiciary
2. B.the Judiciary and Legislature
3. C.the Judiciary and Executive
4. D.the Legislature and Judiciary
5. E.the Legislature and Executive

The Convention People's Party was a popular political party in

1. A.Sierra Leone
2. B.Senegal
3. C.Ivory Coast
4. D.Ghana
5. E.Nigeria

Which of the following political movements had the greatest impact on Nigerian nationalists before the 1950s?

1. A.Universal Negro Improvement Association
2. B.The African People's Union
3. C.National Congress of British West Africa
4. D.The Pan-African Congress
5. E.None of the above

The abolition of the 'indigenat' was effected in French colonies in

1. A.1943
2. B.1944
3. C.1946
4. D.1956
5. E.1958

The ratification of the appointment of an Emir in the pre-colonial Fulani Society was done by the

1. A.Galadima
2. B.the Emir of Sokoto
3. C.the Emir of Gwandu
4. D.Uthman Dan Fodio
5. E.B or C above

Sekou Toure is famous having said

1. A.that he preferred independence with difficulty than heavy colonial rule
2. B.'no' to de Gaulle's idea of a French Community and opting instead for immediate independence for Guinea
3. C.'seek ye first the political kingdom and all else will follow given right combination of leadership and national ideology'
4. D.that 'power emanates from the barrel of the gun'
5. E.'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Nationalist movements in West Africa

1. A.began earlier in the French colonies than in the British ones
2. B.were given all necessary support by the colonial governors who were liberal at heart
3. C.were assisted by indigenous individuals educated in Europe and North America
4. D.were in fact encouraged and later led by traditional rulers who had the much-needed foresight and courage
5. E.were parochial and did not really influence one another

The French policy of Assimilation

1. A.enabled Europeans to assimilate and come to terms with African cultural values
2. B.produced radical African leaders who were anxious to terminate cordial relationships with France
3. C.was aimed at converting Africans into Frenchmen
4. D.was the same in theory as the British policy of Indirect Rule
5. E.was a device to transfer French technology to Africa

The crisis in the… contributed to the breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution.

1. A.Action Group
2. B.National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
3. C.Northern Elements Progressive Union
4. D.Northern People's Congress
5. E.United Middle Belt Congress

It was through the activities of…that the Niger area became a British sphere of influence.

1. A.Lord Lugard
2. B.the United Africa Company
3. C.Herbert Macaulay
4. D.the Royal Niger Company
5. E.Ajayi Crowther

The 1976 local government reforms provide for a…term of office.

1. A.4-year
2. B.5-year
3. C.2-year
4. D.permanent
5. E.3-year

Under the regulations for the conduct of the 1979 elections in Nigeria a candidate could be declared ineligible if

1. A.he did not pay his tax as and when due
2. B.he did not pay his tax annually
3. C.he did not pay his Federal Tax
4. D.he did not pay his State Tax
5. E.none of the above

The major problems that confront public corporations in Nigeria include

1. A.management problems, corruption and ethnic loyalty
2. B.excessive government directives and lack of funds
3. C.red tape and manpower shortage
4. D.lack of public patronage and excessive competition from the private sector
5. E.A, B and C

The highest court in Nigeria is called the

1. A.Federal Court of Appeal
2. B.High Court
3. C.Upper Area Court
4. D.Supreme Court
5. E.Sharia Court of Appeal

The government of Nigeria from 1960 to 1964 was formed by the

1. A.NCNC (National Council of Nigerian Citizens)
2. B.NPC (Northern People's Congress)
3. C.Action Group
4. D.NCNC/NEPU (Northern Elements Progressive Union) alliance
5. E.B and D above

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) came into being

1. A.through the combined efforts of Gambia, Ivory Coast and Liberia
2. B.to promote economic growth and development through freer and expanded trade between its members
3. C.to enable the sixteen member states surrender their sovereignties to a supranational regional community
4. D.to help the poorest countries catch up with the richer ones
5. E.to establish mutual defence and security arrangements between members

Which of the following bodies is the most representative organ of the United Nations Organization?

1. A.The Security Council
2. B.The Trusteeship Council
3. C.The General Assembly
4. D.The International Court of Justice
5. E.The Economic and Social Council

Which of the following bodies in Nigeria performs the function of an Ombudsman?

1. A.The Public Service Commission
2. B.The National Economic Planning Commission
3. C.The National Security Organisation
4. D.The Public Complaints Commission
5. E.The Civil Service Commission