WAEC Government 2008 Past Questions

Question 1

Government as an academic field of study refers to the

A.president and his ministers
B.study of political institutions and processes
C.working of the organs of government
D.membership of international organizations

Objective

Question 1

(a) Define Communism

(b) Outline four features of Communism

Theory

Question 2

A state performs the following functions except

A.promoting the welfare of the citizens
B.encouraging the struggle for power
C.providing social services
D.encouraging trade with other states

Objective

Question 2

(a) Describe the principle of the Rule of law.

(b) How can it be ensured in a state?

Theory

Question 3

Power can be defined as the ability to

A.compel or influence obedience
B.encourage self-help projects
C.delegate judicial functions
D.oppose government policies

Objective

Question 3

Highlight any six ways by which the rights of a citizen can be protected.

Theory

Question 4

Which of the following is a compulsory membership?

A.community
B.state
C.society
D.club

Objective

Question 4

(a) Define Public opinion

(b) Explain three factors that can promote public opinion in a state

Theory

Question 5

A government which has the ability to compel its citizens to obedience is said to be exercising

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

Objective

Question 5

State six importance of local governments in a state.

Theory

Question 6

A government's supreme power to demand obedience from its citizens demonstrates the nation of

A.rule of law
B.parliamentary supremacy
C.sovereignty
D.separation of powers

Objective

Question 6

(a) Describe the Crown Colony system

(b) Give four reasons why the Crown Colony system was unpopular among the educated elite.

Theory

Question 7

A government's supreme power to demand obedience from its citizens demonstrates the nation of

A.rule of law
B.parliamentary supremacy
C.sovereignty
D.separation of powers

Objective

Question 7

(a) What is Nationalist Movement?

(b) Highlight five effects of nationalist activities in British West Africa.

Theory

Question 8

Nazism is a political ideology which emphasized

A.supremacy of a race
B.collective racial consciousness
C.communal racial consciousness
D.equality of all races

Objective

Question 8

(a) What is Nationalist Movement?

(b) Highlight five effects of nationalist activities in British West Africa.

Theory

Question 9

In a unitary state, sovereignty resides in the

A.political parties
B.provincial government
C.central government
D.pressure group

Objective

Question 9

(a) Outline three merits of the Lyttleton Constitution

(b) Highlight three demerits of the Constitution.

Theory

Question 10

Which of the following facilitates the working of a democratic government?

A.Dormant press
B.Partial judicary
C.Vigilante group
D.Political Parties

Objective

Question 10

Give six reasons for the reluctance of military regimes to hand over power to civilian administrations

Theory

Question 11

Which of the following negates the principle of the rule of law?

A.Independence of the judiciary
B.Trial by a jury
C.Immunity of some citizens
D.Trials in open courts

Objective

Question 11

Highlight three merits and three demerits of Africa as the centre piece of Nigeria Foreign Policy

Theory

Question 12

The principle of rule of law can be defined as

A.supremacy of the national assembly
B.subordination of the legislature to the judiciary
C.supremacy of the law over all the people in a state
D.supreme authority of traditional rulers

Objective

Question 12

Outline four political factors that contribute to the weakness of the Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.)

Theory

Question 13

Which of the following is not a delegated legislation?

A.Statutory instruments
B.Bye laws
C.Orders-in-Council
D.Public opinion

Objective

Question 14

Abuse of power by extra-legislative bodies set up the legislature is checked through

A.recall
B.general election
C.parliamentary control
D.impeachment

Objective

Question 15

The primary purpose of political participation is to seek

A.or hold political office
B.membership of a pressure group
C.for judicial appointment
D.military training for politicians

Objective

Question 16

A constitution whose provisions are printed and contained in one document is a

A.flexible constitution
B.written constitution
C.confederal constitution
D.unitary constitution

Objective

Question 17

A provision of a constitution is said to be entrenched when

A.it is changed when need arises
B.courts are not allowed to change its
C.it can be changed in the same way as ordinary law
D.a referendum is required for its amendment

Objective

Question 18

A constitutional amendment that is cumbersome is usually described as

A.flexible
B.rigid
C.unitary
D.subtle

Objective

Question 19

The head of government in a parliamentary system is the

A.President
B.Governor
C.Prime Minster
D.Chancellor

Objective

Question 20

An advantages of a federal system of government is that it

A.promotes even economic development
B.facilitates quick secession
C.is less expensive to operate
D.encourages unity in diversity

Objective

Question 21

The executive and ceremonial powers are exercised by the head of state in a

A.unitary system
B.federal system
C.presidential system
D.confederal system

Objective

Question 22

Residual powers in a federation are exercised by the

A.federal government
B.federal and state governments
C.state governments
D.federal and local governments

Objective

Question 23

When two or more parties join to form a government, we have a

A.mixed government
B.united government
C.plural government
D.coalition government

Objective

Question 24

The leader of the opposition in a parliament belongs to the

A.ruling party
B.majority party in parliament
C.minority party in parliament
D.electorate

Objective

Question 25

Which of the following protects the liberties of individuals in the state?

A.Executive
B.Legislature
C.Judiciary
D.Cabinet

Objective

Question 26

The main obligation of a citizen is

A.to register for election
B.allegiance to the state
C.to srve in the army
D.the right to life

Objective

Question 27

A group that presents candidates for elections is a

A.political party
B.pressure group
C.vigilante group
D.co-operative society

Objective

Question 28

Which of the following is not a function of political parties?

A.Anomic parties
B.Mass party
C.Conglomerate party
D.Dynamic party

Objective

Question 29

Which of the following is not function of political parties?

A.Presenting candidates for elections
B.Unity diverse views of different interest groups
C.Forming government after elections
D.Bringing the country's economic and social conditions under control

Objective

Question 30

A state with more than one dominant political party of nearly equal strength is operating

A.a mass party
B.a multi-party system
C.an elitist party
D.a charismatic party

Objective

Question 31

One party system is a feature of

A.democratic states
B.military regimes
C.republican states
D.communist states

Objective

Question 32

A person who exercises franchise performs

A.an executive function
B.a legal function
C.a civic duty
D.an administrative duty

Objective

Question 33

When pressure group is made up of people of the same profession, it is called

A.a promotional group
B.an interest group
C.an occupational group
D.a religious group

Objective

Question 34

Anonymity in the civil service means that an officer

A.should work without complaint
B.should not be heard or seen
C.does not take praise or blame for his performance
D.remains in office indefinitely

Objective

Question 35

The main purpose of setting up public corporations is to

A.make profit for the government
B.create employment for the people in the state
C.improve production of national crafts
D.provide essential services to the people at minimal cost

Objective

Question 36

The British Minister responsible for the administration of British territories in the Crown Colony system was the

A.Colonial Secretary
B.Secretary of State for the Colonies
C.Secretary of Treasury
D.Secretary of Native Affairs

Objective

Question 37

The policy of Association was introduced in the French Colonies by

A.Jacques Chirac
B.Charles De Gaulle
C.Francois Mitterand
D.Nicholas Sarkozy

Objective

Question 38

The headquarters of the French Colonial government in West Africa was

A.Dakar
B.Abidjan
C.Cotonou
D.Niamey

Objective