47 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
The distinctive attribute of a state is the monopoly of
Answer: C (violence)
Max Weber defined the state as the body that holds the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force (violence) in a territory; no other group may lawfully use force.
State as a political entity refers to
Answer: A (an organized group within a definite territory)
A state is an organised political community of people living in a defined territory under a government with sovereignty.
Political values are acquired in any given society through
Answer: C (political socialization)
Political socialization through family, school, media and peers passes political values on to people.
In a democratic government, political sovereignty is vested in the
Answer: D (electorate.)
Political sovereignty lies with the electorate, who decide by their votes who governs.
One judicial function performed by the executive is
Answer: A (granting of amnesty)
By the prerogative of mercy the president or governor can pardon or grant amnesty to offenders, which affects judicial outcomes.
A governmental system in which constitutional supremacy resides in the centre is
Answer: C (unitary)
In a unitary state the central government holds supreme power, and any local units exist only by its will.
A political system which empowers the leader with the ultimate responsibility to execute laws is
Answer: B (presidentialism)
The presidential system vests executive power in the president, who is finally responsible for carrying out the laws.
A bill is a draft which is awaiting the consideration of the
Answer: C (legislature)
A bill is a proposed law that the legislature must debate and pass before it becomes an act.
The private ownership of the means of production is a feature of
Answer: A (capitalism)
Under capitalism factories, land and businesses are privately owned and run for profit.
In a feudal system, the two major classes are the serfs and the
Answer: C (lords)
Feudal society was divided mainly into landowning lords and the serfs who worked their land.
An example of a country with a flexible constitution is
Answer: B (Britain)
Britain's constitution can be changed by an ordinary act of Parliament, so it is flexible.
The rule of law is a negation of
Answer: D (absolute power.)
Under the rule of law even rulers are bound by the law, so nobody can have absolute or arbitrary power.
To ensure the rights and freedom of citizens, the powers of the arms of government must be
Answer: C (separated)
Separating powers among the three arms prevents any one person or body from abusing power against citizens.
Delegated legislation is made by bodies other than the
Answer: C (parliament)
Delegated legislation is law made by ministers, agencies or councils, not by parliament itself, under powers parliament gives them.
The bringing of a session of a parliament to an end through royal proclamation is known as
Answer: D (prorogation of parliament.)
Prorogation ends a session of parliament by proclamation without dissolving it.
The right of citizens to participate in the affairs of government of their country is called
Answer: C (political right)
Political rights let citizens take part in governing, for example by voting and contesting elections.
The commission charged with the conduct of federal elections in Nigeria is
Answer: C (INEC)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts federal and state elections in Nigeria today.
An electoral system in which parties are assigned seats in the parliament commensurate to the number of votes polled is
Answer: C (proportional representation)
Under proportional representation each party's share of seats matches its share of votes.
An intra-party activity for the selection of candidates for elective positions is known as
Answer: A (primary election)
Parties choose their candidates in primary elections before the general election.
The primary aim of pressure groups is to
Answer: B (protect the interest of members)
Pressure groups exist to defend and advance their members' interests, not to take over government.
Which of the following is used in gauging public opinion?
Answer: C (Mass media.)
Newspapers, radio, television and phone-ins reflect and measure what the public thinks.
A permanent structure that facilitates continuity and guarantees orderly conduct in governance is
Answer: A (bureaucracy)
The bureaucracy (civil service) remains when governments change, which keeps government running smoothly.
In the Hausa pre-colonial political system, a district was headed by
Answer: A (a hakimi)
The Hakimi was the district head; the Dagaci headed a village and the Alkali was a judge.
Which of the following ensured the practice of democracy in the pre-colonial Yoruba political system?
Answer: A (Checks and balances)
The Oyomesi could check the Alaafin (even ask him to commit suicide), and the Ogboni checked the Oyomesi, so no one ruled without limits.
Colonization of Africa was mainly motivated by
Answer: B (economic reasons)
European powers mainly wanted raw materials, markets and profits from Africa.
The French colonial system was underlined by the policy of
Answer: A (assimilation)
France aimed to assimilate its colonial subjects into French culture.
Radical nationalism in Nigeria is generally attributed to the influence of
Answer: C (Nnamdi Azikiwe)
Azikiwe's newspapers (such as the West African Pilot) and the Zikist movement brought a more radical tone to Nigerian nationalism from the late 1930s.
Members of the Senate in Nigeria's First Republic were
Answer: C (nominated by regional and federal governments)
First Republic senators were not elected by voters; they were chosen by the regional governments, with a few appointed by the federal government.
In Nigeria, the agency mainly responsible for the maintenance of internal peace and security is the
Answer: D (Police.)
The police keep internal law and order; the army and navy defend the country against external threats.
The National Assembly in Nigeria is primarily responsible for
Answer: D (making laws)
The National Assembly is the legislature, and its main job is making laws.
The major factor militating against the efficient operation of electoral commissions in Nigeria is
Answer: D (excessive political interference.)
Interference by the government and politicians, for example in appointments and funding, undermines the independence of electoral commissions.
A major objective of the Public Complaints Commission is
Answer: C (addressing the grievances of individuals and groups)
The Public Complaints Commission investigates complaints by citizens against unfair treatment by public bodies.
The three registered political parties at the inception of Nigeria's Fourth Republic were
Answer: B (PDP, AD and APP)
INEC registered the PDP, AD and APP for the 1999 elections that began the Fourth Republic.
The Sharia legal system was first introduced in the Fourth Republic in
Answer: C (Zamfara State)
Zamfara State, under Governor Ahmed Sani, was the first to adopt Sharia criminal law, in 1999-2000.
Quota system and federal character principles were entrenched in the 1979 Constitution to ensure
Answer: C (equity)
These principles aim at fairness (equity) in sharing jobs, admissions and appointments among all parts of the country.
Workers in the public corporations are known as
Answer: C (public servants)
Staff of public corporations are public servants; civil servants are those working in government ministries.
The central objective of privatization in Nigeria is to
Answer: D (improve the efficiency of enterprises.)
Privatization aims to make enterprises run more efficiently and profitably under private management.
Military intervention in Nigeria arose from
Answer: A (perceived incapability of civilians to govern)
Coup plotters claimed that civilian politicians had failed, through corruption, rigging and disorder, to govern well.
The first institution introduced by the military to exercise legislative power was the
Answer: A (Supreme Military Council)
Under the first military government (1966), the Supreme Military Council made laws by decree. The AFRC (1985) and PRC (1993) came later.
The main focus of Nigeria's foreign policy since independence centres on
Answer: D (afrocentrism.)
Since 1960 Africa has been the centre-piece of Nigeria's foreign policy.
The country that championed decolonization in Africa was
Answer: C (Ghana)
Ghana, the first black African colony to win independence (1957), led by Kwame Nkrumah, championed the freedom of all Africa.
A major drawback to the NEPAD initiative is its
Answer: D (reliance on Western donors for funds.)
NEPAD depends heavily on aid and investment from Western countries, which limits Africa's control over it.
The structure of the African Union includes
Answer: B (Pan African Parliament, the Court of Justice and the Peace and Security Council)
AU organs include the Assembly, the Commission, the Pan-African Parliament, the Court of Justice and the Peace and Security Council.
The African leader mostly credited for spearheading the formation of the African Union is
Answer: A (Muammar Ghaddafi)
Libya's Gaddafi hosted the 1999 Sirte summit that called for the AU and pushed hard for African unity.
One of the programmes binding members of the Commonwealth is the
Answer: D (scholarship scheme.)
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan lets students study in other member countries.
As part of the reforms in the UN, two slots were proposed in the Security Council for
Answer: B (Africa)
African states (Ezulwini Consensus) demand two permanent seats for Africa in a reformed Security Council.
The founding members of OPEC are
Answer: D (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela.)
OPEC was founded in Baghdad in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.