JAMB Government 1989 past questions and answers

Proportional representation favours a

1. A.multi-party system
2. B.three-party system
3. C.two-party system
4. D.one-party system

Capitalism is an economic system which emphasizes

1. A.communalism
2. B.collectivism
3. C.individualism
4. D.internationalism

A country made up of semi autonomous units is

1. A.a confederation
2. B.a federation
3. C.a region
4. D.unitary

When a state is subject to no other authority it is said to be

1. A.powerful
2. B.legitimate
3. C.authoritative
4. D.sovereign

One of the factors that led to the decline of feudalism is

1. A.opposition to the system by the wealthy
2. B.industrialization
3. C.opposition to the system by the oppressed
4. D.the discovery of new lands

The major advantage of the principle of separation of powers is that it provides for

1. A.an executive premier
2. B.a powerful legislature
3. C.a very strong executive
4. D.checks and balances

The cabinet can be described as a link between the

1. A.executive and legislature
2. B.legislature and electorate
3. C.executive and judiciary
4. D.legislature and local government councils

Unicameralism refers to

1. A.a two-chamber legislature
2. B.the process of secret voting in the legislature
3. C.the lower chamber in a legislature
4. D.a one-chamber legislature

While pressure groups aim at influencing government decisions, the primary aim of political parties is to

1. A.promote the welfare of their members
2. B.execute particular programmes
3. C.influence legislation in order to benefit their members
4. D.control political power

Delegated legislation is justified by the

1. A.superior knowledge of issues by the executive
2. B.fear that public debates in parliaments would endanger national security
3. C.slow and unwieldy process of decision making in legislative houses
4. D.constitutional superiority of the executive over the legislative branch of government

The obligation to pay taxes regularly is justified because

1. A.citizens choose their own government
2. B.citizens enjoy services provided by government
3. C.government does not discriminate in its provision of services to different parts of the nation
4. D.taxes are the only source of government revenue

An important function of the legislature is

1. A.judicial review
2. B.review of executive policies and actions
3. C.lobbying
4. D.defending government policies

A common means of influencing public opinion is

1. A.public policy-making
2. B.legislation
3. C.propaganda
4. D.lobbying

An electoral system in which the candidate who receives the largest number of votes wins is

1. A.the preferential ballot
2. B.the second ballot
3. C.proportional system
4. D.plurality system

Which of the following is NOT usually associated with the activities of political parties?

1. A.Providing political education
2. B.Selecting and supporting candidates for public office
3. C.Forming the government
4. D.Controlling the judiciary

The political neutrality of civil servants is guaranteed by not allowing them to

1. A.vote
2. B.be members of any interest groups
3. C.have dealings with politicians
4. D.engage in partisan politics

An unwritten constitution is one which

1. A.embodies only tradition and customs
2. B.relies on the memories of elders and priests
3. C.codifies the basic laws in one document
4. D.embodies the basic laws in more than one document

Fascism is a system of government which

1. A.encourages political dissent and opposition
2. B.discourages opposition
3. C.promotes equality
4. D.promotes the international brotherhood of man

In a modern democracy the ultimate source of sovereignty is the

1. A.legislature
2. B.people
3. C.supreme court
4. D.armed forces

Which of these is a common feature of totalitarian regimes?

1. A.Existence of opposition groups
2. B.Competing political parties
3. C.A single recognized party
4. D.Freedom of association

Which of the following, according to Marx, is the correct order in which societies progress?

1. A.Capitalism, feudalism, communism, socialism
2. B.Feudalism, socialism, capitalism, communism
3. C.Communism, socialism, capitalism, feudalism
4. D.Feudalism, capitalism, socialism, communism

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

1. A.Definite boundary
2. B.Sovereignty
3. C.Independence
4. D.Common language

Public opinion refers to views and ideas expressed by

1. A.citizens regarding government policies or other issues
2. B.government regarding the public interest
3. C.elites about what the public wants
4. D.students about the public

An issue over which both the centre and the states can exercise authority in a federal system is

1. A.shared
2. B.split
3. C.exclusive
4. D.concurrent

In the traditional Hausa-Fulani political system, political authority was vested in the

1. A.Emir
2. B.Talakawa
3. C.Alkali
4. D.Emirate Council

Which of the following pre-independence organizations was formed in London in 1945?

1. A.the Jam'iyyar Mutanen Arewa
2. B.the Igbo State Union
3. C.the Egbe Omo Oduduwa
4. D.Urhobo Progressive Union

Igbo traditional system of government encouraged participation through

1. A.Ozo title
2. B.segmentary kinship
3. C.divine kingship
4. D.town assembly

In the 1950s, the Northern Elements Progressive Union was notable in Nigerian politics because it

1. A.opposed Northern traditional rulers
2. B.agitated for the formation of a unitary form of government
3. C.allied with the Northern People's Congress to form the regional government
4. D.won the election to the Northern House of Assembly

The author of the famous book Renascent Africa which inspired African nationalism is

1. A.Obafemi Awolowo
2. B.Duse Mohammed Ali
3. C.Ernest Okoli
4. D.Nnamdi Azikiwe

The civil service was first regionalized by the

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

The motion by Anthony Enahoro demanding independence for Nigeria was moved in

1. A.1951
2. B.1953
3. C.1956
4. D.1957

The office of the prime minister of Nigeria was first created by the

1. A.Ibadan constitutional conference of 1950
2. B.London constitutional conference of 1953
3. C.London constitutional conference of 1957
4. D.London constitutional conference of 1958

Which of the following aroused and promoted nationalistic feeling among Nigerians?

1. A.Slave trade, indirect rule and amalgamation
2. B.Economic exploitation, racial discrimination and political parties
3. C.Communal riots, news media and religious differences
4. D.Traditional rulers, district officers and governors-general

The leader of the Northern People's Congress was

1. A.Yusuf Maitama Sule
2. B.Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
3. C.Aminu Kano
4. D.Ahmadu Bello

The Queen of England ceased to be the head of state of Nigeria at

1. A.independence in October 1960
2. B.the attainment of self-government by the regions
3. C.the adoption of the Republican Constitution in October 1963
4. D.the inception of the presidential system in October 1979

Under the 1963 Constitution, federal judges were appointed by the

1. A.president on the advice of the prime minister
2. B.chief justice of the federation
3. C.prime minister
4. D.Judicial Service Commission

The 1963 Constitution of Nigeria was

1. A.written and flexible
2. B.written and rigid
3. C.flexible and unwritten
4. D.unitary and rigid

The major political parties in Nigeria during the First Republic were

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

The main source of local government finance since the 1976 Reform has been

1. A.local rates
2. B.levies
3. C.revenue from court fines and licences
4. D.the federal government

Under the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria, the president of the federal republic could only be removed from office by

1. A.the National Assembly
2. B.the Senate
3. C.the House of Representatives
4. D.a motion approved by at least two-thirds of all the state houses of assembly

Under the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria, the head of the judiciary was the

1. A.attorney-general and minister of justice
2. B.chief justice of the federation
3. C.solicitor-general and permanent secretary, federal ministry of justice
4. D.chief registrar of the Supreme Court

Ombudsman as an institution in Nigeria is known as the

1. A.Public Complaints Commission
2. B.Code of Conduct Bureau
3. C.Public Service Commission
4. D.Political Bureau

Which of the following sets of nations belong to both the ECOWAS and the UNO?

1. A.Sierra Leone and Uganda
2. B.Zimbabwe and Nigeria
3. C.Cameroun and Burkina Faso
4. D.Ghana and Mauritania

Fundamental human rights of citizens are provided for in

1. A.the United Nations Charter
2. B.the OAU Charter
3. C.the constitution of Amnesty International
4. D.the 1979 constitution of Nigeria

The head of the Commonwealth of Nations is the

1. A.chairman of the Conference of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments
2. B.Queen of Great Britain
3. C.prime minister of Great Britain
4. D.secretary-general of the Commonwealth

Which of the following principles does NOT govern Nigeria's foreign policy?

1. A.National interest
2. B.Non-alignment
3. C.African interests
4. D.International terrorism

During the struggle for Angolan independence, Nigeria supported

1. A.UNITA
2. B.MPLA
3. C.FNLA
4. D.SWAPO

Within the United Nations, the veto power is exercised in

1. A.UNESCO
2. B.WHO
3. C.the General Assembly
4. D.the Security Council