JAMB Government 1998 past questions and answers

Which of the following defines the concept of government?

1. A.The process of administering justice in a country
2. B.The process of supervising the activities of the legislature
3. C.The orderly management and control of the affairs of a country
4. D.The orderly transfer of power to duly elected politicians

The most distinguishing characteristic of the state is

1. A.government
2. B.population
3. C.territory
4. D.sovereignty

The Judiciary assigns clear meaning to the laws by

1. A.interpretation
2. B.enforcement
3. C.adjudication
4. D.revision

The structure of government implies the

1. A.law making process of government
2. B.law enforcement process of government
3. C.organization of powers and functions of government
4. D.method of revenue allocation by government

If the central government has less powers than the component units, the constitution is said to be

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

In a democracy, ultimate authority resides in the

1. A.electorate
2. B.people
3. C.head of state
4. D.armed forces

A major characteristic of the socialist system is its provision for

1. A.limited privacy
2. B.public ownership
3. C.unlimited privacy
4. D.private ownership

In the presidential system of government, the chief executive is

1. A.elected by the entire electorate
2. B.nominated by the legislators
3. C.selected by the party with the majority of seats in the legislature
4. D.appointed by an independent judiciary

The resignation of the cabinet after a defeat in parliament, is an expression of the principle of

1. A.political accountability
2. B.collective responsibility
3. C.checks and balances
4. D.rule of law

The empowerment of the Police Service Commission to make rules for the appointment, promotion and dismissal of its personnel, is an example of

1. A.a decree
2. B.a penal law
3. C.a delegated legislation
4. D.an executive order

The principle by which both the governors and the governed are bound by the laws is called

1. A.constitutionalism
2. B.constitutional supremacy
3. C.rule by decree
4. D.rule of law

The rights of a citizen can be withdrawn by the state if the person

1. A.leaves the country
2. B.is convicted by a court
3. C.opposes the government
4. D.is pronounced dead

In a democracy, franchise is given to all

1. A.adult citizens
2. B.citizens
3. C.loyal party members
4. D.resident adults

The major advantage of secret balloting is that it

1. A.allows people to vote freely
2. B.ensures the anonymity of the voter
3. C.extends the franchise to all adults
4. D.is faster than the other systems

A candidate who wins an election by a simple majority, must have been voted for by

1. A.a majority of the electorate
2. B.most of the electorate
3. C.a good number of the voters
4. D.a majority of the voters

A party system can be defined by the

1. A.structures of political parties
2. B.manner the government and the parties operate
3. C.relationship between the parties and the voters
4. D.number of political parties in a country

One major aim of a pressure group is to

1. A.capture political power
2. B.influence the policies of the government
3. C.install a government of its choice
4. D.implement policies that will benefit its members

Which of the following is the commonest means of expressing public opinion?

1. A.handbill
2. B.newspapers
3. C.radio
4. D.television

An acephalous, pre-colonial political system is best represented by the

1. A.Oyo empire
2. B.Igbo political organization
3. C.Ijo political organization
4. D.Benin empire

The administration of the capital of the emirate under the pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani political system was entrusted to the

1. A.galadima
2. B.waziri
3. C.sarkin fada
4. D.sarkin pawa

In the pre-colonial Yoruba society, the powers of the Oyomesi were checked by the

1. A.Baale
2. B.Ogboni
3. C.Aare Onakakanfo
4. D.Bashorun

The Aro system in Igboland was a

1. A.political organization
2. B.commercial organization
3. C.religious organization
4. D.imperial organization

In 1879, four British companies were merged to form the United African Company by

1. A.Frederick Lugard
2. B.John Beecroft
3. C.Tubman Goldie
4. D.Macgregor Laird

Which of the following was a feature of the government of a British protectorate?

1. A.Legislative Council
2. B.Provincial Authority
3. C.Executive Council
4. D.Native Authority

Educated elites did not like the system of Indirect Rule in Nigeria because it

1. A.did not make provisions for them
2. B.was exploitative and cumbersome
3. C.made traditional rulers too powerful
4. D.was undemocratic and oppressive

The Nigerian Council was created by

1. A.Hugh Clifford
2. B.Arthur Richards
3. C.Frederick Lugard
4. D.Bernard Bourdillon

Nationalism in Nigeria was facilitated by

1. A.the actions of the veterans of the two world wars and traditional rulers
2. B.the activities of Christian churches and missionaries
3. C.education and urbanization
4. D.rapid economic growth

The 1946 constitution was remarkable because it

1. A.created ministerial positions in Nigeria
2. B.introduced regional governments in Nigeria
3. C.introduced for the first time, the elective principle
4. D.brought about self-government for Nigeria

Which of the following statements is true about the 1963 and 1979 constitutions?

1. A.both had provisions for the office of the president
2. B.both had provisions for the office of a constitutional president
3. C.both provided for the offices of prime minister and president
4. D.both had provisions for the office of an executive president

The premier of Western Region immediately after independence was

1. A.Chief Obafemi Awolowo
2. B.Chief Ladoke Akintola
3. C.Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi
4. D.Alhaji D.S. Adegbenro

During the period 1960 to 1966, Nigeria was governed under the

1. A.presidential system of government
2. B.Westminster system of government
3. C.confederal system of government
4. D.unitary system of government

Which of the following was not established under the 1979 Nigerian constitution?

1. A.National Council on Education
2. B.National Economic Council
3. C.National Security Council
4. D.National Defence Council

Federalism was adopted in Nigeria as a constitutional response to the problem of

1. A.educational imbalance
2. B.national identity
3. C.ethnic pluralism
4. D.manpower and resources

In a federal system, the power allocated to both the central and the state governments is said to be

1. A.exclusive
2. B.concurrent
3. C.residual
4. D.inherent

In the botched Third Republic, the unit of representation in the House of Representatives was the

1. A.local government
2. B.electoral ward
3. C.senatorial district
4. D.entire state

Public corporations mainly differ from the ministries in that they

1. A.are not bureaucratic
2. B.provide social services to the public
3. C.require highly professional staff
4. D.are organized as business enterprises

The privatization of public corporation is aimed at

1. A.making their goods and services available
2. B.making them reliable
3. C.making them more efficient
4. D.allowing the public to control them

One major democratic innovation in local government administration introduced by the Babangida regime was the

1. A.appointment of portfolio councillors
2. B.appointment of retired military officers as sole administrators
3. C.selection of heads of personnel management departments from the councillors
4. D.separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of the councils

The change in the role of traditional rulers in local government administration in Nigeria can be attributed to the

1. A.1976 local government reforms
2. B.involvement of the military in politics
3. C.lack of support for the traditional rulers by the citizens
4. D.1988 civil service reforms

Which of the following factors was not responsible for the military intervention in Nigerian politics in 1966?

1. A.Willingness of politicians to relinquish power
2. B.The Western Regional election of 1965
3. C.The Federal Election of 1964
4. D.Ethnic politics and lawlessness

One outstanding action for which the Gowon administration will be remembered in Nigeria's political history is the

1. A.organization of FESTAC
2. B.construction of roads
3. C.creation of twelve states
4. D.civil service purge

An example of Nigeria's external cultural relations is her

1. A.establishment of diplomatic relations with other nations
2. B.economic aid to neighbouring countries
3. C.exchange of students with friendly nations
4. D.trade interactions with developing countries

At independence in 1960, the permission to establish a diplomatic mission in Nigeria was not granted to

1. A.the United States of America
2. B.Japan
3. C.the United Kingdom
4. D.the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

The concept of Africa as the centre-piece of Nigerian foreign policy implies that Nigeria should

1. A.interfere in the internal affairs of other African states
2. B.support secessionist movements in Africa
3. C.participate in any peace-keeping operation in Africa
4. D.lay more emphasis on African issues

The organ responsible for the general administration of ECOWAS is the

1. A.Executive Secretariat
2. B.Council of Ministers
3. C.Authority of Heads of State and Government
4. D.Tribunal of the Community

The first international organization Nigeria joined after independence is the

1. A.United Nations Organization
2. B.Organization of African Unity
3. C.Commonwealth of Nations
4. D.Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

The Security Council of the United Nations Organization is composed of

1. A.the Western industrial nations
2. B.the five permanent members
3. C.the five permanent members and other members periodically elected
4. D.eleven member states elected by the General Assembly