59 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Government as a process or art of governing means
Answer: D (activities for making and enforcing laws in a state.)
As a process, government means the activities of making, enforcing and interpreting laws in a state.
Government can be made responsible and accountable to its citizens through the following methods except
Answer: B (demonstration)
Regular elections, political education and public opinion are normal ways of holding government to account; demonstrations are a form of protest rather than a regular method of accountability.
Power can be described as the
Answer: D (capacity to compel or influence others to act in a certain way.)
Power is the ability to make others behave in a certain way, by force or by influence.
Nazism was practised in
Answer: C (Germany under Adolf Hitler)
Nazism was the ideology of Hitler's National Socialist party in Germany (1933–45).
Fascism can best be defined as the
Answer: C (existence of a single party dictatorship with a life president)
Fascism is a one-party dictatorship led by an all-powerful leader who rules for life, as Mussolini did in Italy.
Totalitarianism implies the control of government by
Answer: D (a dictator.)
In a totalitarian state one dictator (and his party) controls government and every part of life.
Which of the following countries practised totalitarian system of government before the Second World War?
Answer: B (Germany and Italy)
Before 1939 Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy were totalitarian states.
The subordinate class of people in the social hierarchy of a feudal system is the
Answer: B (vassals)
Vassals held land from a lord and owed him loyalty and service, so they were the subordinate class.
A common language is one of the attributes of a
Answer: C (nation)
A nation is a people bound by common language, culture and history; a state need not share one language.
The doctrine of the rule of law is credited to
Answer: C (A.V. Dicey)
A. V. Dicey set out the doctrine in 1885.
Equality before the law is a principle of
Answer: D (rule of law.)
Equality before the law is one of Dicey's three principles of the rule of law.
Which of the following is a limitation to the doctrine of rule of law?
Answer: A (Diplomatic immunity)
Diplomats cannot be tried in local courts, so the law does not apply equally to everyone.
Which of the following principles is emphasized among the three organs of government in a presidential system?
Answer: A (Separation of powers)
The presidential system keeps the legislature, executive and judiciary separate in personnel and functions.
The principle of checks and balances is aimed at
Answer: D (preventing any organ of government from becoming too powerful.)
Each organ can check the others so that none becomes too powerful.
A true representative government is one that
Answer: B (recognizes unlimited franchise)
Representative government means the people choose those who rule them, so it depends on a wide (universal adult) franchise. Devolution, customs or restricting movement do not make a government representative.
Which of the following is not a main source of a constitution?
Answer: D (Public deliberations.)
Constitutions draw on court decisions, statutes and earlier constitutions; general public deliberations are not a formal source.
A constitution whose procedure for amendment is the same as that of making an ordinary law is referred to as
Answer: C (a flexible constitution)
A flexible constitution can be amended like an ordinary law.
A governmental system where the head of state is distinct from the head of government is called
Answer: C (parliamentary)
The parliamentary system has a ceremonial head of state and a separate prime minister.
A system of government in which the head of state is elected for a fixed term of office is known as
Answer: A (republican)
In a republic the head of state is elected for a fixed term, unlike a hereditary monarch.
The type of government that is headed by a king or queen is called
Answer: A (monarchical)
Monarchy is government headed by a king or queen.
The principle which requires members of the executive to resign when a governmental proposal is defeated in the parliament is known as
Answer: D (collective responsibility.)
Under collective responsibility the whole cabinet resigns if parliament defeats a major government proposal.
Which of the following systems of government is more responsible to public opinion?
Answer: B (Republicanism)
Republican leaders are elected for fixed terms, so they must pay attention to public opinion.
A federal system of government is adopted in a state with
Answer: D (marked inequalities among the component units)
Federalism is adopted where component units differ greatly, so each can manage its own affairs.
A system of government in which governmental positions are acquired through popular elections is known as
Answer: D (republicanism.)
In a republic leaders gain office through popular elections, not inheritance.
A monarchy refers to
Answer: D (hereditary right to a political office.)
Monarchs usually inherit their office.
The head of the judicial arm of government is known as
Answer: A (Chief justice)
The Chief Justice heads the judiciary.
The implementation of government policies is carried out by the
Answer: D (Executive.)
The executive carries out laws and policies.
A system whereby there is only one legislative chamber parliament is referred to as
Answer: A (unicameral legislature)
Unicameral means one chamber.
Citizenship can be acquired through
Answer: C (birth)
Citizenship is acquired by birth, registration, naturalisation or honour; renunciation is how it is given up.
Residing in an area for a specified period of years is one of the basic conditions to acquire citizenship through
Answer: C (naturalization)
A foreigner can become a citizen by naturalisation after living in the country for a required number of years.
Civil rights in a country are enjoyed by
Answer: A (citizens)
Full civil and political rights belong to the citizens of a state.
Vibrant opposition parties in parliament help to
Answer: B (strengthen democracy)
An active opposition checks the government and offers alternatives, which strengthens democracy.
The practice of voting in absentia through an authorized representative is
Answer: C (voting by proxy)
Proxy voting lets someone vote on behalf of an absent voter.
Which of the following is a function of an electoral commission?
Answer: B (Registration of voters for election)
The electoral commission registers voters and conducts elections.
A feature of pressure groups is that members
Answer: D (have similar interests.)
A pressure group is formed by people who share common interests.
Measuring public opinion becomes highly expensive when
Answer: A (a referendum is held)
A referendum is a full nationwide vote, so it costs far more than a poll or debate.
The non-involvement of civil servants in partisan politics is related to
Answer: B (neutrality)
Political neutrality means civil servants keep out of party politics and serve any government.
A court can declare any action of a local government that is outside its area of jurisdiction as
Answer: A (ultra vires)
Ultra vires means 'beyond the powers': acting outside one's legal authority.
Laws made by the legislative council during the colonial period in British West Africa were called
Answer: C (ordinances)
Colonial legislative councils made laws called ordinances.
The French colonial policy of Assimilation was first applied in
Answer: D (St. Louis, Dakar, Goree and Rufisque.)
Assimilation was applied in Senegal's Four Communes: St. Louis, Dakar, Gorée and Rufisque.
Nationalism in British West Africa aimed at
Answer: A (gaining independence)
Nationalists sought self-government and independence.
One of the demerits of the pre-Second World War constitutions of West African colonies was the
Answer: A (domination of the Legislative Council by official members)
Constitutions like Clifford's (1922) gave colonial officials a majority in the Legislative Council.
The first military coup d'etat in West Africa was staged in
Answer: D (Togo)
Togo had West Africa's first coup in January 1963.
Which of the following does not influence the foreign policy of a country?
Answer: D (Intra-party conflicts.)
History, ideology and the economy shape foreign policy; quarrels inside a party do not.
The highest organ of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the
Answer: D (Authority of Heads of State and Government)
The Authority of Heads of State and Government is the supreme decision-making body of ECOWAS.
Which of the following African countries participated in the signing of the United Nations Organization (UNO) Charter in 1945?
Answer: A (Ethiopia)
Ethiopia was one of the four African founding members (with Egypt, Liberia and South Africa); the others were still colonies.
The United Nations Secretary-General is appointed for a
Answer: A (five-year term)
The Secretary-General serves a renewable five-year term.
(a) What is legitimacy in government?
(b) Outline any five ways of acquiring legitimacy.
(a) Legitimacy is the acceptance by the people that those in power have the right to rule, so they obey willingly.
(b) Any five: free and fair elections; ruling according to the constitution and rule of law; good performance (providing services and development); respect for human rights; charisma of the leader; tradition/hereditary succession; recognition by the international community; acceptable ideology; open government that allows criticism; popular participation and referendums.
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Outline six disadvantages of an unwritten constitution.
Any six: hard to know and refer to since it is scattered in many sources; too flexible, so it can be changed easily by the ruling party; may lead to dictatorship/abuse of power; citizens' rights are not clearly guaranteed; difficult to know when the constitution has been breached; unsuitable for federal or multi-ethnic states; vague and open to different interpretations; can cause conflicts among organs because powers are not clearly defined; depends heavily on conventions and the good conduct of leaders.
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Highlight the main functions of the executive in a modern state.
Any six: implements laws and policies; formulates policy; maintains law and order (police); defends the state (armed forces); conducts foreign relations and signs treaties; prepares the budget; initiates bills and signs/vetoes them; makes delegated legislation; appoints top officials; prerogative of mercy; declares war and states of emergency; provides social amenities; performs ceremonial duties.
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(a) Explain concurrent functions in a federation.
(b) Outline five features of a confederal system of government.
(a) Concurrent functions are matters listed in the constitution on which both the central (federal) and state governments may make laws (e.g. education, health, agriculture in Nigeria); where the two conflict, the federal law prevails.
(b) Any five: very weak central government; component units keep their sovereignty; the centre depends on the units for funds; units can secede at will; citizens owe primary loyalty to their units; co-operation only on agreed matters (defence, foreign affairs, currency); each unit keeps its own army and police; decisions by unanimity/agreement of members; usually created by treaty; often unstable.
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(a) What is a manifesto?
(b) Outline five factors that determine the electoral success of a political party.
(a) A manifesto is a political party's published programme of policies and promises which it will carry out if voted into power.
(b) Any five: quality and popularity of its candidates and leaders; an appealing manifesto; good organisation and spread across the country; adequate funding; effective campaigns and use of the media; party unity and discipline; ethnic/religious/regional support base; performance if already in power; neutrality of the electoral body and security agencies (a level field); alliances with other parties and groups.
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Identify any six functions of the Oyo Mesi in the pre-colonial Oyo empire.
Any six: selected (as kingmakers) the new Alaafin; advised the Alaafin; checked the Alaafin's powers and could ask him to commit suicide (by presenting an empty calabash/parrot's eggs); made laws with the Alaafin; the Bashorun, their head, performed the annual Orun festival to test the king's favour with the gods; commanded the army (the Oyo Mesi were also war chiefs); acted as regent during an interregnum; represented the people and their wards; took part in religious ceremonies; served as the highest council of state.
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Highlight four reasons for the European colonization of West Africa.
Any four: need for raw materials for European industries after the Industrial Revolution; markets for manufactured goods; investment outlets for surplus capital; prestige and rivalry among European powers (Berlin Conference 1884–85); spread of Christianity and 'civilising mission'; to stop the slave trade and protect legitimate trade; settlement for surplus population; strategic and naval bases; protection of their traders and missionaries.
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Identify four weaknesses of the British Colonial administration in West Africa.
Any four: excluded the educated elite from government; limited franchise and official majority in the legislative councils; made chiefs autocratic and imposed warrant chiefs; racial discrimination in jobs and pay; economic exploitation of resources; encouraged ethnic division (divide and rule; separate development of North and South Nigeria); interfered with traditional culture and institutions; drew artificial boundaries; neglected education and development in some areas.
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Highlight four objectives of the Nigerian Youth Movement.
Any four: to develop a united Nigerian nation out of the different peoples; to fight for self-government; to demand equal economic opportunities for Nigerians and fight against exploitation; to demand better education (originally formed in 1934 as the Lagos Youth Movement to protest the inferior status of Yaba Higher College); to demand Nigerians' appointment to higher posts in the civil service; to promote political awareness; to remove discrimination against Africans.
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Give any six functions of the president under the 1963 Constitution of Nigeria.
Any six (the President was a ceremonial head of state in a parliamentary system): head of state and symbol of the nation; formally appointed the Prime Minister (the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives) and, on his advice, other ministers; assented to bills passed by parliament; summoned, prorogued and dissolved parliament (on the Prime Minister's advice); exercised the prerogative of mercy (advised by a council); appointed the Chief Justice and other judges, ambassadors and top officers on advice; nominal commander-in-chief of the armed forces; received foreign envoys and performed ceremonial duties; appointed some senators.
Stress that under the 1963 Republican Constitution the President (Azikiwe) had mostly ceremonial powers.
Explain six causes of the first military intervention in Nigerian politics.
Any six, each explained (the coup of 15 January 1966): the crisis of the 1964 federal election and its boycott; the 1965 Western Region election crisis and violence ('Operation wetie'); the 1962–63 and 1963–64 census controversies; the 1962 Action Group crisis and state of emergency in the West; widespread corruption among politicians; ethnic and regional rivalry, fear of Northern domination; the Tiv riots; personal ambitions of the young officers; breakdown of law and order; economic problems and unemployment; influence of coups elsewhere in Africa.
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State six weaknesses of the United Nations Organization (UNO).
Any six: the veto power of the five permanent members blocks action; no standing army of its own; depends on members for funds, and many fail to pay dues; domination by the great powers; members put national interest above UN decisions; failure to prevent many wars (e.g. Korea, Vietnam, Rwanda, Iraq 2003); General Assembly resolutions are not binding; inability to enforce ICJ judgements; bureaucracy and corruption; unequal representation of Africa on the Security Council; ideological divisions (Cold War).
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