62 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Which of the following is related to government as a process of governing?
Answer: A (Implementation and adjudication of laws)
Government as a process means the activities of governing: making, implementing and adjudicating laws.
Which of the following is not an aim for the existence of a State?
Answer: D (Promotion of a common lingua franca.)
States exist to provide welfare, security, development and external relations; having one common language is not a purpose of the state.
Right to rule based on norms, customs and conventions of the people is referred to as
Answer: D (traditional authority.)
Traditional authority rests on long-standing custom and tradition, like that of kings and chiefs (Max Weber).
Which of the following is not a legitimate government?
Answer: C (Military government)
A military government takes power by force, not by the consent of the people or the constitution.
The scholar who defined sovereignty as an absolute power vested in one authority was
Answer: B (Jean Bodin)
Jean Bodin (1576) described sovereignty as absolute and perpetual power held by one supreme authority.
Political sovereignty belongs to the
Answer: B (people)
Legal sovereignty lies in the law-making body, but political sovereignty lies with the people (the electorate).
Direct democracy emanated from the
Answer: A (Greeks)
Direct democracy began in the ancient Greek city-states such as Athens.
Production and distribution of goods and services are controlled by the State in
Answer: C (socialism)
Under socialism the state owns and controls production and distribution.
The two major factors that contributed to the development of capitalism were
Answer: C (the theory of individual Rights and the Industrial Revolution in Britain)
Liberal ideas of individual rights and property, together with the Industrial Revolution, gave rise to modern capitalism.
Which of the following is a feature of capitalism?
Answer: C (Maximization of profit)
The profit motive drives production in a capitalist economy.
In a capitalist state, the society is polarized into the
Answer: C (bourgeoisie and the proletariat)
Marx described capitalist society as split between owners of capital (bourgeoisie) and wage workers (proletariat).
A system of government in which political leadership is based on land ownership is
Answer: B (feudalism)
In feudalism the lords who owned land also held political power over the serfs on it.
The highest stage of socialism is
Answer: C (communism)
Marx saw communism, the classless and stateless society, as the final stage after socialism.
Communism was popularized by
Answer: A (Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels)
Marx and Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto (1848).
A classless society is obtainable in
Answer: A (communism)
Communism aims at a society without classes, where property is commonly owned.
The Fascist State in Europe was
Answer: A (Italy)
Fascism was founded in Italy by Mussolini; Germany had the related Nazi system.
Communalism ensures that everybody within the society is provided
Answer: D (a land to farm.)
In traditional communal societies land belongs to the community and every member gets land to farm.
The political way of life which is developed by the society is referred to as
Answer: B (political culture)
Political culture is the pattern of political beliefs, values and attitudes in a society; socialisation is how people learn it.
A politically aware and active society is said to have a
Answer: B (participatory political culture)
In a participant (participatory) political culture citizens know about politics and take an active part.
Fundamental Human Rights can be defined as
Answer: A (freedoms enshrined in the constitution)
Fundamental human rights are basic freedoms guaranteed in the constitution, such as the right to life and liberty.
A system of government that is made up of elected people is referred to as
Answer: A (representative government)
In representative government the people elect representatives to govern on their behalf.
Which of the following is a means of establishing representative government?
Answer: A (The existence of functional political parties)
Representatives are chosen through elections, which need functioning political parties; the rule of law and checks and balances protect such a government once it exists.
Devolution of power is associated with a
Answer: A (decentralized political system)
Devolution transfers power from the centre to lower units, which is a form of decentralisation.
Which of the following is a benefit of the principle of checks and balances? It
Answer: D (prevents domination of one organ of government by another.)
Each organ can limit the others, so no single organ can dominate.
The degree of centralization is high in a
Answer: A (unitary system of government)
In a unitary system all power is held by the central government.
A constitution that requires special procedures to amend is referred to as
Answer: C (rigid)
A rigid constitution can only be changed through a special, difficult procedure.
A type of government which allows co-ordinate units to make laws is
Answer: A (federal)
In a federation both the central government and the co-ordinate units (states) have law-making powers.
One feature of a Unitary State is
Answer: C (absence of constitutional division of power to the units)
In a unitary state the constitution does not divide power; any power local units have is delegated by the centre.
A characteristic of the Parliamentary System is that
Answer: A (separation of powers is not strictly observed)
Ministers sit in parliament, so the executive and legislature are fused instead of strictly separated.
In a confederation, each of the component states is
Answer: C (virtually sovereign)
Members of a confederation keep their sovereignty; the centre has only the powers they give it.
Which of the following countries had practised confederal system of government?
Answer: A (Senegal and The Gambia)
Senegal and The Gambia formed the Senegambia Confederation from 1982 to 1989.
The type of government where the central authority is superior to the component authorities is a
Answer: D (federal system of government.)
Of the options, only federalism has a central authority that is stronger than its units; in a confederation the units are stronger.
The Exclusive List in a federal state includes
Answer: C (defence)
Matters such as defence, currency and foreign affairs are on the Exclusive List, reserved to the federal government.
The primary function of the judiciary is to
Answer: C (interpret laws)
The judiciary interprets laws and applies them to cases.
Obedience to the laws of the state is a part of one's
Answer: A (duties)
Obeying the law is one of the duties of a citizen.
Establishment of an independent judiciary is a way of safeguarding citizens'
Answer: A (rights)
Independent courts can enforce citizens' rights even against the government.
An organized group that seeks the control of power in a State is a
Answer: B (political party)
A political party seeks to win and control government power; a pressure group only influences it.
A one-party system is common to
Answer: B (totalitarian government)
Totalitarian regimes allow only one party, the ruling party.
A government that is constituted by several parties after a general election is referred to as
Answer: D (national government.)
When several parties join to form the government it is called a national (coalition) government.
Disenfranchisement means
Answer: C (to be disqualified from voting)
To disenfranchise someone is to take away their right to vote.
Which of the following is a major feature of an Electoral Commission?
Answer: D (Political neutrality.)
An electoral commission must be neutral and independent to conduct free and fair elections.
A popular British colonial system of administration in the Protectorates in West Africa was
Answer: D (Indirect rule.)
Britain ruled its protectorates through traditional rulers: indirect rule.
The introduction of elective principle in colonial West Africa allowed
Answer: A (Africans to be elected into the Legislative Councils)
From the 1920s a few Africans could be elected into the Legislative Councils.
The political parties that were established in West Africa between 1945 and 1965 fought for
Answer: B (political independence)
Post-war nationalist parties, such as the NCNC and CPP, campaigned for independence.
The first military coup d'etat in West Africa was staged in
Answer: C (Togo)
The first coup in West Africa was in Togo in January 1963, when President Sylvanus Olympio was killed.
One of the defects of Military governments is
Answer: C (abuse of Human Rights)
Military regimes often detain people without trial and abuse human rights.
The major defect of foreign policy in West Africa is
Answer: D (poor leadership.)
Poor leadership has weakened the foreign policies of many West African states; good economy and military power are strengths.
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) is made up of
Answer: B (Foreign Affairs Ministers)
The OAU Council of Ministers was made up of member states' Foreign Ministers. (The OAU was replaced by the African Union in 2002, where this body is the Executive Council.)
The head of the Commonwealth of Nations is
Answer: A (Queen Elizabeth II)
In 2007 the Head of the Commonwealth was Queen Elizabeth II (Don McKinnon was Secretary-General). Since September 2022 the head is King Charles III.
The main focus of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) is the
Answer: A (maintenance of peace in troubled spots of West Africa)
ECOMOG was the ECOWAS peace-keeping force sent to conflicts such as those in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
(a) Explain the term Government as an art of governing.
(b) Why is Government important as an art of governing?
(a) As an art (process) of governing, government means the activities by which those in authority make, carry out and interpret laws and policies to manage the affairs of the state.
(b) Any four or five: maintains law and order; protects lives and property; defends the state from external attack; makes laws and settles disputes through the courts; provides social services (schools, hospitals, roads, water); promotes economic development; protects citizens' rights; conducts relations with other states.
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Identify six external limitations to the exercise of sovereignty of the State.
Any six: international law; treaties and agreements the state has signed; membership of international organisations (UN, AU, ECOWAS, Commonwealth); diplomatic immunity of foreign envoys; dependence on foreign aid and loans (IMF, World Bank); economic interdependence and foreign trade; pressure from powerful states; geographical location (e.g. landlocked states); international public opinion; military alliances.
External limits come from outside the state; internal ones like the constitution don't count here.
(a) Define Fundamental Human Rights.
(b) Highlight five means of safeguarding Fundamental Human Rights in a State.
(a) Fundamental human rights are the basic, inalienable rights and freedoms every person is entitled to as a human being, usually written into the constitution, e.g. right to life, dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression and movement.
(b) Any five: entrenchment in the constitution; independent judiciary; rule of law; separation of powers and checks and balances; free press; human rights commissions and NGOs; opposition parties and pressure groups; legal aid; public education on rights; international conventions.
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Identify six features of a Parliamentary system of government.
Any six: fusion of powers (ministers are members of parliament); dual (bicephalous) executive with a ceremonial head of state and a prime minister as head of government; the prime minister is leader of the majority party; collective responsibility of the cabinet; ministers individually responsible for their ministries; vote of no confidence can remove the government; official opposition and shadow cabinet; parliament can be dissolved before its term ends; supremacy of parliament; strict party discipline.
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(a) What is Local Government?
(b) Highlight five sources of Local Government revenue.
(a) Local government is government at the grassroots: a body set up by law to exercise specified powers within a defined area, to provide local services and bring government closer to the people.
(b) Any five: statutory allocation from the Federation Account; share of state revenue (e.g. 10% of state internally generated revenue in Nigeria); rates and taxes (tenement rates, poll/community tax); fees and licences (market stalls, bicycles, radio, marriage registration); fines from customary courts; grants and loans; income from investments and commercial ventures; rents on council property; donations.
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Discuss six features of the traditional Yoruba political system.
Any six, each discussed: the Oba (e.g. Alaafin of Oyo) was head of the kingdom, regarded as sacred; the Oyo Mesi (council of seven kingmakers led by the Bashorun) chose and advised the Oba; checks and balances — the Oyo Mesi could ask the Alaafin to commit suicide; the Ogboni society checked the Oyo Mesi and had religious and judicial roles; the Are-Ona-Kakanfo commanded the army; Baales/chiefs administered towns and villages; hereditary but elective succession from royal families; a semi-decentralised system with provincial rulers; Ilari/Ajele as messengers and representatives; women had roles (e.g. Iyalode).
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Describe six factors that led to the growth of nationalism in Nigeria before 1945.
Any six: western education producing an educated elite; racial discrimination in the civil service and society; economic exploitation and colonial taxes; activities of the NCBWA (1920) and the elective principle of 1922 leading to parties (NNDP 1923, NYM 1934); influence of newspapers (Lagos Daily News, West African Pilot 1937); Pan-Africanism and ideas of Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois; activities of WASU and students abroad; return of educated Nigerians like Azikiwe; exclusion of educated Africans from government under indirect rule; trade unions and labour unrest; the Great Depression; the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935).
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Highlight six merits of the Richards Constitution of 1946 in Nigeria.
Any six: brought North and South together in one Legislative Council for the first time; created regional Houses of Assembly (North, East, West), the start of regionalism/federalism; North had a House of Chiefs and House of Assembly (bicameral); unofficial (African) majority in the Legislative Council; more Nigerians in the legislature; regional assemblies served as training grounds; promoted national unity by discussing national issues together; its flaws spurred nationalism and consultation for the next constitution.
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(a) State the aims and objectives of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
(b) Outline four achievements of the Party.
(a) The UPN (1978, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo) aimed to: provide free education at all levels; free health services; integrated rural development; full employment; promote democracy, rule of law and social justice (democratic socialism); win power at the centre in the Second Republic.
(b) Any four: won five states in 1979 (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Bendel); introduced free primary and secondary education in its states; free health care for children in its states; established state universities (e.g. Lagos State University, Ogun, Ondo, Bendel) and other institutions; acted as the main opposition party, checking the NPN federal government; promoted rural development and political education.
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Outline six factors that led to the formation of federalism in Nigeria.
Any six: ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity; fear of domination by minorities and smaller groups; large size of the country; the 1914 amalgamation and colonial regionalism (Richards 1946, Macpherson 1951, Lyttelton 1954); desire to bring government nearer to the people; uneven development of the regions; desire for unity while keeping regional autonomy; demands of nationalist leaders at the constitutional conferences; economic advantages of a larger union; influence of the British, who promoted a federal arrangement.
The Lyttelton Constitution (1954) formally made Nigeria a federation.
(a) What is Foreign Policy?
(b) Identify five factors that influence Nigeria's foreign policy.
(a) Foreign policy is the set of goals, principles and strategies a state follows in dealing with other states and international organisations in pursuit of its national interest.
(b) Any five: national interest; size and population; economic strength and natural resources (oil); military strength; geographical location (neighbours); type of government and leadership/personality of leaders; public opinion and pressure groups; colonial history and ties (Commonwealth); international organisations and treaties; ideology (non-alignment).
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(a) Describe the origin of the Commonwealth.
(b) Identify four benefits derived by being a member of the Commonwealth.
(a) The Commonwealth grew out of the British Empire. The 1926 Balfour Declaration described Britain and the self-governing dominions (Canada, Australia, etc.) as equal, autonomous communities united by allegiance to the Crown; the Statute of Westminster (1931) gave this legal form as the British Commonwealth of Nations. After India's independence (1947–49) the London Declaration allowed republics to join and 'British' was dropped; former colonies joined at independence (Ghana 1957, Nigeria 1960). The British monarch is Head of the Commonwealth (Queen Elizabeth II in 2007; King Charles III since 2022); a Secretariat in London (since 1965) is led by a Secretary-General.
(b) Any four: technical and educational assistance (scholarships, training); economic aid and trade co-operation; sharing of experiences at Heads of Government meetings; promotion of democracy and human rights; sporting and cultural links (Commonwealth Games); mediation in disputes; use of English as a common language; easier diplomatic relations (high commissioners).
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