WAEC Government 1997 Past Questions

Question 1

Government as an institution of the state means the

A.method of organizing parties and preasure group
B.process of decision-making in a society
C.methods of resolution of conflicts among the people
D.structures and sysytems for decision-making in society
E.method of recruiting political leaders

Objective

Question 1

Why is it necessary to uphold the principle of the Rule of Law in a state?

Theory

Question 2

In a feudal system, the hierarchy of citizens is the king

A.nobles and lords
B.queen and lords
C.knights and nobles
D.serfs and knights
E.lords and serfs

Objective

Question 2

(a)What is a confederation?

(b) Highlight the problems that are likely to arise in a confederal state.

Theory

Question 3

The political culture of the country is said to be participatory if individuals are

A.interested in voting and contesting elections
B.not allowd to criticize the government
C.not allowed to join political parties finance by the Governmnet
D.not allowed to vote

Objective

Question 3

Why do some countries adopt written constitutions?

Theory

Question 4

The ability of leaders make and enforce decisions in a state is called

A.sovereignty
B.political power
C.socialization
D.legitimacy
E.democratic process

Objective

Question 4

(a) Define public opinion.

(b) What are its characteristics?

Theory

Question 5

The idea of separation of powers as a political concept was developed by

A.Louis Mostesquieu
B.A.V Dicey
C.Thomas Hobbes
D.Kar Marx
E.Jean Bodin

Objective

Question 5

Give reasons for the creation of local governments in Nigeria.

Theory

Question 6

Fascist movement has its origin in

A.Germany
B.Italy
C.Spain
D.The defunct Soviet Union
E.Japan

Objective

Question 6

Why was the development of Nationalist activities slow in the French West African colonies?

Theory

Question 7

Which of the following factors enhances the operation of the Rule of Law?

A.Well-equipped police force
B.Establishment of modern press
C.Independent judiciary
D.Enlightened citizens
E.Respect for the leaders

Objective

Question 7

Outline the causes and implications of the 1953 Kano riot in Nigeria.

Theory

Question 8

An important reason for granting the Judiciary the power of Judicial Review is to enable it to

A.uphold the surpremacy of the Constitution
B.promote freedom of the press
C.elevate the Judiciary above the other organs
D.demonstrate the independence of the Judiciary

Objective

Question 8

What are the positive and negative consequences of the Nigerian civil war (1967 - 1970)?

Theory

Question 9

The Judiciary independent when judges are

A.popularly elected into political offices
B.free to join any political party of their choice
C.free from external control and interference
D.empowered to amend the national constitution
E.absolutely free to control the Executive and Legislature

Objective

Question 9

Highlight the achievements of the military governments in Nigeria.

Theory

Question 10

Which of the following comprises the President, the Ministers, the Civil Servants and the Police? The

A.Armed Forces
B.Judiciary
C.Legislature
D.Exective
E.Council of States

Objective

Question 10

In what ways does Nigeria maintain friendly relations with other African States?.

Theory

Question 11

A constitution can be defined as

A.the rules guiding parliamentary procedures
B.a legal document to guide judges
C.the constituent elements of a contractual agreement
D.all written laws of a state
E.the rules guiding the affairs of an institution of society

Objective

Question 12

The constitution of federal system is usually

A.written and rigid
B.superior in content
C.difficult to understand
D.for the use of the federal government only
E.suspended for a general elections

Objective

Question 13

Constitutionalism emphasizes that those who govern the state should do so according to

A.their whims and caprices
B.laid-down rules of public behaviour
C.the direction of judges
D.the dictates of their egos
E.dictates of their critics

Objective

Question 14

One of features of a unitary state is that

A.a two party system is usually entrenched in the constitution
B.members of Parliament are selected
C.power is shared among all levels of governmnet
D.the cilvil service is supreme
E.the constituion is flexible

Objective

Question 15

Impeachment as an instrument of check on the Executive is useful mainly in a

A.federal system
B.cabinet system
C.unitary system
D.presidential system
E.republican system

Objective

Question 16

Fundamental human rights are entrenched in the Constitution of a state in order to

A.encourage unlimited freedom
B.enable the courts to punish offenders
C.restrict the liberty of citizens
D.make the government popular
E.guarantee the liberty of citizens

Objective

Question 17

An alien could become a legal member of a state by

A.migration
B.employment
C.naturalization
D.socialization
E.conversion

Objective

Question 18

A Nigerian may lose his Citizenship if he

A.is convicted for a criminal offence
B.renounces it in exchange for another
C.loses his international passport
D.is deported from a foreign country
E.fails to pay his taxes

Objective

Question 19

Tow -Party system implies that the only two parties

A.exist in the country
B.can contest elections
C.can from a coalition
D.can register members
E.are capable of caputuring power

Objective

Question 20

The ultimate aim of political party is

A.influence governmnet policeies
B.gain control of government
C.seek to discredit the government
D.provide for the welfare of its members
E.make government more effective

Objective

Question 21

Political parties mobilize the support of the electorate by

A.promoting violence
B.campaigning
C.rigging elections
D.encouraging coup d'etats
E.making laws

Objective

Question 22

Which of the following will produce a weak government

A.Coalition
B.Two-Party system
C.General elections
D.Presidential
E.Military

Objective

Question 23

The main objective of pressure group is to

A.fund election campaigns
B.change the government by violent means
C.influence government policies
D.change the mainfestos of all political parties
E.from the government

Objective

Question 24

Lobbying mainly involves the application of pressure on

A.people in commerce through monetyary gifts
B.legislators through material gifts
C.people in government throught persasive arguments
D.legislator by intimidation and blackmail
E.trade unions offer of gift

Objective

Question 25

Membership of pressure groups is usually limited because they

A.pursue specific and narrow objectives
B.seek unlimited freedom their members
C.promote other people's interests
D.are not patriotic
E.have dictatoral leaders

Objective

Question 26

For an Electoral Commission to conduct a free and fair election, it must be

A.controlled by the government
B.funded by only one of the political parties
C.an importial and independent body
D.supervised by a governmnet agency
E.headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court

Objective

Question 27

An electoral college refers to

A.training school for electoral officers
B.medium of indiect election
C.means of educating the electorate
D.place where public opinion is formed
E.process by which party leaders acquire knowledge

Objective

Question 28

An indirect election takes place when

A.election is conducted for seats in the legislature
B.voting is by proxy
C.election result is decided by the Judiciary
D.elected representatives vote on behlf of the electorate
E.there is rigging of elections

Objective

Question 29

A bye-election is conducted when

A.the Parliament is dissovled
B.the Chief Justice resigns or dies
C.a Minister resigns
D.the military takes over government
E.some vacant seats exist in Parliament

Objective

Question 30

Which of the following was a requirement for suffrage under the first elections in Nigeria in 1923?

A.A minimum income of ƹ100 per annum
B.12-month residence in Europe
C.24-month residence in the capital city
D.Being a male adult and legally married
E.Status of a British citizen

Objective

Question 31

Who among the following is a civil servant in Nigeria?

A.The managing director of a bank
B.A director in the Ministry of Defence
C.A major in the Army
D.A Commissioner of Police
E.A Pilot with the Nigerian Airways

Objective

Question 32

The main duty of the Civil Service Commission under the Nigerian Republican Constitution was

A.the retirement and settlement of pension for federal civil servants
B.advising the government on the establishment of new ministries
C.the appointment and promotion of judges
D.the recruitment, discipline and promotion of civil servants
E.determing the polices of each government department

Objective

Question 33

Neutrality of civil servants implies that they should

A.belong to political parties of their choice
B.be recruited on the basis of merit
C.serve any government loyally
D.be appointed on permanent basis
E.not be liable to blame or praise for their actions

Objective

Question 34

One of the features of Local Government Reforms of 1976 in Nigeria is the

A.reduction of financial aids to local governments
B.establishment of local government police
C.establishment of traditional institutions in each local govements
D.introduction of full-time chairmen and supervisory councillors
E.re-introduction of divisional councils

Objective

Question 35

Government control of public corporations in Nigeria is mainly to

A.ensure public accountability
B.allow freedom of each on the part of the corporations
C.guarantee profit maximization of the corporations
D.protect the appointment of foreigners in the corporations
E.encourage ethnic domination in the corporations

Objective

Question 36

Who among the following could pass death sentence on an accused person in the pre-colonial Yoruba Kingdom? The

A.Paramount Ruler
B.provincial Heads
C.Queen Mother
D.Cults
E.Family Heads

Objective

Question 37

The French policy of Assimilation attempted to

A.use chiefs as intermediaries between the government and the citizens
B.Africanize the civil service
C.make the Africans think and behave like French citizens
D.allow Africans develop on their own
E.establish legislative councils for the Africans

Objective

Question 38

Where was Indirect Rule successfully practised before it was introduced to Africa?

A.Latin America
B.India
C.Britain
D.Japan
E.USA

Objective

Question 39

One of effects of the agitations by the National Congress of British West Africa in the 1920s was the

A.establishment to Town Councils in th Protectorate
B.abolition of racial discrimination in the Civil Service
C.deposition of traditional rulers by Africans
D.election of Africans into the Legislative Councils
E.permission of African lawyers to parctise in court

Objective

Question 40

Which of the following is a result of nationalist activities in French West Africa?

A.Indigenat
B.Free Trade
C.Negritude
D.Direct Rule
E.The Loi Cadre

Objective