JAMB Government 1987 past questions and answers

A confederal system of government means

1. A.strong regional governments and a weak central authority
2. B.a strong central authority and weak regional governments
3. C.a strong central authority and strong regional governments
4. D.a weak central authority and weak regional governments

The organs of government which are normally fused in a military regime are the

1. A.Civil Service and parastatals
2. B.Legislature and the Executive
3. C.Executive and the Judiciary
4. D.Judiciary and the Legislature

In a monarchical form of government, sovereignty resides with

1. A.the council of ministers
2. B.royalty
3. C.peasantry
4. D.the entire citizenry

A constitution is rigid if it

1. A.cannot be amended
2. B.is found only in one written document
3. C.requires special precedures for amendment
4. D.is changed only by judicial interpretation

In a unitary state, power is concentrated in the

1. A.local governments
2. B.constituent units of the state
3. C.major ethnic groups
4. D.national government

Fundamental rights are best guaranteed by

1. A.independent judiciary
2. B.good leadership
3. C.effective legislature
4. D.efficient civil service

The main objective of pressure groups is to

1. A.win political power
2. B.conduct free and fair elections
3. C.mobilize support on behalf of the government
4. D.protect the interests of its members

Franchise means

1. A.resident aliens can vote
2. B.French people can vote
3. C.right to vote
4. D.executive order

A parliamentary system of government is characterized by

1. A.separation of powers
2. B.fusion of power
3. C.delegated legislation
4. D.legislative supremacy

Under proportional representation, elections are won on the basis of

1. A.simple majority of votes cast
2. B.absolute majority of votes cast
3. C.two-thirds majority of votes cast
4. D.votes received relative to those of other parties

A special election organised to decide on a political issue is

1. A.plebiscite
2. B.by-election
3. C.general election
4. D.primary election

The electorate means

1. A.elected members of the Assembly
2. B.candidates for election
3. C.electoral officers
4. D.citizens qualified to vote

The term 'Rule of Law' refers to situations in which

1. A.lawyers are the rulers
2. B.laws are supreme
3. C.the judiciary is independent
4. D.parliament makes laws

Which of the following is NOT a unique feature of federal constitution?

1. A.Division of powers
2. B.At least two levels of government
3. C.Supremacy of the constitution
4. D.Independence of the judiciary

An important principle of the Civil Service is

1. A.authoritarianism
2. B.anonymity
3. C.nepotism
4. D.partisanship

Which of the following is NOT necessarily a characteristic feature of a state?

1. A.A territory
2. B.An army
3. C.A government
4. D.A system of laws

In a federal system of government,

1. A.the central government shares powers equally with the state governments
2. B.all the states of the federation are equal in size and population
3. C.state courts control federal courts
4. D.the central government has exclusive power over defence and foreign affairs

Bicameral legislature exists

1. A.where cameramen are allowed to cover the proceedings of the legislature
2. B.to prevent the concentration of power in one legislative house
3. C.to provide jobs for more politicians
4. D.to ensure that just laws are passed

Socialism is associated with

1. A.Karl Marx
2. B.Nicolo Machiavelli
3. C.Aristotle
4. D.Plato

The body that selects the head of government following a general election is the

1. A.senate
2. B.electoral college
3. C.electoral committee
4. D.supreme court

In liberal democracies, elections help to

1. A.determine the acceptability of the government
2. B.unite the country against outside groups
3. C.create goodwill throughout the nation
4. D.identify the richest groups in the country

A major feature of the presidential system of government is that the

1. A.President is not responsible for his ministers' mistakes
2. B.ministers are not collectively responsible to the president
3. C.president does not need the legislature to pass laws
4. D.president is not a member of the legislature

The termination of a session of a legislature by proclamation issued by the head of state is called

1. A.prorogation
2. B.dissolution
3. C.plebiscite
4. D.summons

The forceful domination of one country by another is called

1. A.nationalism
2. B.totalitarianism
3. C.dictatorship
4. D.colonization

Which of the following traditional political systems was republican?

1. A.Igbo
2. B.Yoruba
3. C.Fulani
4. D.Bini

Which of the following is a function of the local government in Nigeria?

1. A.Collection of radio and television licence fees
2. B.Collection of company tax
3. C.Appointment of customary court judges
4. D.Appointment of traditional rulers

An important factor that brought about the introduction of federalism in Nigeria was the

1. A.existence of three regions
2. B.division of powers between the federal and state governments
3. C.diversity and complexity in social and cultural patterns
4. D.existence of cultural bicameral legislature

When did Nigeria adopt the nineteen-state structure?

1. A.1960
2. B.1966
3. C.1976
4. D.1979

Who was the architect of the British rule in Nigeria?

1. A.George Tubman Goldie
2. B.Frederick Lugard
3. C.Hugh Clifford
4. D.Arthur Richards

The head of the first military government in Nigeria was

1. A.General Murtala Muhammed
2. B.General Yakubu Gowon
3. C.General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
4. D.General Olusegun Obasanjo

Herbert Macaulay was the first president of

1. A.NCNC
2. B.AG
3. C.UMBC
4. D.NEPU

The Nigerian Youth Movement was formed to

1. A.fight for greater participation of Nigerians in colonial politics
2. B.enable the educated elite seize power from the chiefs
3. C.establish more schools throughout the country
4. D.fight for the free movement of youths

Under the indirect rule system,

1. A.chiefs were allowed to govern their people
2. B.colonial administrators shared power equally with traditional rulers
3. C.traditional rulers were encouraged to adopt the British system of government
4. D.colonial administrators increased the powers of traditional rulers

Nigerian federalism before 1966 was bedevilled by

1. A.amendment clauses of the constitution
2. B.large number of the local government areas
3. C.lack of uniformity of the civil service
4. D.uneven sizes of the constituent regions

Nigeria attained independence in 1960 through

1. A.negotiation between the British government and Nigerian nationalists
2. B.armed struggle by Nigerian nationalists and traditional rulers
3. C.negotiation between the British government and the United Nations
4. D.negotiation between the British government and traditional rulers

The Clifford Constitution was notable for

1. A.amalgamating the Northern and Southern Provinces
2. B.introducing indirect rule
3. C.establishing the legislative council
4. D.creating a Northern majority in the legislative council

Under the Macpherson Constitution, members of the central legislature were

1. A.appointed by the governor-general
2. B.chosen from the regional legislature
3. C.elected directly by the whole country
4. D.appointed by the regional Lt Governors

The founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association was

1. A.Casely Hayford
2. B.Herbert Macaulay
3. C.Marcus Garvey
4. D.W.E.B. Du Bois

The foremost nationalist leaders in pre-independent Nigeria were

1. A.Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Shehu Shagari
2. B.Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello
3. C.Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Muhammadu Ribadu
4. D.Alvan Ikoku, Samuel Akintola, Herbert Macaulay and Ahmadu Bello

The 1976 Local Government Reforms declared that traditional rulers should

1. A.perform executive functions
2. B.preside over local government councils
3. C.perform advisory roles
4. D.enact laws

By-laws are

1. A.enactments by the legislature
2. B.regulations enacted by the local governments
3. C.fundamental judicial statements
4. D.private bills

One of the objectives of the OAU is to ensure

1. A.mutual assistance of member states in suppressing domestic uprising
2. B.non-interference in internal affairs of member states
3. C.constant readjustment of territorial boundaries of member states
4. D.unification of liberation movements in Southern Africa

The administrative headquarters of ECOWAS is in

1. A.Lome
2. B.Cotonou
3. C.Dakar
4. D.Lagos

The UNO was founded in 1945 to replace the

1. A.OAU
2. B.NATO
3. C.Commonwealth of Nations
4. D.League of Nations

The UNO charter aims at

1. A.ensuring economic equality among nations
2. B.protecting the right of refugees
3. C.ensuring world peace and security
4. D.ensuring fair treatment for prisoners of war

The Commonwealth of Nations is made up of

1. A.African and Asian states
2. B.Britain and some of her former colonies
3. C.France and some of her former colonies
4. D.French and English speaking African countries

Which of the following countries belonged to the Casablanca Group?

1. A.Liberia
2. B.Tunisia
3. C.Mali
4. D.Cote d' Ivoire

In Nigeria, the institution that preserves civil liberty is the

1. A.Public Complaints Commission
2. B.law court
3. C.Civil Service Commission
4. D.Police Commission