50 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Aristocracy is the system of government in which the few rule for
Answer: B (the benefit of all)
Aristocracy is government by a small group of the best or noblest people ruling in the interest of everyone. When the few rule only for themselves, it becomes oligarchy.
The two primary elements of politics are
Answer: B (order and conflict)
Politics arises from conflicts of interest in society and is the process of managing them to keep order. So conflict and order are its two basic elements.
A nation-state is synonymous with a
Answer: A (sovereign state)
A nation-state is an independent country whose people share a common identity. Because it is independent, it is a sovereign state.
Legislative supremacy exists in
Answer: A (Britain)
Britain has parliamentary sovereignty: Parliament can make or unmake any law and no court can strike its Acts down.
Presidentialism is a system of government in which
Answer: A (there is elected Head of State who exercises actual executive powers)
In a presidential system the president is elected, is both Head of State and head of government, and holds real executive power.
The main function of the upper chamber in a parliamentary system of government is to
Answer: C (act as a check on the lower chamber)
An upper house such as the British House of Lords revises and delays bills from the lower house, acting as a check on hasty legislation.
The federal constitution which concedes to the component units the right to secede is that of
Answer: D (the Soviet Union)
The constitution of the Soviet Union (USSR) gave each union republic the right to leave the union. That is what allowed the republics to break away in 1991. Most federations, including the USA and Australia, do not allow secession.
The principle of two levels of government in a country is called
Answer: D (federalism)
Federalism divides power between a central government and regional (state) governments, each with its own sphere of authority.
In a cabinet system, the executive is appointed from the
Answer: A (legislature)
In a cabinet (parliamentary) system, the prime minister and ministers are chosen from members of the legislature.
An important advantage of creating more constituent units in a federal state is to
Answer: A (enhance the people's participation in government)
More states bring government closer to the people. They also give more communities a voice in running their own affairs.
Under the presidential system
Answer: C (the president may come from any of the parties)
The president is elected separately from the legislature, so he can come from any party, even one without a majority in the legislature.
The major function of the legislative assembly is to
Answer: C (make laws)
The legislature's main job is law-making; debating, representing and voting are all part of that work.
In a parliamentary system, who ensures that members are in the House to vote on major issues? The
Answer: D (whip)
The party whip makes sure party members attend and vote the way the party wants on important issues.
A system in which no single person serves as the chief executive is known as
Answer: C (collegial)
In a collegial executive, power is shared by a group (as in Switzerland's Federal Council) instead of one president or prime minister.
The idea of democracy was first associated with the
Answer: C (Greeks)
Democracy began in the ancient Greek city-state of Athens, where citizens took decisions directly in an assembly.
According to Marxist theory, those who live by selling their labour are referred to as the
Answer: B (proletariats)
Marx called the working class, who own nothing but their labour, the proletariat. The bourgeoisie own the means of production.
A social system in which power is derived from control over land is called
Answer: B (feudalism)
Under feudalism, lords who owned land held power over the serfs who worked it.
A system of government in which power derives from total control of the instruments of force is called
Answer: D (fascism)
Fascism rests on total control of the state's force (army, police, militias) by one party or leader, suppressing all opposition.
Which of the following ideologies emphasizes the abolition of government and law?
Answer: C (Anarchism)
Anarchism holds that government and law are unnecessary and harmful and should be abolished.
The writ of habeas corpus is applied to secure the
Answer: A (right to personal liberty)
Habeas corpus orders that a detained person be brought before a court, so no one is held unlawfully. It protects personal liberty.
Which of the following is NOT a fundamental human right in Nigeria?
Answer: A (Right to education)
Education is in the constitution's Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles, which courts cannot enforce. It is not among the fundamental human rights.
Proportional representation is recommended because it
Answer: A (favours small parties)
Under proportional representation, seats follow each party's share of the votes, so small parties also get seats. It is not simple to operate, so B is wrong.
A system of voting in which the voters are asked a 'yes' or 'no' question on a major issue is called
Answer: B (a referendum)
In a referendum, voters directly accept or reject a proposal by voting yes or no.
A political manifesto is a document which outlines
Answer: B (a party's programme)
A manifesto sets out what a party plans to do if it wins power.
One argument against a multi-party system is the
Answer: B (encouragement of diverse opinions and opposition)
Critics say many parties breed too many competing opinions and opposition, which can divide the nation and slow decisions.
Pre-colonial Igbo society was
Answer: B (acephalous)
Most pre-colonial Igbo communities had no king or central ruler; power was shared among elders, age grades and assemblies, so they were acephalous.
Which of the following ethnic groups had centralized administration in pre-colonial Nigeria?
Answer: D (Hausa)
The Hausa states (later the Hausa-Fulani emirates) had centralised rule under Emirs. Ibibio, Ijaw and Tiv were largely decentralised.
In which of the following ethnic groups was the pre-colonial political structure NOT influenced by the Islamic culture?
Answer: C (Tiv)
The Kanuri, Nupe and Fulani systems were shaped by Islam. The Tiv kept a decentralised, non-Islamic system.
The British Government revoked the charter of the Royal Niger Company and took over the direct administration of Nigeria in
Answer: B (1900)
The Royal Niger Company's charter was revoked and Britain took direct control on 1 January 1900.
The Minorities Commission appointed in 1957 was headed by
Answer: A (Sir Henry Willink)
The 1957 commission that looked into the fears of minorities was led by Sir Henry Willink, hence the Willink Commission.
The Zikist Movement was popular for its
Answer: C (militant nationalism)
The Zikist Movement (1946–1950) was a radical youth wing that demanded immediate independence, using strikes and protests.
Which of the following sets of factors contributed to the development of nationalism in Nigeria?
Answer: A (Racial discrimination and oppression)
Unfair treatment of Africans under colonial rule, such as racial discrimination in jobs and oppression, pushed educated Nigerians to demand self-rule.
Which constitution was created to legislate for the Lagos Colony and the Southern Provinces?
Answer: B (The Clifford Constitution)
The 1922 Clifford Constitution set up a Legislative Council that made laws for Lagos Colony and the Southern Provinces only; the North was ruled by proclamation.
Judges in Nigeria enjoy security of tenure
Answer: C (if they are of good behaviour)
Judges keep their posts until retirement age as long as they are of good behaviour; they cannot be removed simply because a government dislikes them.
Before the 1963 Constitution, the highest court of appeal for Nigeria was the
Answer: C (Privy Council)
Until Nigeria became a republic in 1963, final appeals went to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the Police Force in Nigeria?
Answer: C (Making of laws)
Laws are made by the legislature. The police enforce them by arresting and prosecuting offenders and controlling traffic.
In Nigeria, the highest court for muslims is the
Answer: B (Sharia Court of Appeal)
The Sharia Court of Appeal is the highest court dealing only with Islamic personal law. Appeals from it can still go to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, which serve everyone.
Who was appointed by the federal government of Nigeria as the administrator of Western Region in 1962?
Answer: A (Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi)
After the 1962 crisis in the Western Region, a state of emergency was declared and Dr M.A. Majekodunmi was appointed sole administrator.
The head of state in the first republic of Nigeria was
Answer: B (a nominal president)
Under the 1963 Republican Constitution, President Nnamdi Azikiwe was a ceremonial (nominal) Head of State; the Prime Minister held real power.
Which of the following parties formed the opposition in the House of Representatives during Nigerian First Republic?
Answer: B (AG and UMBC)
After 1959 the NPC and NCNC formed the government. The Action Group and its ally the UMBC were the opposition.
The main objective of the Public Service Review Commission headed by Chief Jerome Udoji was to make the Nigerian public service
Answer: C (more efficient and result-oriented)
The Udoji Commission (1972–74) aimed to make the public service efficient and result-oriented, for example with management by objectives. It is often remembered for its large pay rises, but those were not its main goal.
Local governments in Nigeria receive the bulk of their financial resources from
Answer: B (the federal government)
Most local government money comes from statutory allocations out of the Federation Account, which is shared by the federal government.
The term, 'Chief-in-Council' in Nigeria means that the Chief
Answer: C (cannot oppose the decision of the council)
Under 'Chief-in-Council', the chief must act on the council's decisions, unlike 'Chief-and-Council' where he could act alone.
Traditional rulers under the 1976 Local Government Reforms had
Answer: C (limited powers)
The 1976 reform made local government a democratic third tier run by elected councils. Traditional rulers were left only advisory and ceremonial roles, so their powers were limited.
Nigeria is NOT a member of
Answer: D (NATO)
NATO is a military alliance of North American and European countries; Nigeria is not a member.
The greatest achievement of nationalist movements in Africa is the
Answer: C (sovereignty of most African States)
Nationalist movements won political independence (sovereignty) for most African countries, though economic independence was not achieved.
The administrative headquarters of OAU is in
Answer: A (Addis Ababa)
The OAU was set up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1963 and its secretariat was there; the African Union keeps it there today.
The World Health Organisation is an agency of
Answer: D (the UNO)
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations Organisation.
The organ of the United Nations primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security is the
Answer: B (Security Council)
The UN Charter gives the Security Council the main responsibility for international peace and security.
Which of these groups of African leaders is closely associated with the formation of the OAU
Answer: D (Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie)
Nkrumah was the leading campaigner for African unity, Emperor Haile Selassie hosted the 1963 founding summit, and Nyerere was a key founder. Kenyatta and Bokassa were not yet in power in May 1963.