58 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
The constitutional power given to the judiciary to interpret legislative acts, executive and administrative actions and to declare its constitutionality or otherwise is
Answer: C (judicial review.)
Judicial review is the power of the courts to examine laws and government actions and declare them void if they go against the constitution.
The ultimate duty of a citizen is to demonstrate his/her
Answer: B (loyalty to the state.)
A citizen's highest duty is loyalty to the state; obeying laws, paying taxes and respecting the flag all flow from it.
Conventions and usages are rules based on
Answer: A (traditions and customs.)
Conventions are unwritten rules that grow from long-standing practice, tradition and custom rather than from written law.
The body responsible for the execution of the policies of government is the
Answer: B (Civil Service.)
The civil service is the permanent body of officials who carry out (implement) the policies of the government of the day.
The electorate is defined as
Answer: D (citizens that are qualified to vote.)
The electorate is the body of citizens who meet the legal conditions (age, citizenship, registration) to vote in an election.
The right to govern and administer the affairs of the people of a country is
Answer: C (authority.)
Authority is power that is legitimate, i.e. the recognised right to rule. Power is only the ability to make others obey.
One of the following is a characteristic of a unitary government.
Answer: B (Homogeneous society)
Unitary government suits a homogeneous society, where people share language and culture and there is little need to share power among regions.
The mass type of party is
Answer: A (broad-based.)
A mass party seeks members from all classes and groups across the country, so it is broad-based.
Who among the following provided the detailed work on sovereignty?
Answer: A (Jean Bodin)
The French writer Jean Bodin (Six Books of the Commonwealth, 1576) gave the first detailed theory of sovereignty.
The family and peer groups are important agents of
Answer: B (political socialization.)
Political socialisation is the process of learning political values; the family and peer groups are among its main agents.
The confederal system of government is unpopular because
Answer: D (all the component units are sovereign.)
In a confederation each member keeps its sovereignty and can ignore or leave the centre, making the union weak and unstable.
Local Government is relevant because it provides political
Answer: D (participation at the grassroots.)
Local government brings government close to the people and lets them take part in politics at the grassroots.
Pressure groups provide
Answer: D (means by which governments ascertain public reactions to their policies.)
Pressure groups express their members' views on policies, so they let government know how the public is reacting.
The authority of the state is collectively exercised by the
Answer: A (executive, legislature and judiciary.)
State authority is exercised through the three organs of government: the legislature makes laws, the executive carries them out and the judiciary interprets them.
In a presidential system of government, legislative approval is not necessary for the
Answer: C (granting of pardons.)
The prerogative of mercy (pardon) belongs to the president alone; judges' appointments and treaties need legislative approval.
The following are the reasons widely espoused for military intervention and rule in West Africa except
Answer: D (religion.)
Coup leaders usually blamed corruption, tribalism and bad government, and personal ambition is a known cause; religion is not one of the commonly given reasons.
Which of the following electoral systems is ideal for a heterogeneous society?
Answer: D (Proportional representation)
Proportional representation gives each group seats in line with its votes, so minorities in a mixed (heterogeneous) society are represented.
A constitution performs the role of
Answer: D (stating the functions and limitations of leaders.)
A constitution sets out the powers and functions of each organ and official and the limits on them.
Impeachment process is a unique feature of the
Answer: B (presidential system.)
In the presidential system the legislature cannot remove the president by a vote of no confidence, so it uses impeachment instead.
Which of the following is a function of the party whip?
Answer: B (Ensuring that the members tow the party position)
The whip makes sure party members in the legislature attend and vote along the party line.
Labour groups mostly come under the umbrella of the
Answer: B (trades union congress.)
Trade unions join together under a central body such as a Trades Union Congress (in Nigeria, the NLC and TUC).
The major problem facing electoral management bodies in West Africa is
Answer: D (electoral malpractice.)
Rigging, vote buying and other electoral malpractices are the biggest problem electoral bodies in West Africa face.
The features of a state include all the following except
Answer: C (society.)
The features of a state are population, defined territory, government and sovereignty; 'society' is not one of them.
To facilitate movement of people from one member state to another, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has
Answer: B (waived visa requirements for citizens of member countries.)
The 1979 Protocol on Free Movement lets ECOWAS citizens visit other member states without a visa for up to 90 days.
Public corporations are referred to as statutory bodies because they are established by
Answer: B (Acts of parliament.)
A statutory body is one created by a statute, i.e. an Act of parliament, which sets out its powers.
Which state institution serves as a link between the government and the people?
Answer: B (The Civil Service)
Civil servants carry government programmes to the people and pass people's needs back to government, linking the two.
The media play a vital role in the political environment in that, it
Answer: A (articulates the views of individuals.)
The media give individuals and groups a voice by expressing their opinions on public issues.
Military might is a major determinant of a country's
Answer: C (foreign policy.)
A country's military strength affects how boldly it can act abroad, so it is a key determinant of foreign policy.
The major role of minority parties in parliament is to
Answer: B (ensure democratic governance.)
Opposition (minority) parties check the ruling party and offer alternatives, which keeps governance democratic.
The political parties established in West Africa in the 1950's were aimed at
Answer: A (securing independence for their people.)
Parties of the 1950s such as the CPP, NCNC and AG were formed mainly to win self-government and independence.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is located in
Answer: C (London.)
The Commonwealth Secretariat has its headquarters at Marlborough House in London.
Which colonial administration in West Africa sought to integrate her colonies with their home country?
Answer: C (French)
France's policy of assimilation aimed to make Africans French citizens and treat the colonies as part of France.
The following are benefits member countries derive from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) except
Answer: D (free ports.)
ECOWAS gives members economic cooperation, a larger market and, through its defence protocols and ECOMOG, military assistance; it does not provide free ports.
Which of the following is not an obligation of a citizen?
Answer: D (Attending religious gathering)
Paying taxes, voting and protecting public property are civic obligations; attending religious gatherings is a private choice (freedom of religion).
The implementation of indirect rule was supervised by the
Answer: B (British Officials.)
Under indirect rule chiefs ruled their people, but British officials (Residents and District Officers) supervised them.
The electronic and print media make their views heard on national issues through
Answer: D (editorial commentary.)
A newspaper or broadcaster states its own opinion on issues in its editorial.
Public corporations can operate in a more efficient manner if they are
Answer: A (free from political interference.)
Political interference (appointments, use of funds for politics) is a main cause of inefficiency in public corporations.
The agency responsible for fulfilling the purpose of the state is
Answer: A (government.)
The government is the machinery or agent through which the state's will and purposes are carried out.
The power of the electorate signifies
Answer: A (political sovereignty.)
Political sovereignty lies with the electorate, whose votes decide who governs; legal sovereignty lies with the law-making body.
The removal of government direct control and monopoly in manufacturing and service sectors is called
Answer: A (privatization.)
Privatisation transfers ownership and control of public enterprises to private individuals, ending government monopoly.
ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was establish to
Answer: B (restore peace to war-torn West African countries.)
ECOMOG was set up in 1990 as a peacekeeping force to restore peace in war-torn states such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The major concern of the United Nations Organization (UNO) is world
Answer: B (peace.)
The main purpose of the UN, stated in its Charter, is to maintain international peace and security.
Nationalist agitation in British West Africa after the World War II led to the
Answer: B (formation of political parties.)
After 1945 nationalists formed mass political parties to press for self-government and independence.
An African-American who contributed greatly to the growth of nationalism in West Africa was
Answer: D (William Du Bois.)
W.E.B. Du Bois led the Pan-African Congresses, which inspired West African nationalists.
Which of the following is not a component of political culture?
Answer: B (Age)
Political culture is made up of a people's beliefs, attitudes, values and norms about politics; age is not one of them.
The following were checks on the powers of Chiefs during the pre-colonial era except the
Answer: A (British Officials.)
Before colonial rule, kingmakers, councils of elders and age grades checked chiefs; British officials only came with colonialism.
A common feature of pre-independence constitutions of British West African Colonies was the
Answer: B (governors' membership of both the Legislative and Executive Councils.)
Under the colonial constitutions the governor presided over both the Executive and Legislative Councils, so there was no real separation of powers.
Which of the following features of Indirect Rule contributed immensely to Nationalism in British West Africa?
Answer: D (Exclusion of the educated elites)
Indirect rule worked through chiefs and shut out the educated elite, who then led nationalist movements.
The first inter-territorial association organized by some educated African elite in the Gold Coast was the
Answer: B (National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA).)
The NCBWA, founded in 1920 by J.E. Casely Hayford of the Gold Coast, covered all four British West African colonies; the ARPS was limited to the Gold Coast.
Explain five reasons for the study of government.
Any five, each explained:
Gives knowledge of how the state is organised and run, and how rulers and the ruled relate.
Makes citizens aware of their rights and duties and how to defend their rights.
Prepares people for political participation and leadership.
Helps citizens understand and judge government policies and political events at home and abroad.
Promotes patriotism, national unity and good citizenship.
Helps understand international relations and a state's international commitments.
Provides a career path (politics, public service, law, diplomacy, teaching).
Write five separate points, each with a sentence of explanation.
(a) Who is a citizen?
(b) Outline four responsibilities of a citizen to the state.
(a) A person who is a full legal member of a state (by birth, registration, naturalisation or honour), enjoying its rights and owing it duties.
(b) Any four: loyalty to the state; obeying the laws; paying taxes and rates; voting in elections; defending the state when required; protecting public property; respecting the rights of others/national symbols; assisting law-enforcement agents (reporting crime, serving as a witness).
Define first, then list four duties, one sentence each.
Highlight five roles played by the mass media in strengthening modern democracy.
Any five: informing and educating the public on issues and policies; serving as a watchdog that exposes corruption and abuse of power; forming and expressing public opinion; providing a platform for debate and for the opposition; political socialisation and voter education; giving feedback between government and the governed; monitoring and reporting elections; promoting accountability and transparency; defending rights and the rule of law.
Each role should be a short phrase plus one line of explanation.
(a) What is Local Government?
(b) Outline four reasons for the creation of Local Government.
(a) Government at the grassroots level: a unit set up by law to run the affairs of a local area, with its own powers, functions and funds.
(b) Any four: to bring government nearer the people; to encourage grassroots participation in politics; to provide local services (markets, primary health, sanitation, roads); to train local leaders; to reduce the workload of higher governments; to mobilise local resources for development; to serve as a link between the people and higher governments; to protect local interests and identity.
Give a full definition, then four reasons.
(a) State three types of elections.
(b) Explain four purposes elections serve in a democratic state.
(a) Any three: general election; by-election; primary election; run-off/second ballot; local government election; referendum/plebiscite; direct and indirect elections.
(b) Any four: choosing representatives and leaders; peaceful change of government; giving government legitimacy; making leaders accountable (removing failed ones); allowing citizens to take part in politics; letting the people express their will on policies (sovereignty of the people); political education of voters; recruiting new leaders.
Name three types in (a); explain four purposes in (b).
(a) List three pre-independence constitutions of Nigeria.
(b) Identify four features of the 1960 Independence Constitution of Nigeria.
(a) Any three: Clifford Constitution 1922; Richards Constitution 1946; Macpherson Constitution 1951; Lyttelton Constitution 1954.
(b) Any four: parliamentary system; federal system of three regions; Queen as Head of State represented by a Governor-General; Prime Minister as head of government; bicameral federal legislature (Senate and House of Representatives); entrenched fundamental human rights; Privy Council in London as final court of appeal; regional constitutions with Governors and Premiers; independent judiciary/Federal Supreme Court; Nigerian citizenship provisions.
List the constitutions by name and year; then give four features of 1960.
(a) List three key members of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM).
(b) Highlight four achievements of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in the political development of Nigeria.
(a) Any three: Ernest Ikoli; H.O. Davies; Samuel Akinsanya; Nnamdi Azikiwe; Obafemi Awolowo; J.C. Vaughan; Kofo Abayomi.
(b) Any four: first nationwide (non-tribal) political organisation; won Lagos seats in the Legislative Council (1938) ending the NNDP's hold; sharpened criticism of colonial policies such as the Yaba Higher College; spread political awareness and nationalism; published the Youth Charter calling for self-government; trained future nationalist leaders; owned a newspaper (Daily Service) to spread nationalist views.
Three names in (a); four achievements in (b).
(a) What is the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)?
(b) Identify four objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
(a) An African Union development programme adopted in 2001 to end poverty and put Africa on the path of sustainable growth through African-led plans and partnership with the rest of the world.
(b) Any four: eradicate poverty; promote sustainable growth and development; end Africa's marginalisation in the global economy; promote good governance, democracy and human rights; promote peace and security; empower women; improve infrastructure, education and health; attract investment and accelerate regional integration.
Define NEPAD (AU programme, 2001) then give four objectives.
(a) List three contributions of the National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA) to the nationalist struggle.
(b) Identify four contributions of Nnamdi Azikiwe to the nationalist struggle of Nigeria.
(a) Any three: united educated elites of the four British West African colonies; demanded elective representation, leading to the elective principle in the Clifford Constitution 1922; demanded a West African university and Africanisation of the civil service; demanded separation of judicial and executive powers; awakened political consciousness.
(b) Any four: founded the West African Pilot and other newspapers that spread nationalism; co-founded and led the NCNC; member of the NYM; led delegations to London demanding independence; mobilised the youth (Zikist Movement); member of the Legislative Council and Premier of the Eastern Region; first Nigerian Governor-General (1960) and President (1963).
Three for NCBWA, four for Azikiwe; keep each point short.