2020 Government WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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Government 1 - Objective

1. In modern democracy, a government is
   1. a contract between the rulers and the ruled
   2. a preserve of the political party in power
   3. monopoly of the major ethnic group
   4. alternation of power between the majority and minority tribes
2. The ability to make and enforce laws and administer justice constitute the major functions of a
   1. nation
   2. society
   3. government
   4. pressure group
3. Executive power in a cabinet system of government is vested in the
   1. legislature
   2. judiciary
   3. civil service
   4. Council of Ministers
4. A feature of a confederal state is that
   1. it is a single sovereign state
   2. its constitution is flexible
   3. any unit can secede at will
   4. its powers are distributed equally between the centre and units
5. One of the limitations to the principles of rule of law is
   1. Immunity
   2. equality
   3. liberty
   4. impartiality
6. Countries adopt unitary system of governments because it
   1. detests dictatorship
   2. promotes national integration
   3. Concentrates power only at the centre
   4. allows the component units to secede at will
7. Which of the following is an advantage of monocephalous executive?
   1. Sharing of power
   2. Quick decision making
   3. Impartial dispensation of justice
   4. Enjoyment of press freedom
8. A major difference between power and authority is that, authority is
   1. scarcely exercised
   2. more dependent on coercion
   3. acquired popularly
   4. exercised through force
9. Political participation can take the form of
   1. belonging to a trade union
   2. being a member of a pressure group
   3. canvassing for votes
   4. organizing festival for good harvest
10. Which of the following is a disadvantage of proportional representation? It
    1. encourages rigging
    2. promotes strong government
    3. makes for easy decision making in parliament
    4. is difficult and cumbersome to operate
11. The sum total of authority in a state unrestrained by law is
    1. monarchy
    2. society
    3. oligarchy
    4. sovereignty
12. The flexibility and rigidity of constitution refer to the
    1. sources of constitution
    2. making of constitution
    3. Ease of amending constitution
    4. coding of constitution
13. The observance of Rule of Law in a state requires
    1. an independent judiciary.
    2. an ineffective police system.
    3. a flexible constitution.
    4. existence of a two-party system
14. The principle of separating the judiciary from the other organs of government and making it free from executive and legislative influence is termed
    1. judicial independence.
    2. judicial review
    3. separation of powers
    4. fusion of powers
15. The right to respect the personality o the individual is a
    1. civil right
    2. natural right
    3. social right
    4. economic right
16. Which of the following constitutional provisions gives a high degree of autonomy to component parts of a unitary state?
    1. Devolution
    2. Delegation
    3. Divestiture
    4. Declaration
17. The following are redresses available at the courts for aggrieved people except
    1. injunction
    2. mandamus
    3. certiorari
    4. prorogation
18. Which of the following usually leads to the curtailment of the rights of citizens?
    1. Transitional period
    2. Granting of presidential pardon
    3. Period of constitutional reforms
    4. Violent socio-political unrest
19. The national secretariat of a political party is managed by the
    1. presidential candidate
    2. founding members
    3. national chairman and general secretary
    4. national executive and youth organizer
20. The type of election which allows party members to elect candidates for elective offices is
    1. general election
    2. bye election
    3. direct election
    4. primary election
21. An opposition party which sees itself as “government-in-waiting” is called
    1. shadow government
    2. caretaker government
    3. national government
    4. responsible government
22. The document which sets out the programme of a political party and guides the electorate to vote for it is the
    1. constitution
    2. electoral register
    3. manifesto
    4. white paper
23. An advantage of a two-party system is that , it
    1. simplifies the electoral process.
    2. ensures winner takes all.
    3. protects the electoral commission.
    4. protects the electorate from vote buying.
24. Which of the following is a non-partisan organization with the aim of influencing government policies?
    1. political party
    2. pressure group
    3. Humanitarian society
    4. Relief organization
25. The collective views held by majority of citizens of a country about a particular policy is
    1. national interest
    2. public opinion
    3. commentary
    4. bulletin
26. An institution under the executive arm of government responsible for formulating and implementing government policies is the
    1. public service
    2. public corporation
    3. civil service
    4. judicial service
27. The following are means of controlling public corporation except
    1. legislative control
    2. judicial control
    3. ministerial control
    4. Chief of Staff control
28. The institution established by the constitution to be responsible for recruiting personnel into the Civil Service is the
    1. Personnel Management Office.
    2. Office of the President.
    3. National Labour Commission.
    4. Public Service Commission.
29. If a winner emerges in an election as a result of his/her votes being more than the combined votes of the opposing contestants; what type of electoral system is being practiced.
    1. Absolute majority
    2. Plurality
    3. Second ballot
    4. Alternative vote
30. Which of the following is a function of an Electoral Commission?
    1. Adjudicating election petitions
    2. Provision of electoral registers
    3. Disciplining personnel in the Civil Service
    4. Promotion of public servants
31. Which of the following is not an electoral malpractice?
    1. Impersonation
    2. Threatening
    3. Campaigning for a candidate
    4. Gerrymandering
32. Local government sources of revenue can best be improved through
    1. schools
    2. the collection of import duties
    3. the provision of housing units
    4. cottage industries
33. Public opinion is important in that, it
    1. helps political parties to assess their policies
    2. creates delays in the execution of policies
    3. may be unreliable and misleading
    4. can be manipilated by political opponents
34. One of the features of pressure groups is that, all members
    1. are rich
    2. think in the same way
    3. have similar interests
    4. oppose the government
35. Which of the following modes of operation of pressure groups undermines economic, social and political stability of a state?
    1. Lobbying
    2. Symposia
    3. Strikes
    4. Debates
36. The police perform all the following functions except
    1. public execution of law breakers
    2. prosecuting law breakers
    3. protection of life and property
    4. Enforcement of law and order
37. Which of the following is a reason for the failure of the assimilation policy in French West Africa?
    1. The change in name of their culture
    2. The refusal of the African to be culturally colonized
    3. The paternal policy of the French
    4. Bribery of the opinion leaders by the French.
38. The capital of the French Federation of West African was located in
    1. Bamako, Malt.
    2. Dakar, Senegal.
    3. Conakry, Guinea,
    4. Niamey, Niger
39. Under the crown colony system of administration, major policies were implemented in the colonies by the
    1. Chiefs and their elders.
    2. Secretary of State for the colonies.
    3. Chiefs and the British.
    4. Colonial Governor
40. One way of improving productivity in the Public Service is through
    1. promotion without examination.
    2. higher salaries and allowances.
    3. increase in working hours.
    4. open door policy
41. Which of the following made the colonial Governor a “Virtual Dictator”?
    1. Legislative Council
    2. Executive Council
    3. Appointment of departmental heads
    4. Reserved veto powers
42. Which of the following is a feature of the French policy of Association?
    1. Elevation of the position of the Chiefs
    2. French citizenship to subjects
    3. Scholarships to needy students.
    4. Introduction of indigent.
43. The African Union is most often unable to resolve conflicts because of
    1. financial weakness
    2. absence of African High Command
    3. differences in culture
    4. language barrier and race
44. The formation of the African Union is aimed at achieving a wider goal of
    1. cultural integration
    2. continental government
    3. national solidarity
    4. African identity
45. A major advantage of a country’s foreign policy is that, it
    1. encourages infringement on the territories of other states.
    2. promotes the country’s national interest.
    3. Stimulates political activities in the state.
    4. promotes understanding between the leaders and the led.
46. The West African Students Union (WASU) was formed by
    1. Siaka Stevens
    2. K. A. Gbedemah.
    3. E.F Small
    4. Oladipo Solanke
47. A military coup d’etat is followed by
    1. enforcement of fundamental human tights.
    2. suspension of the constitution.
    3. breaking of diplomatic relations with foreign countries
    4. mass Importation of firearms.
48. Which of the following countries is a Unitary state?
    1. Nigeria
    2. Egypt
    3. Ghana
    4. Canada
49. Which of the following does not influence a country’s foreign policy?
    1. Desire for foreign investments
    2. International law, Conventions and Treaties
    3. Religion and racial factors
    4. Age of the leader
50. The National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA) was founded in
    1. Sierra Leone
    2. Liberia
    3. Ghana
    4. Nigeria

Government 2 - Essay

Section A: Elements of Government

Answer two question only from this section.

1. 1. What is political socialization?
   2. Identify four features of a nation
2. Highlight five features of Federalism
3. 1. What is a Public Corporation?
   2. Identify four ways in which Public Corporations are controlled.
4. Outline five ways in which Public Opinion is measured.
5. Explain five means of safeguarding rights of a citizens of a country

Section B: Political and Constitutional Development In West Africa and International Relations

Answer two questions only from this section.

6. Identify five challenges faces by the United Nations Organisation (UNO).
7. Highlight five differences between the Crown Colony and the Protectorate.
8. 1. List three political parties and their leaders who contested the 1979 presidential elections in Nigeria.
   2. Highlight three features of political parties, in Nigeria since independence.
9. Highlight five weaknesses of the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
10. Question 10
    1. List three features of the Igbo Political System.
    2. Identify four democratic tenets of the Igbo Traditional Political System.