WAEC Government 2000 Past Questions

Question 1

The rule of law refers to the principle of

A.legality and impartiality
B.the supreme power of rulers
C.the immunity of judges from legal actions
D.the orderly execution of government policies

Objective

Question 1

Highlight any three merits and any three demerits of democracy.

Theory

Question 2

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right enjoyed by citizens but it may be limited if

A.loyalty is not shown to the ruling party
B.it exposes the wrong-doings of the government
C.it endangers the security of the state
D.it is used to cause embarrassment to the judiciary

Objective

Question 2

What are the functions of the Head of Government in a presidential system?

Theory

Question 3

Which of the following is an obligation of a citizen?

A.Attending political rallies
B.Taking part is independence day celebrations
C.Contesting elections
D.Paying respect to the national flag

Objective

Question 3

Why is election necessary in a democratic state?

Theory

Question 4

The extent to which the citizens regard the institutions, officials and activities of government as right and acceptable is known as

A.power
B.legitimacy
C.influence
D.authority

Objective

Question 4

In what five ways is the civil service different from the public corporations?

Theory

Question 5

Diplomatic immunity is a limitation to

A.the theory of separation of powers
B.principles of checks and balances
C.parliamentary supremacy
D.the rule of law

Objective

Question 5

Describe any five problems associated with a single party system of government.

Theory

Question 6

In which of the following party system are all shades of opinions and interests adequately represented?

A.Zero-party
B.One-party
C.Two-party
D.Multi-party

Objective

Question 6

In what five ways have political parties contributed to the constitutional development of Nigeria?

Theory

Question 7

Federal state is always expensive to run because

A.every parliamentarian wanted to become rich
B.government departments are duplicated
C.judges are highly paid from the consolidated fund
D.maintenance of the arm involves high expenditure

Objective

Question 7

Why was indirect Rule not successful in some parts of Nigeria?

Theory

Question 8

Vote power in a presidential system lies with the

A.Attorney-General
B.Chief of Army Staff
C.Executives President
D.Prime Minister

Objective

Question 8

What were the functions of the colonial Governor in British West Africa?

Theory

Question 9

Which of the following is the lowest class of people in the hierarchy of feudal system?

A.Nobles
B.Serss
C.Lords
D.Manor

Objective

Question 9

Trace the evolution of federalism in Nigeria from 1914 to 1954.

Theory

Question 10

Mussolini's fascism and Hitler's nazism are good examples of

A.anarchy
B.feudalism
C.Totalitarianism
D.oligarchy

Objective

Question 10

Distinguish between the 1963 Constitution and 1979 Constitution of Nigeria.

Theory

Question 11

Which of the following is the supreme in a federal system?

A.Judiciary
B.Legislature
C.Constitution
D.Exective

Objective

Question 11

What are the guiding principle s of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)?

Theory

Question 12

An order directing a detainee to be brought before the court is called

A.habeas corpus
B.an appearance
C.an injunction
D.a referendum

Objective

Question 12

Describe any four benefits member states of the Commonwealth derive from the Organization.

Theory

Question 13

Which of the following is a feature of an elite party?

A.Members are recruited from the working class
B.The leadership is composed of aristocrats and wealth merchants
C.it usually consists of existing associations, clubs and trade unions
D.its leadership has certain techniques which attract supporters

Objective

Question 14

An undesirable feature of capitalism is

A.exploitation
B.market economy
C.profit motive
D.free competition

Objective

Question 15

The system of voting on behalf of another person is known as

A.voting by lot
B.casting votes
C.voting by proxy
D.perference voting

Objective

Question 16

Authoritarianism is least inherent in

A.feudalism
B.fascism
C.democracy
D.monarchy

Objective

Question 17

In which of the following systems of government are ceremonial and executive powers usually fused?

A.Parliamentary
B.Presidential
C.Collegial
D.Confederal

Objective

Question 18

The programme of a political party is known as its

A.document
B.manifesto
C.propaganda
D.constitution

Objective

Question 19

Which of the following is a source of a country's constitution?

A.Mandamus
B.Judicial precedents
C.injunctions
D.political decisions

Objective

Question 20

The acquisition of political power through hereditary means is a feature of

A.communalism
B.capitalism
C.oligarchy
D.monarchy

Objective

Question 21

Which of the following factors limits the expression of public opinion?

A.The type of government in a state
B.The establishment of private media organizations
C.The high literacy rate of the citizens
D.Religious belife of the citizenry

Objective

Question 22

If the federal government and the unit government are to preserve their autonomy, the

A.federal government must be supreme
B.unit government must be supreme
C.Judiciaary must be supreme
D.constitution must be supreme

Objective

Question 23

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the central and the component government in a federation ?

A.the central governmnet collect revenue for component governments
B.the central and component governments have equal powers
C.The central government is weaker than the component governments
D.The central government legislates for the component

Objective

Question 24

The administrative head of a public corporation in Nigeria is the

A.Managing Director
B.Secretary
C.Board of Dircetors
D.Chairman

Objective

Question 25

The appointment, promotion and discipline of civil servants are the responsibility of the

A.Civil Service Union
B.Judicial Service Commission
C.Civil Service Commision
D.Electoral Commission

Objective

Question 26

Red tapism in the civil service refers to

A.the use of red tapes on legal documents
B.slowness of action
C.the co-operation between civil servants and politicians
D.the politicisation of the civil service

Objective

Question 27

The grant of the right to vote is called

A.enfranchisement
B.disqualification
C.prohibition
D.participation

Objective

Question 28

Which of the following factors may work against a representative system of government ?

A.High literacy of the electorate
B.the introduction of univerasl adult suffrage
C.independent electoral commission
D.Rigging of elections

Objective

Question 29

Which of the following factors may work against a representative system of government ?

A.High literacy of the electorate
B.the introduction of univerasl adult suffrage
C.independent electoral commission
D.Rigging of elections

Objective

Question 30

Which of the following factors may work against a representative system of government ?

A.High literacy of the electorate
B.the introduction of univerasl adult suffrage
C.independent electoral commission
D.Rigging of elections

Objective

Question 31

Which of the following factors may work against a representative system of government ?

A.High literacy of the electorate
B.The introduction of univerasl adult suffrage
C.Independent electoral commission
D.Rigging of elections

Objective

Question 32

The powers allocated to the central government in a federation are contained in the

A.central legislative list
B.exclusive legislative list
C.residual legislative list
D.concurrent legislative list

Objective

Question 33

The Nigerian federal legislature is called the

A.Senate
B.Congress
C.National Assembly
D.House of Representatives

Objective

Question 34

Delegated legislation was the

A.Lyttleton Constitution
B.Clifford Constitution
C.Macpherson Constitution
D.Independence Constitution

Objective

Question 35

The Nigerian Macpherson Constitution of 1951 was significant for

A.the introduction of electoral college
B.providing for the office of the Prime Minister
C.the creation of state s
D.establishing the Supreme Court

Objective

Question 36

The concept of regionalism in Nigeria was first introduced by the

A.Independence Constitution
B.Macpherson Constitution
C.Richard Constitution
D.Lyttleton Constitution

Objective

Question 37

Immediately after the Nigerian civil war, Gowon's regime embarked on

A.rejuvenation, resettlement and reconstruction
B.reconciliation, rehabiliation and reconstruction
C.rebuilding, rejuvenation and rehabiliation
D.rehabiliation , renaissance and repression

Objective

Question 38

Which of the following military regimes in Nigeria played a prominent role in the liberation of colonized African States?

A.Aguiyi Ironsi
B.Murtala/Obasanjo
C.Muhammadu Buhari
D.Ibrahim Babangida

Objective