JAMB Government 1988 past questions and answers

The right to direct and command people is

1. A.authority
2. B.power
3. C.opinion
4. D.obedience

The application of the rule of law can be hindered by

1. A.independence of the judiciary
2. B.irresponsible press
3. C.unequal distribution of wealth
4. D.free access to education

When sovereignty rests with component states in a political system, the constitution is referred to as

1. A.flexible
2. B.unitary
3. C.confederal
4. D.federal

Constitutions originate from a belief that there is need for

1. A.limited government
2. B.freedom of worship
3. C.full employment
4. D.judicial independence

In a parliamentary system of government, the offices of head of state and head of government are

1. A.fused
2. B.separated
3. C.not defined
4. D.indistinguishable

Citizenship may be changed by

1. A.renunciation
2. B.remarriage
3. C.divorce
4. D.conviction

Fascism emphasises

1. A.individualism
2. B.equality
3. C.nationalism
4. D.collectivism

Government by the few is

1. A.dictatorship
2. B.monarchy
3. C.oligarchy
4. D.autocracy

The doctrine of separation of powers is associated with

1. A.Montesquieu
2. B.Locke
3. C.Marx
4. D.Hobbes

The primary function of the judiciary is to

1. A.make laws
2. B.protect the citizens
3. C.interpret laws
4. D.execute laws

Which of the following nations operates an unwritten constitution?

1. A.U.S.A
2. B.Canada
3. C.Australia
4. D.Great Britain

Which of the following encourages capitalism?

1. A.Public ownership of all forms of enterprise
2. B.Even distribution of wealth
3. C.Private ownership of the means of production
4. D.Centrally planned economy

The principle of collective responsibility means that ministers

1. A.are collectively responsible to the head of state
2. B.are collectively responsible for cabinet decisions
3. C.are heads of their respective departments
4. D.must always show a sense of responsibility to their fellow ministers

One of the important advantages of federalism is that

1. A.any component state can secede at any time
2. B.each state can develop at its own pace
3. C.each state can only spend money allocated to it by the centre
4. D.citizens cannot be taxed by both state and federal governments

A major difference between power and authority is that authority is

1. A.popularly acquired
2. B.more costly to exercise
3. C.less dependent on force
4. D.exercise more frequently

In simple plurality electoral system, the winner receives

1. A.more than half of the votes cast
2. B.overwhelming majority of all votes cast
3. C.more votes than those for all other candidates combined
4. D.the highest vote cast in favour of any candidate

A major weakness of unicameral legislature is that it

1. A.delays legislation
2. B.is unsuitable for a unitary state
3. C.breeds struggle for power
4. D.does not provide a check against hasty legislation

An essential feature of democracy is

1. A.rigid constitution
2. B.people's consent
3. C.supremacy of parliament
4. D.bicameral legislature

A characteristic feature of communism is

1. A.free enterprise
2. B.liberal democracy
3. C.dictatorship
4. D.multi-party system

Which of the following is NOT a mode of constitutional change?

1. A.Party manifesto
2. B.Formal amendment
3. C.Judicial decision
4. D.Statutory revision

A tax law is a

1. A.private bill
2. B.speaker's bill
3. C.public bill
4. D.judicial bill

Attempts to influence legislation by persuading legislators are known as

1. A.socialization
2. B.gerrymandering
3. C.lobbying
4. D.electioneering

One main feature of government in many pre-colonial societies in Nigeria was

1. A.age-grade organization
2. B.grade union movement
3. C.student's organization
4. D.council of Obas

The Nigerian nationalist movement was greatly assisted by the

1. A.Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria
2. B.Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry
3. C.trade unions
4. D.traditional rulers

Which of the following groups are all public corporations?

1. A.UAC, NNPC, NPA, NEPA
2. B.NITEL, NAA, NUC, NTC
3. C.NEPA, NNPC, NITEL, NAA
4. D.UAC, NTC, NPA, NAA

The Public Complaints Commission is empowerd to investigate complaints and

1. A.prosecute false complainants
2. B.report findings to appropriate authorities for action
3. C.reprimand authorities against whom complaints are made
4. D.refer complaints to traditional rulers

The basic unit of government in pre-colonial Yorubaland was the

1. A.town
2. B.empire
3. C.palace
4. D.ward

The ruling system in pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani societies where rulers were both religious and political heads was referred to as

1. A.meritocracy
2. B.oligarchy
3. C.theocracy
4. D.aristocracy

Which of the following governors of Nigeria opposed the demands of the National Congress of British West Africa?

1. A.Lord Frederick Lugard
2. B.Sir Arthur Richards
3. C.Sir Hugh Clifford
4. D.Sir Alan Burns

The major change effected by the government of Major-General J. T.U.Aguiyi-Ironsi was the

1. A.abolition of federalism
2. B.reposting of government officials
3. C.dissolution of boards of corporations
4. D.creation of states

Which of the following principal officials was NOT a member of the state house of assembly?

1. A.The leader of the house
2. B.The speaker
3. C.The deputy speaker
4. D.The clerk of the house

According to the 1976 Local Government Reforms, the chief executive of a local government council is the

1. A.supervisory councillor
2. B.chairman of the local government council
3. C.governor of the state
4. D.secretary of the local government council

One of the major features of the constitution operative in the British West African colonies during the 1920s was the

1. A.introduction of the elective principle
2. B.removal of colonial governors by colonial legislative councils
3. C.introduction of universal adult suffrage
4. D.abolition of the local governments

The principle of regionalism was introduced into Nigerian politics by the

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

The Nigerian Council was created by

1. A.Hugh Clifford
2. B.Arthur Richards
3. C.Frederick Lugard
4. D.Graeme Thompson

A common provision in the 1963 and 1979 Constitution is the

1. A.registration of political parties by FEDECO
2. B.financing of local governments by the federal government
3. C.Judicial Service Commission
4. D.bicameral legislature for the central government

Africans were first elected to the legislative council in British West Africa in

1. A.Ghana
2. B.Sierra Leone
3. C.The Gambia
4. D.Nigeria

Under the Independence Constitution, the head of government was the

1. A.governor-general
2. B.president
3. C.prime minister
4. D.premier

The Nigerian National Alliance of the First Republic was made up of

1. A.NCNC and NDP
2. B.NPC and AG
3. C.NPC and NNDP
4. D.NCNC and AG

When did the Federal Military Government abolish the four regions in Nigeria?

1. A.1963
2. B.1966
3. C.1970
4. D.1976

The headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa is located in

1. A.Ghana
2. B.Kenya
3. C.Nigeria
4. D.Ethiopia

The following are members of the Commonwealth EXCEPT

1. A.Lesotho
2. B.Jamaica
3. C.Kenya
4. D.Gabon

One of the functions of the Ministry of External Affairs is the

1. A.deportation of illegal aliens
2. B.issuance of passports
3. C.defence of the country's borders
4. D.promotion of national interest

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are

1. A.China, UK, USSR, USA and France
2. B.USSR, Germany, Canada, India and China
3. C.UK, France, USA, Brazil and Ethiopia
4. D.USA, China, Liberia, USSR, and Italy

Before the OAU was formed in 1963, Nigeria was a member of the

1. A.Monrovia Bloc
2. B.Afro-Arab Bloc
3. C.Casablanca Powers
4. D.Brazzaville Group

Which of the following has NOT been a Secretary-General of the OAU?

1. A.Adebayo Adedeji
2. B.Ide Oumaru
3. C.Diallo Telli
4. D.Edem Kodjo

The appointment of the Secretary-General of the OAU is made by the

1. A.Economic Commission for Africa
2. B.OAU Secretariat
3. C.Council of Foreign Ministers
4. D.Assembly of Heads of State and Government

Nigeria is a member of

1. A.OPEC, NATO and ECOWAS
2. B.OAU, the UNO and ECOWAS
3. C.ECOWAS, NATO, and OAU
4. D.The Commonwealth of Nations, OPEC and the OAS

Which of the following pairs are members of ECOWAS?

1. A.Nigeria and Cameroon
2. B.Liberia and Congo
3. C.Senegal and Zaire
4. D.Cape Verde and Burkina Faso