25 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Which of the following best reflects the essence of government as an institution?
I. Making and enforcing laws
II. Provision of public goods
III. Ownership of all private property
IV. Maintenance of order
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Government makes and enforces laws, provides public goods and keeps order. It does not own all private property.
A defining feature of a political party includes:
I. Contesting elections
II. Seeking to control government
III. Promoting private business interests only
IV. Aggregating public opinion
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
A party contests elections to win control of government and brings together (aggregates) people's views. Promoting only private business interests is not what defines a party.
Foreign policy objectives of a state may include:
I. Protection of national interest
II. Promotion of international peace
III. Elimination of domestic opposition
IV. Economic cooperation
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Foreign policy deals with a state's relations with other states: protecting national interest, promoting peace and economic cooperation. Dealing with domestic opposition is not a foreign-policy aim.
The United Nations is primarily concerned with:
I. Collective security
II. Promotion of human rights
III. Conduct of national elections
IV. International cooperation
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
The UN works for collective security, human rights and cooperation among nations. Conducting a country's national elections is that country's own job.
A key characteristic of the presidential system includes:
I. Separation of powers
II. Fixed tenure of office
III. Fusion of executive and legislature
IV. Direct election of the executive
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
A presidential system separates the powers, gives the executive a fixed term and elects the president directly. Fusion of powers belongs to the parliamentary system.
Feudalism is best understood through:
I. Land-based hierarchy
II. Loyalty between lords and vassals
III. Industrial capitalism
IV. Decentralized authority
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Feudalism was built on land held in a hierarchy, with vassals owing loyalty to lords and power spread among local lords. Industrial capitalism came later.
Authority in political theory involves:
I. Legitimate power
II. Acceptance by the governed
III. Use of force at all times
IV. Right to command
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Authority is power that is legitimate and accepted, giving the right to command. It does not need force all the time.
An electoral system determines:
I. How votes are cast
II. How votes are counted
III. How leaders are selected outside elections
IV. Allocation of seats
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
An electoral system sets the rules for casting and counting votes and turning them into seats. Choosing leaders outside elections is not part of it.
Franchise refers to:
I. The right to vote
II. Eligibility to contest elections
III. Ownership of political parties
IV. Political participation
Answer: B (I, II and IV)
Franchise is the right to take part in elections, mainly voting and also being voted for, so it is a form of political participation. Owning parties has nothing to do with it.
Federalism is characterized by:
I. Division of powers
II. Supremacy of the constitution
III. Unitary control of all regions
IV. Autonomy of constituent units
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
A federation divides power between levels of government, has a supreme written constitution and gives the units their own autonomy. Unitary control is the opposite.
Power in politics refers to:
I. Ability to influence decisions
II. Capacity to enforce obedience
III. Moral persuasion only
IV. Control of resources
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Political power is the ability to influence decisions and make people obey, often backed by control of resources. It is more than moral persuasion.
Sovereignty implies:
I. Supreme authority
II. Independence from external control
III. Shared authority with foreign states
IV. Final legal power
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Sovereignty means supreme, final legal power within a state, free from outside control. It is not shared with foreign states.
Political culture includes:
I. Values and beliefs
II. Attitudes toward authority
III. Economic production methods
IV. Political participation patterns
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Political culture is the values, beliefs and attitudes people hold about politics and how they take part. Production methods are economics.
Electoral crises in Nigeria have been associated with:
I. Rigging
II. Violence
III. Vote buying
IV. Judicial neutrality
Answer: C (I II and III)
Rigging, violence and vote buying have caused electoral crises in Nigeria. A neutral judiciary helps to settle disputes, not cause them.
Features of Nigerian federalism include:
I. Revenue allocation formula
II. State autonomy
III. Centralized dictatorship
IV. Federal character principle
Answer: D (I, II and IV)
Nigerian federalism has a revenue allocation formula, autonomous states and the federal character principle. A centralized dictatorship is not federal.
The Commonwealth of Nations promotes:
I. Shared sovereignty
II. Cooperation among member states
III. Military alliance
IV. Development assistance
Answer: B (II and IV only)
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association that promotes cooperation and development among members. Members keep their own sovereignty and it is not a military alliance.
A parliamentary system is marked by:
I. Fusion of powers
II. Executive drawn from legislature
III. Fixed tenure of executive
IV. Collective responsibility
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
In a parliamentary system the ministers come from parliament (fusion of powers) and are collectively responsible to it. The executive has no fixed tenure: it can be removed by a vote of no confidence.
Democracy involves:
I. Popular participation
II. Rule of law
III. Fixed tenure of office
IV. Protection of rights
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
Democracy rests on people taking part, the rule of law and protection of rights. A fixed tenure of office belongs to presidential systems, not to every democracy.
Legitimacy in governance depends on:
I. Acceptance by citizens
II. Legal backing
III. Performance of government
IV. Coercion alone
Answer: B (I II and III)
A government is legitimate when citizens accept it, it has legal backing and it performs well. Force alone cannot make it legitimate.
Development of political parties may be influenced by:
I. Military rule only
II. Historical events
III. Social cleavages
IV. Ideological differences
Answer: D (II, III and IV)
Parties grow out of history, social divisions (cleavages) and differences in ideology. Military rule usually bans parties rather than develops them.
The Economic Community of West African States is concerned with:
I. Member tax
II. Global military dominance
III. Regional integration
IV. Conflict resolution
Answer: C (III and IV only)
ECOWAS works for economic integration of West Africa and helps resolve conflicts in the region. It does not seek global military dominance.
The Organization of African Unity (now African Union) aimed at:
I. African unity
II. Decolonization
III. Promotion of apartheid
IV. Sovereignty of member states
Answer: A (I, II and IV)
The OAU worked for African unity, the end of colonial rule and respect for members' sovereignty. It fought against apartheid.
Sovereignty can be limited by:
I. International law
II. Treaties
III. Domestic constitution
IV. Absolute independence
Answer: A (I, II and III)
International law, treaties a state signs and its own constitution all limit how sovereign power is used. Absolute independence is the opposite of a limit.
Political participation may take forms such as:
I. Voting
II. Protesting
III. Military coup
IV. Party membership
Answer: B (I II and IV only)
Voting, lawful protest and joining a party are ways citizens take part in politics. A coup is an unconstitutional seizure of power, not participation.
Features of a good electoral system include:
I. Transparency
II. Fairness
III. Credibility
IV. Manipulation
Answer: D (I, II and III)
A good electoral system is transparent, fair and credible. Manipulation destroys it.