WAEC Government 2004 Theory question 105

Theory question 105

The State and Government

Differentiate between government and state.

Show the model answer
Model answer

Any four or five differences: a state is a territory with people, government and sovereignty; government is only the machinery/agency through which the state acts.
The state is permanent; governments change (e.g. through elections or coups).
The state is abstract; government is concrete (made up of identifiable people).
The state has sovereignty; government only exercises it on the state's behalf.
Every citizen is part of the state; only some people form the government.
A state must have a defined territory; government need not (a government in exile).

Explanation

Present each difference as a matched pair (state vs government).