WAEC Government 1996 past questions and answers

The functions of government include all the following except the

1. A.maintenance of peace and order
2. B.provison of social services
3. C.protection of citizens from malicious attacks
4. D.provision of free medical services
5. E.maintenance of the country's constitution.

Delegated legislation refers to the

1. A.power of government agencies to make laws
2. B.laws made by the legislature
3. C.transfer of law making power to the executive and judicial arms
4. D.laws made by government agencies as authorised by the legislature
5. E.law making power granted by the legislature.

The concept of sovereignty was popularised by

1. A.J.J Rousseau
2. B.A.V. Dicey
3. C.C.L. Montesquieu
4. D.John Locke
5. E.Jean Bodin.

A system of government which allows individual citizens to control the means of production and distribution is called

1. A.capitalism
2. B.fascism
3. C.feudalism
4. D.communism
5. E.totalitarianism.

Political authority is the

1. A.consent and recognition of the legitimacy of the government by the governed
2. B.power of the government to impose its will on the people
3. C.ability of the people to reject a bad government
4. D.power of the government derived from the constitution
5. E.independence of government actions, both internally and externally.

In which of the following political systems is the Rule of Law likely to be most enhanced?

1. A.Military
2. B.Parliamentary
3. C.Fascist
4. D.Monarchical
5. E.Totalitarian.

An essential feature of democracy is

1. A.election by all adults
2. B.government by few wealthy men
3. C.participation by everyone in the economic sector
4. D.majority rule
5. E.easy decision making.

Who is regarded as the father of Communism?

1. A.Karl Marx
2. B.V.I Lenin
3. C.Benito Mussolini
4. D.A.V. Dicey
5. E.Austin Ranney.

Which of the following is an important feature of a unitary constitution?

1. A.Revolutionary power
2. B.Concentration of power
3. C.Deconcentration of power
4. D.Enfranchisement of power
5. E.Decentralisation of power.

A major reason for enshrining fundamental human rights in the constitution is to

1. A.make the constitution flexible
2. B.make the constitution supreme
3. C.protect the rights of office holders
4. D.prevent military intervention
5. E.protect the rights of individuals in the society.

The security and ratification of major executive decisions by the legislature are an application of

1. A.the rule of law
2. B.separation of powers
3. C.delegated legislation
4. D.fusion of powers
5. E.checks and balances.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of confederation?

1. A.The central government is too far from the people
2. B.the central authority is vested with too much power
3. C.The primary loyality of the citizens is to the central government
4. D.It encourages secession
5. E.it makes a nonsense of party system.

A major feature of the parliamentary system of government is that

1. A.members of the executive are also members of the legislature
2. B.the head of state is also the head of government
3. C.there is clear-cut separation of powers
4. D.the constitution cannot be amended
5. E.the prime minister is popularly elected.

A constitution can best be discribed as

1. A.the compiled laws of a state
2. B.a general book of laws
3. C.the fundamental laws to guide the government of a state
4. D.a detailed code of conduct for politicians
5. E.the reference book for judges.

The process of distribution of powers among authorities distinct from the central government is known as

1. A.centralization
2. B.delegation
3. C.deconcentration
4. D.separation
5. E.decentralization.

Constitutionalism denotes that

1. A.the constitution is largely made up of conventions
2. B.the provision of the constitution is strictly adhered to
3. C.the constitution is not easy to amend
4. D.there is a constitutional Head of State
5. E.the provisions of the constitution are contained in a single document.

Franchise means the

1. A.ability to conduct elections
2. B.body of principles governing the conduct of an election
3. C.right to partcipate in an election
4. D.right granted to French citizens to vote.
5. E.administrative procedure for free and fair elections.

Public opinion can best be defined as

1. A.one man's view on public issues
2. B.sentiments expressed on public policies
3. C.the sum total of popular views on public policies
4. D.the view of the rich expressed on public affairs
5. E.a body of convictions of the electorate only.

Which of the following best explains the term mainfesto? The

1. A.constitution of the political party
2. B.authority to form a political party
3. C.proposed programme of a political party
4. D.symbol of the ruling political party
5. E.campaign strategies of a political party.

Universal adult surffrage is very popular today because it

1. A.allows the establishment of military regimes
2. B.allows for equal political representation
3. C.encourages a multi-party system
4. D.ensures equal performance of all political parties
5. E.allows for greater political participation.

The purpose of an election is to

1. A.allow people to participate in choosing their leaders
2. B.provide social amenities for the electorate
3. C.declare election results
4. D.give people political education
5. E.allow the counting of votes in public.

Which of the following is not a method of election?

1. A.Simple majority
2. B.Proportional representation
3. C.Single-member constituency
4. D.Plurality system
5. E.Absolute majority.

How many Nigerians were elected into Legislative Council when the elective principle was appllied in

1. A.Two
2. B.Three
3. C.Four
4. D.Five
5. E.Six.

One of the advantages of the simple majority system of voting is that it

1. A.discourages election malpractices
2. B.gives an accurate result of an election
3. C.is very suitable to large countries
4. D.is simple and cheap to operate
5. E.is useful in developing countries.

The geographical units into which a country is divided for the purpose of elections are called

1. A.constituencies
2. B.polling
3. C.local government areas
4. D.states
5. E.county councils.

Local authorities impose rates because

1. A.the government wants the rich to become richer
2. B.the people are expected to finance political parties
3. C.of the need to provide fund for public corporations
4. D.of the need to provide essential amenities for the citizens
5. E.it an is obligation of a citizen to pay such rates.

Local government is described as grassroots government because

1. A.it is the nearest government to the people
2. B.its headquarters is located in the villages
3. C.all the leaders are from the villages
4. D.it is the first tier of government
5. E.all the local people participate in it.

Which of the following is true of a public corporation? It is

1. A.set up to make profit for the government
2. B.to provide essential services for the people at a low cost
3. C.owned by the governor of a state
4. D.established by a bye-law
5. E.owned by the minister of commerce.

In the Hausa pre-colonial political system, sovereignty was located in the

1. A.Quadi
2. B.Emir
3. C.Waziri
4. D.Madawaki
5. E.Galadima.

Which of the following was the most senior official under the British colonial administration? The

1. A.District Officer
2. B.Lieutenant Governor
3. C.President
4. D.Governor
5. E.Secretary for Native Affairs.

A major objection to the Indirect Rule system was

1. A.economy in administration
2. B.administration through illitrate heads
3. C.the involvement of many Africans in administration
4. D.the control of territories by the colonial secretary
5. E.the refusal of the British to educate Africans.

The development of nationalist activities was more rapid in British West Africa than in French West Africa because the

1. A.French West Africans were not interested in having self-government
2. B.French administerative policies did not allow for political agitation
3. C.British were no longer interested in governing their acquired territories
4. D.British did not have a standing army in West Africa, unlike their French counterparts
5. E.British encouraged political agitations in their territories.

The French policy of assimilation was based on the idea that the African culture was

1. A.expensive
2. B.unwritten
3. C.inferior
4. D.elaborate
5. E.popular.

The general strike of 1945 in Nigeria gave force to the

1. A.formation of the Commonwealth
2. B.introduction of the Green Revolution
3. C.formation of the United Nations Organization (UNO)
4. D.demands of the nationalist movemment
5. E.staging of military coup d'etat.

Which of the following best describes the position of the traditional rulers during the colonial period? They

1. A.were directly involved in government
2. B.made laws for the people
3. C.were part of the executive arm of government
4. D.served as a link between the people and the government
5. E.were directly accountable to Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The 1954 Lyttleton Constitution of Nigeria created the office of the

1. A.Regional Premier
2. B.Prime Minister
3. C.Speaker of the House
4. D.Governor
5. E.Leaders of government business.

To have an orderly society, a state needs

1. A.president
2. B.chief judge
3. C.constitution
4. D.legislature
5. E.chief whip.

Which of the following was a resolution in North Atlantic Charter of 1941 that helped to stimulate nationalist movements in West Africa?

1. A.People all over the world had the right to vote and be voted for
2. B.Whites had the right to train Africans on how to rule themselves
3. C.All colonial territories should be members of the League of Nations
4. D.Newspapers should support the colonial masters
5. E.People all over the world had the right to choose their own form of government.

The first commission set up to work out revenue procedure for Nigeria was the

1. A.Phillipson Commission
2. B.Chick Commission
3. C.Raisman Commission
4. D.Binns Commission
5. E.Hicks Commission.

Which of the following is the basic factor in the formation of a federation? The

1. A.presence of a common enemy
2. B.willingness to remain dependent
3. C.existence of a single large ethnic group
4. D.presence of an ambitious ruling class
5. E.desire for union.

The political parties which formed a coalition government at the centre after the 1954 general elections in Nigeria were the

1. A.NEPU and AG
2. B.NCNC and NEPU
3. C.NPC and NEPU
4. D.AG and NPC
5. E.NPC and NCNC.

That Nigeria attained republican status through the 1963 constitution means that it

1. A.introduced the executive presidential system of government
2. B.severed the remaining links with the British monarch
3. C.created a unitary state
4. D.introduced a multi-party system
5. E.ensured that the cabinet was no longer responsible to the legislature.

The political party that transformed from a cultural organization known as The Jam'iyyar Mutanen Arewa was the

1. A.NEPU
2. B.NCNC
3. C.NPC
4. D.AG
5. E.NNDP.

The immediate cause of Kano riot of 1953 was the

1. A.NCNC tour of Northern Nigeria led by Dr. Azikiwe
2. B.Action Group tour of Northern Nigeria led by Chief S.L. Akintola
3. C.Mobbing of Northern leaders at Lagos
4. D.Issue of the administrative position of Lagos
5. E.Motion by Chief Anthony Enahoro for self government in 1956.

In a presidential system the head of government is called the

1. A.Prime Minister
2. B.Governor-General
3. C.Executive President
4. D.Chancellor
5. E.Mayor.

The main cause of the 1962/63 census crisis was that

1. A.army was involved in the head-count
2. B.inexperienced officials were used in the enumeration
3. C.the police prevented enumerators from doing their work
4. D.there was no fund to provide enough materials for the head count
5. E.there was widepread inflation of the census results in many regions.

In the 1970 Constitution of Nigeria, the National Assembly was made up of

1. A.the local council and the federal legislators
2. B.elected and unelected representatives
3. C.the two Houses of Assembly
4. D.both the State and Federal Houses of Assembly
5. E.the House of Chiefs and elected representatives.

All the following are reasons for military intervention in politics except

1. A.corrupt practices by civilian administrations
2. B.tribalism and nepotism
3. C.election malpractices
4. D.ailing economic situations
5. E.regular promotion of military officers.

The second Nigerian military leader to be assassinated in a military coup d'etat was

1. A.General Aguiyi Ironsi
2. B.Major-General Maman Vatsa
3. C.Col. B.S. Dimka
4. D.General Murtala Mohammed
5. E.Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu.

In the Federal system of government, the component units

1. A.have equal powers with the central authority
2. B.derive their powers from the constitution
3. C.are subordinate to one another
4. D.maintain separate currencies
5. E.formulate foreign policies.

The focus of Nigeria foreign policy is

1. A.that Nigeria cannot joint the Non-Aligned Movement
2. B.Nigeria as a frontline country
3. C.that African liberation movements should look elsewhere for aids
4. D.Africa as its centrepiece
5. E.that African countries have not reciprocated Nigeria's friendly gestures.

The first executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was

1. A.Diallo Telli
2. B.Nzo Ekangaki
3. C.Abubakar Ouattara
4. D.Salim A. Salim
5. E.Robert Gardiner.

The major aim of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) is to

1. A.introduce a common currency for all African states
2. B.maintain international friendliness, peace and co-operation
3. C.promote international oppression
4. D.encourage international sporting activities
5. E.assist the United States of America in her war against communism.

The supreme policy-making organ of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) is the

1. A.Council of Ministers
2. B.Assembly of Heads of State and Governments
3. C.General Secretariat
4. D.Defence Commission
5. E.Security Council.

October 24 of each year is universally marked as the United Nations Day because on this day, the

1. A.United Nations Organisation officially came into existence
2. B.Second World War ended
3. C.two Super Powers signed the United Nations' Charter
4. D.Charter on Fundamental Human rights was signed
5. E.United Nations Charter was drawn up

The Headquarters of the International Court of Justice is at

1. A.New York
2. B.Geneva
3. C.Paris
4. D.The Hague
5. E.Moscow.

The most significant achievement of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) since its formation is the

1. A.prevention of another world war
2. B.settlement of the Middle East crisis
3. C.enlargement of its membership
4. D.appointment of an African as the head of the International Court of Justice
5. E.Prevention of cold war between the Western and the Eastern power blocs.

Section A (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
(a) Distinguish between constitution and constitutionalism
(b) State the main features of a constitution.

Section A (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Give reasons for the adoption of bicameral legislature by some countries.

Section A (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
(a) Explain the political concept of legitimacy
(b) What are the factors that sustain legitimacy in a state?

Section A (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Outline the factors which determine the electoral success of a political party.

Section A (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
(a) Identify the characteristics of the Civil Service
(b) Why is it important for the Civil Service to be politically neutral?

Section B (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Give reasons why the pre-colonial government in Yorubaland can be described as democratic.

Section B (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Trace the constitutional evolution of the federalism in Nigeria up to 1954.

Section B (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Why has it been difficult for many African countries to implement the principles of the Non-Alignment?

Section B (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Highlight the main changes introduced into the Nigerian government by the 1963 Constitution.

Section B (answer four questions in all, two from each section)
Explain the problems facing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).