WAEC Government 2014 past questions and answers

The police prevent crime and arrest offenders, and the courts try cases and punish wrongdoers, so together they protect lives and property.

In a democracy, winning an election is the normal, legitimate way of gaining political power.

Under Julius Nyerere, Tanzania practised African socialism (Ujamaa) after the 1967 Arusha Declaration.

Nazism (National Socialism) was the ideology of Adolf Hitler's party in Germany.

Separation of powers prevents abuse of power; abuse of power is what it guards against, not a merit.

Checks and balances aim to prevent abuse of power and dictatorship; encouraging use of the veto is not itself a benefit.

In representative (indirect) democracy people elect representatives to govern for them. Classical democracy was direct.

A constitution is the body of rules, regulations and conventions by which a state is governed.

In a federation the constitution divides power between the central government and the states.

Both central and state governments can act on education and health, so they are concurrent matters.

Maintaining law and order is mainly the work of the executive through the police.

A statute is a law made by the legislature (an act of parliament).

Slander is a false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation; the law limits free speech so people cannot do this.

The legislature makes, amends and repeals laws.

Customs duties are taxes collected by government on imports and exports, not party funds.

A manifesto helps voters judge and choose between parties; it widens, not limits, their choice.

A coalition is formed when two or more parties join to form a government.

Limited franchise often allowed only people owning property or earning a certain income to vote.

Universal adult suffrage still sets a minimum voting age (18 in Nigeria); wealth, race and sex are not allowed as limits.

A general election is held across the whole country at the same time, e.g. a presidential election.

By giving all qualified adults the vote, universal suffrage brings many more people into politics.

A governor's popularity has nothing to do with whether the electoral system is democratic.

Registering only eligible voters prevents rigging; a dependent commission or double voting would spoil the election.

Elections are run by an electoral commission, e.g. INEC in Nigeria.

Registering voters is one of the commission's normal duties, not a problem it faces.

Pressure groups influence government but do not contest elections to take power; that is what parties do.

A group formed by people of one profession, like the NUT, is an occupational (professional) group.

Civil servants must serve any government in power loyally and not take sides in party politics.

Red tape comes from bureaucracy: strict rules, files and procedures that slow down action.

Public corporations employ many people. Political interference is a problem, and they cannot provide all services.

The supervising minister controls government grants and subventions to the corporation, so the executive can cut them through ministerial control.

Rates (e.g. tenement rates) are collected by local governments.

Grants from the centre to local councils are called grants (block grants or statutory allocations).

Pre-colonial laws were mostly customs and traditions handed down by word of mouth.

Checking a corporation's accounts is a form of financial control.

Assimilation aimed to turn Africans into Frenchmen and largely ignored traditional chiefs; recognising chiefs was a feature of British indirect rule.

Repeated coups and counter-coups made governments unstable.

Small countries are easy to rule from one centre, so many West African states adopted unitary systems.

The five permanent members are the USA, UK, France, China and Russia.

The Commonwealth is mainly made up of former British colonies, though a few members (e.g. Mozambique, Rwanda) were never British and some ex-colonies are not members.

The UN Charter came into force on 24 October 1945.

In 2014 the Head of the Commonwealth was Queen Elizabeth II; since 2022 it has been King Charles III.

Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, joined the Commonwealth in 1995.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is normally held every two years.

The Fund was in Lomé, Togo; it is now the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, still in Lomé.

The Security Council may investigate any dispute that could threaten peace and recommend how to settle it.

Any five:
1. To know one's rights and duties as a citizen.
2. To understand how government and its institutions work.
3. To encourage participation in politics (voting, etc.).
4. To prepare people for leadership.
5. To promote patriotism and national unity.
6. To understand and compare political systems and ideologies.
7. To help citizens judge government policies and leaders.
8. Preparation for careers (law, politics, public service).

Write five distinct reasons, each in one sentence.

(a) Capitalism is an economic and political system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit, with prices set by the free market.
(b) Advantages (any two): encourages initiative and hard work; efficiency through competition; consumer choice and variety; rapid economic growth and innovation.
Disadvantages (any two): wide gap between rich and poor; exploitation of workers; monopolies; neglect of unprofitable essential services; booms and depressions.

Give exactly two of each; label them clearly.

(a) Legitimacy is the acceptance by the people of the right of a government to rule, so they obey it willingly.
(b) Any four:
1. Free and fair elections.
2. Respect for the constitution and rule of law.
3. Good performance and provision of welfare.
4. Respect for human rights.
5. Tradition/custom (e.g. hereditary rule).
6. Charisma of the leader.
7. Recognition by other states.
8. Ideology accepted by the people.

Legitimacy is about acceptance; link each factor to why people accept a government.

Any five:
1. Large territory.
2. Large population.
3. Ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural diversity.
4. Fear of domination by minorities.
5. Desire for union while keeping local autonomy.
6. Economic advantage of a larger unit.
7. Common enemy / security needs.
8. Colonial history (e.g. Nigeria's regions).
9. Geographical proximity of the units.

These are reasons why countries choose federalism.

Any five:
1. Independent and impartial electoral commission.
2. Accurate, up-to-date voters' register.
3. Secret ballot.
4. Security for voters, officials and materials.
5. Independent judiciary to settle election disputes.
6. Political education of voters.
7. Fair constituency delimitation.
8. Equal access of parties to the media; free press.
9. Local and international observers.
10. Universal adult suffrage; adequate funding and logistics.

Each point should be a measure that prevents rigging or bias.

Any five (Oyo Mesi, led by the Bashorun):
1. Selected and installed a new Alaafin.
2. Advised the Alaafin.
3. Checked the Alaafin's powers; could reject him by presenting an empty calabash or parrot's eggs (forcing suicide).
4. Made laws with the Alaafin.
5. The Bashorun led the Orun festival to consult the oracle on the Alaafin's fate.
6. Acted as a court of appeal / settled disputes.
7. Ran the government during an interregnum.
8. Oversaw the army (Are-Ona-Kakanfo) and defence matters.

Refer to the Oyo Mesi and how they checked the Alaafin.

Any five:
1. Assimilation: educated Africans saw themselves as Frenchmen.
2. Elite given French citizenship and seats in the French Parliament.
3. Centralised administration from Dakar/Paris left little room for local politics.
4. Harsh rule: forced labour, indigénat, suppression of the press and parties.
5. Close economic ties and dependence on France.
6. Limited Western education outside a few elite.
7. Association policy and French Union/Community (1946, 1958) promised partnership.
8. Fewer African-owned newspapers.

Focus on the French colonial policies that held nationalism back.

(a) Any three: three regions (quasi-federal); central House of Representatives of 148 members; Council of Ministers with 12 Nigerian ministers chaired by the Governor; regional Houses of Assembly and regional executives; bicameral legislatures in North and West; electoral college system; North given half the central seats.
(b) Any two (the Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 was replaced by the independence constitution of 1960): demands for self-government and independence (regions became self-governing in 1957 and 1959); need for a bicameral federal legislature (Senate) and a Prime Minister; minority fears leading to the Willink Commission (1957–58); conferences of 1957–58 recommended full independence arrangements.

The book spells it 'Lyttleton'; it is the 1954 Lyttelton Constitution, superseded at independence.

Any five:
1. Democracy is based on the consent of the people (elections); military rule is imposed.
2. Respect for rule of law and constitution; military rules by decree and suspends the constitution.
3. Protection of human rights; military abuses rights.
4. Freedom of press, speech and association.
5. Separation of powers and checks; military fuses powers.
6. Accountability to the electorate.
7. Peaceful change of government; coups breed instability.
8. Political participation and parties allowed.
9. Better international acceptance.

Contrast each feature of democracy with military rule.

Any five:
1. Economic inequality among members.
2. Weak enforcement; decisions not binding.
3. Members' loyalty to other bodies (EU, AU, etc.).
4. Ideological and political differences.
5. Non-payment of dues; inadequate funds.
6. British immigration/visa restrictions.
7. Political instability, coups and human rights abuses in members (suspensions, e.g. Nigeria 1995–99).
8. Members leaving or being suspended (e.g. Zimbabwe withdrew 2003; The Gambia left 2013 and rejoined 2018).
9. Declining relevance and commitment.

Use examples of suspensions and withdrawals to strengthen points.