WAEC Government 1998 Past Questions

Question 1

Liberal democracy thrives best in a

A.fascist system
B.multi-party system
C.feudal system
D.one - party system
E.communist system

Objective

Question 1

Outline the basic functions performed by a modern government.

Theory

Question 2

Feudalism is a system of government where

A.a few people monopolize the ownership of land
B.factors of production are controlled by the capitalists
C.communal ownership of property is prevalent
D.state ownership of capital is prevalent
E.workers administer the society

Objective

Question 2

Give reasons why delegated legislation is often criticized.

Theory

Question 3

Which of the following is a feature of communism?

A.common wonership of the means of production
B.Dictatorship of the bourgeosis
C.Class struggle
D.Individual ownership of property
E.Adoption of multi-party system

Objective

Question 3

(a)What is sovereignty of a state?

(b) Outline the limitations of sovereignty in a state.

Theory

Question 4

The principle that any government that loses the support of the legislature resigns is practised in a

A.unitary system
B.monarchical system
C.presidential system
D.federal system
E.Cabinet system

Objective

Question 4

Explain six ways by which a citizen's right can be safeguarded.

Theory

Question 5

The purpose of Montesquieu's argument for the separation of powers was to

A.prevent tyranny by the government
B.promote the efficiency of government
C.ensure equality of all before the law
D.promote unity in the machinery of govement
E.enhance the efficiency of the state

Objective

Question 5

What are the merits and demerits of a multi-party system of government?

Theory

Question 6

A system where at least two levels of government derive their powers from the constitution is called

A.unitary
B.cabinet
C.federal
D.presidential
E.communist

Objective

Question 6

(a) Define nationalism.

(b) What factors aided the growth of nationalism in Nigeria?

Theory

Question 7

Which of the following countries has an unwritten constitution?

A.Ghana
B.Nigeria
C.Canada
D.Britain
E.USA

Objective

Question 7

What were the weaknesses of the military regime in Nigeria between 1966 and 1975?

Theory

Question 8

A constitution that requires a complex procedure for the amendment of its provision is described as

A.unwritten
B.flexible
C.classified
D.rigid
E.unitary

Objective

Question 8

Why did the educated elites oppose the introduction of Indirect Rule in Southern Nigeria?

Theory

Question 9

One of the reasons why states from a federation is to

A.make the government of a smaill nation easy
B.keep the residual powers
C.cater for local differences
D.be able take quick decisions
E.have a rigid constitution

Objective

Question 9

How has Nigeria shown that Africa is the centre-piece of her foreign policy?

Theory

Question 10

Concurrent list in a federal constitution issues within the legislative powers of the

A.federal and local councils
B.army and local government
C.police and the ligislature
D.federal government and state government
E.president and chief justice

Objective

Question 11

In the legislature of a federal system of government is usually

A.unicameral
B.multi-cameral
C.bicameral
D.rigid
E.flexible

Objective

Question 12

In the legislature, a private member's bill is

A.introduced by a member of Parliament
B.related to matters of local interest
C.related to matters of sanitary nature
D.introduced by the Executive
E.introduced by a member of Cabinet

Objective

Question 13

The communist ideology was propounded by

A.Charles De Gaulle
B.Kari Marx
C.John Locke
D.Williams Du Bois
E.Rajiv Gandhi

Objective

Question 14

Collective responsibility implies that every member of cabinet

A.is responsible to the Head of State
B.obeys the Prime Minister without questions
C.may support or oppose the decision made by the cabinet
D.take the credit or blame for the decisions made by the cabinet
E.must oppose the legislature at question times

Objective

Question 15

A state is said to be unitary if it

A.has a rigid constitution
B.is orgnized under a single government
C.is headed by a Prime Minister
D.is under military rule
E.unites its people

Objective

Question 16

In parliamentary system of government a vote of no confidence means expression of disapproval of

A.government 's general policies
B.the activities of the court of law
C.the opposition's methods of campaign
D.the activities of trade unions
E.leadership of the Armed Force

Objective

Question 17

A government shared by two authorities is called

A.diarchy
B.theocracy
C.gerontocracy
D.aristocracy
E.monarchy

Objective

Question 18

A singled-member constituency is one in which

A.two or more representatives are elected from one constituency
B.only one candidate can contest election
C.only one representative is elected from each constituency
D.opposition candidates are not alloews to contest elections
E.franchise is limited in all constituencies

Objective

Question 19

Presidential system of government allows the

A.President to be a member of the legislature
B.Executive to be members of the Legislature
C.Judiciary to be a part of the Executive
D.President to dismiss members of the Legislature
E.President to elect ministers from outside the Legislature

Objective

Question 20

The Executive arm of government refers to a body which

A.supervises councillors
B.makes laws
C.administers the law
D.supervises elections
E.interprets the law

Objective

Question 21

One major disadvantage of a two-party system is that

A.choice of political associations is limited
B.choice of party candidates is without limit
C.political education is for party members only
D.party leaders are allowed to contest elections
E.franchise is usually restricted to property owners

Objective

Question 22

Which of the following methods can be used by the Legislature to check the Executive in a presidential system?

A.Dissolution
B.Delegated Legislation
C.Court Injunction
D.Impeachment
E.Devolution

Objective

Question 23

Indirect election refers to an election that

A.is conducted through an electoral college
B.allows voters to vote for themselves
C.is solely organized by the citizens
D.allows voter to cast their votes openly
E.is supervised by the police

Objective

Question 24

Universal adult suffrage means that only

A.the wealthy class is allowed to contest elections
B.the educated class is allowed to vote
C.eligible adults are allowed to vote and be voted for
D.women are allowed to vote and be voted for
E.members of the legislature are allowed to vote

Objective

Question 25

The system of election whereby each political party is given a percentage of seats that is equal to the percentage of popular votes cast in its favour is known as

A.absolute plurality
B.proportional representation
C.simple majority
D.simple plurality
E.direct election

Objective

Question 26

One of the reasons for the establishment of a public corporation is to

A.undertake projects that require huge sums of money
B.make profit for the government
C.provide funds for the maintenance of political associations
D.compete with local governmnets in the provision of social services
E.serve as agents of multi-national companies

Objective

Question 27

The policy-making powers in a public corporation are vested in the

A.Managing Director
B.Minister of Industries
C.Chairman of Public Service Commission
D.Trade Unions
E.Board of Directors

Objective

Question 28

Local government election, local government areas are generally divided into

A.constituencies
B.zones
C.regions
D.wards
E.states

Objective

Question 29

Neutrality of civil servants means that they

A.are free to do whatever they like
B.should not take party in politics
C.can be seen but must not be heard
D.cannot be tried in court for misbehaviour
E.are free to use government materials as they like

Objective

Question 30

The Unification Decree that turned Nigeria to a Unitary State was promulgated during the regime of General

A.Muhammadu Buhari
B.Aguiyi Ironsi
C.Olusegun Obasnajo
D.Murtala Mohammed
E.Ibrahim Babangida

Objective

Question 31

The emirate system in the Hausa/Fulani traditional administration was

A.hierarchical
B.unilateral
C.democratic
D.expensive
E.secular

Objective

Question 32

In the Igbo traditional political system, the Okpara was the

A.administrative head of his kindred
B.priest
C.king
D.commander-in chief of the army
E.head of his age-grade

Objective

Question 33

Nationalist movements started late in French West Africa because

A.Africans were allowed to enlist in the army
B.Africans felt they were free
C.Africans wanted to maintain trade relations with France
D.French did not allow Africans to travel abroad
E.France suppressed political associations and parties

Objective

Question 34

An Oba in the traditional Yoruba political system was

A.the executive head of his people
B.ceremonial monarch only
C.war general only
D.the spokesman of his people
E.a titled member in the community

Objective

Question 35

An Oba in the traditional Yoruba political system was

A.the executive head of his people
B.ceremonial monarch only
C.war general only
D.the spokesman of his people
E.a titled member in the community

Objective

Question 36

Universal adult suffrage was first adopted throughout Nigeria under the constitution of

A.1922
B.1946
C.1958
D.1960
E.1979

Objective

Question 37

A recurrent problem of Nigerian federalism is

A.national awareness
B.acculturation
C.assimilation
D.dual citizenship
E.national unity

Objective

Question 38

One of the main features of the Republican Constitution adopted by Nigeria in 1963 was that the

A.office of the Governor-General was retained
B.Prime Minister became the Head of State
C.President became the Head of State
D.President was responsible to the Queen of England
E.Prime Minister became the Governor-General

Objective

Question 39

In the 1922 Clifford Constitution of Nigeria

A.all the members of the Executive Council were British
B.none of the members of the Executive Council were British
C.all the members of the Executive Council were Nigerians
D.all the members of the Executive Council were popularly elected
E.the Governor had no legislative power

Objective

Question 40

Who among `the following nationalists founded the first political party in Nigeria?

A.Nnamdi Azikiwe
B.Obafemi Awolowo
C.Samuel Akinsanya
D.Herbert Macaulay
E.Tafawa Balewa

Objective

Question 41

A major problem of political parties in Nigeria during the First Republic was that all

A.were financially handicapped
B.had poor leadership
C.were tribally based
D.failed to contest elections
E.were not organized

Objective