2012 Government WAEC SSCE (School Candidates) May/June

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Government 1 - Objective

1. The study of government is important because it
   1. directs people's attention to development of non-state institutions.
   2. enables citizens to understand the processes for managing state affairs.
   3. encourages individuals to take decisions that satisfy their aspiration
   4. encourage the elite to remain in power.
2. A system of government where political powers are inherited is called
   1. monarchy.
   2. diarchy.
   3. democracy.
   4. aristocracy.
3. Democracy can be promoted through
   1. gerrymandering.
   2. slander.
   3. accountability.
   4. lobbying.
4. The ability to command obedience is called
   1. authority.
   2. influence.
   3. legitimacy.
   4. mobilization.
5. Legitimacy is determined mainly by
   1. charisma
   2. influence.
   3. acceptance.
   4. desire.
6. Which of the following is a feature of democracy?
   1. Majority rule
   2. Election by selected adults
   3. Quick decision-making
   4. Rule by wealthy men
7. Which of the following is a source of political power?
   1. Gerrymandering
   2. Election
   3. Filibuster
   4. Immunity
8. Laws made by non-legislative bodies are called
   1. judicial review.
   2. delegated legislation.
   3. criminal laws.
   4. case law.
9. Delegated legislation is unpopular because it
   1. quickens the law making process.
   2. receives wide publicity.
   3. Is not made by the legislature.
   4. caters for emergency situations.
10. Political socialization begins from
    1. adulthood.
    2. childhood.
    3. old age.
    4. manhood.
11. A. V. Dicey popularized the principle of
    1. rule of law.
    2. democracy.
    3. political culture.
    4. separation of powers.
12. Which of the following is the lowest in the hierarchy of feudal system?
    1. Knights
    2. Serfs
    3. Nobles
    4. Lords
13. The ratification of major executive decisions by the Legislature is in line with the application of
    1. separation of powers
    2. rule of law
    3. checks and balances
    4. fusion of powers
14. In which of the following political systems is rule of law most enhanced?
    1. Cabinet system
    2. Feudal system
    3. Fascist system
    4. Communist system
15. A constitution is the
    1. written document of traditional practices.
    2. functional aspect of government activities.
    3. supreme document of the government.
    4. fundamental laws of the land.
16. A constitution is important because it
    1. teaches moral values o f the society.
    2. prescribes rules for those who govern.
    3. serves as a source of conflict in society.
    4. describes the laws and admonishes obedience.
17. Which of the following cannot be found in a constitution?
    1. Fundamental Human Rights
    2. Manifestoes of political parties
    3. Organs of government
    4. Duties and obligations of citizens
18. A rigid constitution is a feature of
    1. unitary system.
    2. monarchical system.
    3. federal system.
    4. confederal system.
19. In a parliamentary system, the executive is weak because it is
    1. accountable to parliament.
    2. responsible for its own actions.
    3. headed by a prime minister.
    4. the head of state that controls the government.
20. In a federal system of government, the powers of state governments are subordinate to
    1. the regional constitutions.
    2. the supreme body of state laws.
    3. acts of the parliament at the centre.
    4. provincial laws.
21. An advantage of a confederation over a federation is that the component units
    1. have the right to secede.
    2. share resources equally.
    3. are politically stable.
    4. co-operate fully with the centre.
22. Confederalism was once practised in
    1. Nigeria and Ghana.
    2. Senegal and The Gambia.
    3. Mali and Cote d' Ivoire.
    4. Ghana and Benin.
23. Which of the following acts as a check on the Executive in the control of the finances of a State? The
    1. judiciary
    2. civil service
    3. press
    4. legislature
24. In a legislature, carpet-crossing means
    1. crossing over the carpet.
    2. decamping to another party.
    3. legislative dismissal.
    4. legislative instrument.
25. The responsibility of the judiciary is to
    1. make rules.
    2. formulate decisions.
    3. arrest offenders.
    4. adjudicate cases.
26. One of the limitations on freedom of speech is
    1. libel.
    2. trespassing.
    3. bye-laws.
    4. unlawful detention.
27. A citizen’s duties do not include
    1. defending the nation.
    2. obeying the laws.
    3. paying taxes.
    4. giving alms to the poor.
28. One-party system leads to
    1. dictatorship.
    2. democracy.
    3. diarchy.
    4. theocracy.
29. In a democratic state the party system that usually operates is
    1. mass party.
    2. multi-party.
    3. one-party.
    4. elite party.
30. The coming together of two or more political parties to form a government is
    1. coalition.
    2. merger.
    3. unification.
    4. co-operation.
31. Universal Adult Suffrage is associated with a
    1. democratic government.
    2. military government.
    3. gerontocratic government.
    4. fascist government.
32. Restricted franchise violates the idea of
    1. political equality.
    2. political culture.
    3. public accountability.
    4. political socialization.
33. A major advantage of the Secret Ballot System of voting is that
    1. it is faster than other systems.
    2. it ensures the anonymity of the voter.
    3. it extends the franchise to all adults.
    4. nobody can be prevented from voting.
34. The ‘first-past-the-post’ system of voting is also called
    1. second ballot system.
    2. proportional representation.
    3. simple majority system.
    4. alternative vote system.
35. Proportional representation is more appropriate in a
    1. multi-party system.
    2. plurality system.
    3. unitary system.
    4. monarchical system.
36. Which of the following can aid in the formation of public opinion?
    1. Order-in-council
    2. Free press
    3. Existence of one party system.
    4. Existence of press censorship.
37. The civil service is an institution for
    1. carrying out private organizational goals.
    2. effecting civil society policies.
    3. formulating and executing public policies.
    4. initiating bureaucratic private agenda.
38. The recruitment of personnel into the civil service by the public/civil service commission prevents
    1. political patronage.
    2. bribery and corruption.
    3. overstaffing.
    4. bureaucracy.
39. Which of the following manages a public corporation?
    1. Chambers of Commerce
    2. Board of Directors
    3. An Accountant-General
    4. An Auditor-General
40. Local government are essential because they
    1. encourage division in a country.
    2. implement government policies at national levels.
    3. make laws for a nation.
    4. train local people in the art of governing.
41. Which of the following delayed nationalist movements in French West Africa?
    1. Presence of educated elite
    2. The policy of Assimilation
    3. The use of local chiefs
    4. Granting of freedom to Africans.
42. The National congress of British West Africa(NCBWA) was founded in
    1. Sierra Leone.
    2. Liberia.
    3. Ghana
    4. Nigeria
43. the West Africa Students Union (WASU) was formed by
    1. Siaka Stevens.
    2. K.A. Gbedemah.
    3. E. F. Small
    4. Oladipo Solanke.
44. Military government usually rule through
    1. bye-laws
    2. decrees.
    3. parliament.
    4. statutes.
45. A military coup d'état
    1. enforcement of fundamental human rights.
    2. suspension of the constitution.
    3. breaking of diplomatic relations with foreign countries.
    4. mass importation of fire arms.
46. Which of the following factors influences a country's foreign policy?
    1. size of the Country's civil service
    2. overall national interest of the country
    3. Capacity of the notice force
    4. type of traditional rulers in the country
47. The Organization of African Unity ( DAU) was set up in
    1. Accra.
    2. Harare.
    3. Cairo.
    4. Addis Ababa.
48. The organ of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) established for peaceful settlement of disputes is the
    1. Commission of mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration.
    2. Council of Ministers.
    3. Secretariat.
    4. Assembly of Heads of states and Government.
49. The head of the Commonwealth of Nations is the
    1. Prime Minister.
    2. High Commissioner.
    3. British Foreign Secretary.
    4. British Monarch.
50. Which of the following organs of the United Nations Organization has outlived its usefulness? The
    1. General Assembly
    2. Trusteeship Council
    3. International Court of Justice
    4. Economic and Social Council

Government 2 - Essay

Section A: Elements of Government

Answer two question only from this section.

1. Highlight six characteristics of a democratic government.
2. 1. What is independence of the judiciary?
   2. State three reasons for the independence of the judiciary.
3. Give three functions and three limitations of the legislature.
4. Identify six merits of pressure groups In a democratic state.
5. 1. What is civil service?
   2. Explain the structure of the civil service.

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

Answer two questions only from this section.

6. Highlight six features of the Igbo traditional societies.
7. identity any four features of the policy of indirect Rule in West Africa.
8. 1. Define nationalism.
   2. State any five external factors that aided the growth of nationalism in West Africa.
9. identity six features of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951.
10. 1. Describe the formation of the Nigeria National Alliance (NNA) of 1964.
    2. Highlight three achievements of the Alliance.
11. Identify any six factors affecting Nigeria's foreign policy.
12. Identify any six problems facing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).