JAMB Government 1983 past questions and answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the parliamentary system of government?

1. A.Ministers are usually members of parliament
2. B.The Prime Minister is politically responsible to the parliament
3. C.The Head of State is the most powerful organ of government
4. D.The Head of Government may advise the Head of State to dissolve parliament
5. E.The Party in opposition provides the Shadow Government

Capitalism is an economic system in which

1. A.the economy of the State is centrally planned and controlled
2. B.private persons are permitted to undertake enterprises
3. C.accumulation of private property is forbidden
4. D.the means of production are owned and controlled by the State
5. E.all big industries and the land are publicly owned for the common good

The process of depriving persons of the right of voting is called

1. A.enfranchisement
2. B.disqualification
3. C.dismissal
4. D.prohibition
5. E.disenfranchisement

Bicameralism refers to

1. A.a one chamber legislature
2. B.the process of voting in the legislature
3. C.the upper chamber in a legislature
4. D.a two chamber legislature
5. E.legislatures in all sovereign states

The principle of the separation of powers implies that the three main organs of government work

1. A.separately
2. B.independently and co-operatively
3. C.against one another
4. D.reluctantly and gradually for the executive
5. E.together in the interest of other nations

The main function of the judiciary is to

1. A.serve as the watch-dog of the executive
2. B.enact laws
3. C.execute the laws of the land
4. D.interpret the laws
5. E.protect the interest of accused persons

A totalitarian government is

1. A.a government that aspires to control every aspect of a citizen's life
2. B.a government for the masses
3. C.a government of the people, by the people, and for the people
4. D.a weak government
5. E.controlled by the rich

An unwritten constitution operates in

1. A.Guinea
2. B.USA
3. C.Great Britain
4. D.China
5. E.Nigeria

A sovereign state is one

1. A.whose constitution can only be changed by a military government
2. B.where its citizens can speak without fear or favour
3. C.in which sovereignty is invested in the military
4. D.whose citizens are free to evade responsibility
5. E.whose government decisions are made independent of foreign interference

Representative Democracy is best characterized by

1. A.free elections and proper register of voters
2. B.proper constituencies and a real choice of candidates
3. C.a politically educated electorate
4. D.representation only for the poor
5. E.rule by the interest groups

The primary function of a legislature is

1. A.appointing a president
2. B.law making
3. C.vetoing bills
4. D.monitoring the judiciary
5. E.re-assigning civil servants

According to Marxist theory, those who own and control the means of production in a capitalist society are

1. A.exploiters
2. B.colonialists
3. C.workers
4. D.shareholders
5. E.bourgeoisie

While political parties aim at forming a government, pressure groups aim at

1. A.imposing military rule
2. B.causing social unrest
3. C.influencing governmental decisions
4. D.controlling a nation's economy
5. E.getting all workers to unite

When the electorate vote for representatives who in turn vote on their behalf we say it is

1. A.an indirect election
2. B.an unfair election
3. C.a rigged election
4. D.a disputed election
5. E.a biased election

An election which is conducted to fill a vacant seat in a legislature is called a

1. A.by election
2. B.general election
3. C.referendum
4. D.plebiscite
5. E.mini election

Which of the following countries does NOT operate a federal constitution?

1. A.USA
2. B.Canada
3. C.Nigeria
4. D.France
5. E.Switzerland

The major advantage of the secret ballot is that

1. A.it is faster than other systems
2. B.nobody can be prevented from voting
3. C.It ensures the anonymity of each voter
4. D.losers can ask for another secret vote
5. E.it extends the franchise to all adults

Which of these statements is CORRECT about Proportional Representation?

1. A.It makes the assembly representative of all citizens
2. B.It is simple to operate
3. C.It preserves the party system
4. D.It gives the parties seats in proportion to their popular support
5. E.It legalizes dictatorship

In a one party State

1. A.there are no free citizens
2. B.communism is banned
3. C.the communist party is the only legal party
4. D.the ruling party is the only legal party
5. E.elections to the legislature are held at the party's conferences

A cabinet system of government is practised in

1. A.Britain and Canada
2. B.Nigeria
3. C.The Soviet Union
4. D.all European countries including Britain
5. E.the United States of America

A party system made up of more than two parties may not qualify for the title of a multi-party system when

1. A.the country in question has a unitary form of government
2. B.the country in question has a federal form of government
3. C.the parties are not competitive
4. D.different parties are supported by distinct political interests
5. E.the parties have identical structure

A proclamation by the Head of State ending a session of parliament is called

1. A.a dissolution
2. B.an adjournment
3. C.a prorogation
4. D.an abrogation
5. E.a devolution

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

1. A.promotes unity in diversity
2. B.allows for the dominance of the minority ethnic groups
3. C.concentrates governmental power at one level of government
4. D.advances the interest of the rich
5. E.ensures the dominance of one political party

The transfer of authority to local government councils is known as

1. A.demarcation
2. B.delegation
3. C.fusion
4. D.fragmentation
5. E.devolution

The six registered political parties in Nigeria in 1982 were

1. A.UPN, NPN, PPA, PPP, NPP and NAP
2. B.NPN, UPN, NPP, PRP, PPP, and NNDP
3. C.PPA, NCNC, GNPP, NPN, UPN, and PPP
4. D.UPN, GNPP, NAP, PRP, NPP and NPN
5. E.NPC, GNPP, PRP, UPN, NPP and PPA

Which of the following is NOT a pressure group in Nigeria

1. A.Farmers
2. B.The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT)
3. C.The Catholic Church
4. D.Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
5. E.Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)

The N.C.N.C. sent a delegation to London in 1947 to protest against the

1. A.Burns Constitution
2. B.Republican Constitution
3. C.Richards Constitution
4. D.Lyttleton Constitution
5. E.Macpherson Constitution

A popular principle of colonial administration in British West Africa was

1. A.association
2. B.indirect rule
3. C.paternalism
4. D.westernization
5. E.assimilation

The three great Nigerian nationalists between 1950 and 1966 were

1. A.Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Obafemi Awolowo
2. B.Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Theophilus Danjuma
3. C.Obafemi Awolowo, Herbert Macaulay, and Ahmadu Bello
4. D.Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello
5. E.K.O. Mbadiwe, S.L. Akintola and Herbert Macaulay

The first Governor-General of colonial Nigeria was

1. A.Sir Hugh Clifford
2. B.Sir James Robertson
3. C.Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
4. D.Sir Ralph Moore
5. E.Lord Lugard

The first military government in Nigeria was headed by

1. A.General Yakubu Gowon
2. B.General Aguiyi Ironsi
3. C.General M. Mohammed
4. D.General O. Obasanjo
5. E.General Hassan Katsina

The legislature in every state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is called the

1. A.State National Assembly
2. B.State Legislative Council
3. C.State Traditional Council
4. D.House of Assembly
5. E.State House of Representatives

The 1979 Nigerian Constitution is unique because it

1. A.provides for a head of government
2. B.introduces the participation of women in politics
3. C.provides for a head of state who is also head of government
4. D.provides for a House of Chiefs
5. E.makes all men equal before the law

Which public commission was not established by the 1979 Nigerian Constitution?

1. A.Udoji Commission
2. B.Federal Electoral Commission
3. C.Public Service Commission
4. D.Public Complaints Commission
5. E.National Population Commission

Local Government Reforms were carried out by the Federal Military Government in

1. A.1970
2. B.1976
3. C.1979
4. D.1967
5. E.1966

Lagos became a Crown Colony in

1. A.1900
2. B.1914
3. C.1886
4. D.1861
5. E.1862

Nigerian elites agitated against colonial rule

1. A.by guerrilla warfare
2. B.by civil war
3. C.through television
4. D.through newspapers
5. E.by bribing colonial governors

The first political party in Nigeria was formed after the introduction of the

1. A.Richards Constitution
2. B.Clifford Constitution
3. C.Bourdillon Constitution
4. D.Macpherson Constitution
5. E.Lyttleton Constitution

The major innovation of the Republican Constitution of 1963 was that

1. A.the Prime Minister ceased to be Head of State
2. B.the Governor's office as the representative of the Queen was abolished
3. C.the Cabinet was no longer responsible to the legislature
4. D.it introduced the Executive Presidential System
5. E.the Prime Minister was nominated by the Executive Council

Which of these was NOT a demand of the nationalist movements in Nigeria?

1. A.Promotion of Africans to senior service positions
2. B.Increased African representation in the legislative assemblies
3. C.Improved conditions of service and salaries for Africans
4. D.Withdrawal of military bases from Africa
5. E.Reduction of the dictatorship of colonial officers

Under the 1979 Nigerian Constitution, each state is allowed to elect

1. A.two senators
2. B.five senators
3. C.as many senators as the state can finance
4. D.from two to five senators depending on the population of the state
5. E.ten senators

The Independence Constitution

1. A.provided for a republican status for the country
2. B.created a unitary state
3. C.was negotiated by Nigerians
4. D.was imposed on Nigerians by the British
5. E.introduced the military into Nigerian politics

The first general election in Nigeria was held in

1. A.1933
2. B.1952
3. C.1955
4. D.1959
5. E.1964

The 1979 Nigerian Constitution provides for presidential elections every

1. A.four years
2. B.eight years
3. C.time the military hands over the reins of government
4. D.time the incumbent is impeached or dies
5. E.time the Vice-President is impeached

In Nigeria, the institution that preserves civil liberty is the

1. A.Public Complaints Commission
2. B.Federal Electoral Commission
3. C.Law Courts
4. D.National Security Organisation
5. E.Police Commission

Nigeria became a Federation under the new constitution of 1954 because the constitution

1. A.provided for equal representation between the North and the South
2. B.created the post of a Prime Minister
3. C.provided for a division of members of parliament
4. D.provided for a division of functions between the centre and component units
5. E.abolished the practice of nominating some members of parliament

The Economic Commission for Africa is an agency of the

1. A.OAU
2. B.OPEC
3. C.UNO
4. D.NATO
5. E.ECOWAS