WAEC Government 2010 Past Questions

Question 1

Government as a subject refers to the study of

A.territotrial expansion
B.political leaders
C.the various nations of the World
D.the institutions of the state

Objective

Question 1

(a) Define feudalism.

(b) State any five demerits of feudalism.

Theory

Question 2

Government is distinguished from the state because it

A.can be changed periodically
B.does not operate in any defined territory
C.is a loosely organized structure
D.enforces its will on the people of the State

Objective

Question 2

In what six ways can a government of a state violate the principle of the Rule of law?

Theory

Question 3

A government is legitimate if it

A.comes to power through a coup d'etat
B.is not oppressive
C.provides social services for the people
D.has the mandate of the people to rule

Objective

Question 3

(a) What is an absolute majority system?

(b) Identify any five disadvantages of the system.

Theory

Question 4

A sovereign power over a number of people in a specific geographical area is called

A.society
B.region
C.state
D.nation

Objective

Question 4

(a) Define opinion poll.

(b) State five factors that make the conduct of public opinion unreliable in West Africa.

Theory

Question 5

Absence of government in a state is referred to as

A.anarchy
B.confusion
C.coup détat
D.ínstability

Objective

Question 5

(a) Define public corporation.

(b) Give five reasons for setting up a public corporation in your country.

Theory

Question 6

A situation where all the citizens meet in an open place to govern the state is called

A.direct democracy
B.electoral college
C.representative democracy
D.guided democracy

Objective

Question 6

Identify any six roles of traditional rulers in the pre-colonial West Africa.

Theory

Question 7

A system of government in which the political power is vested in the elected representatives is known as

A.oligarchy
B.democracy
C.feudalism
D.Fascism

Objective

Question 7

(a) Describe the composition of the Executive Council of the 1922 Clifford Constitution.

(b) Identify any five ways in which the Clifford Constitution was significant to Nigeria.

Theory

Question 8

Sovereignty implies all the following except

A.the highest authority in a state
B.a state of political independence
C.unilimited powers of a state to make and enforce laws
D.the supremacy of political parties

Objective

Question 8

Highlight six political changes introduced into the Nigerian political system by the 1954 Constitution.

Theory

Question 9

Popular Sovereignty is located in the

A.military
B.police
C.electorate
D.opinion leaders

Objective

Question 9

(a) Distinguish between a Secretary of State for the Colonies and a Governor-General in the British Colonial administration.

(b) Highlight five functions of the Governor-General in the British West Africa shortly after independence.

Theory

Question 10

Popular Sovereignty is located in the

A.military
B.police
C.electorate
D.opinion leaders

Objective

Question 10

Describe six achievements of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1979 and 1983.

Theory

Question 11

A system of government in which the leader exercises absolute power and allows no opposition is called

A.totalitariansim
B.capitalism
C.communism
D.socialism

Objective

Question 11

(a) What is foreign policy of a country?

(b) State the main objectives of Nigerian foreign policy.

Theory

Question 12

Which of the following is a basic component of political culture?

A.Cultural development
B.Cultural design
C.Cultural display
D.Cognitive orientation

Objective

Question 12

(a) Describe the composition of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

(b) Highlight four functions of the General Assembly.

Theory

Question 13

Communism as propounded by Karl Max was later interpreted by

A.Locke
B.Dicey
C.Bentham
D.Lennin

Objective

Question 14

According to Karl Marx, those who own and control the means of production in a capitalist society are the

A.colonialists
B.workers
C.bourgeoisies
D.peasants

Objective

Question 15

The Rule of law is limited by

A.free press
B.diplomatic immunity
C.constitutionalism
D.separation of powers

Objective

Question 16

The institution created for checking abuses by government department is known as the

A.secret service
B.judicial commission
C.ombudsman
D.corps marshall

Objective

Question 17

A good example of an absolute monarch is

A.Adolf Hitler of Germany
B.Benito Mussohni of Italy
C.Haile Salessie of Ethiopia
D.Margaret Thatcher of Britain

Objective

Question 18

The power of the central government to dissolve subordinate units at will is a feature of

A.confederal system of government
B.unitary system of government
C.parlimentary system of government
D.federal system of government

Objective

Question 19

Which of the following is a feature of federalism ?

A.Unwritten Constitution
B.Flexible Constitution
C.Unitary Constitution
D.Written Constitution

Objective

Question 20

The exclusive list in federalism includes all the following except

A.defence
B.foreign relation
C.currency
D.transportation

Objective

Question 21

The order of mandamus is a

A.form of order by a superior body to perform a function
B.mandate from the executive to the public corporations
C.plea for man of alibi in court
D.writ to produce a detanied person for trial

Objective

Question 22

In the legislature, a filibuster is one who

A.is in charge of party discipline
B.presents partmanifesto during parliamentary system sessions
C.does not take part in law making
D.prevents the passage of a bill by making long speeches

Objective

Question 23

Which of the following measures will ensure the independence of the judiciary? Judges

A.salaries must be handled by foreign banks
B.must be controlled by the president
C.salaries must be fixed and not subject to arbitary review
D.must not be separated from the executive

Objective

Question 24

The most important function of the Upper House in a federation is to

A.serve as the highest court of the land
B.ensure equal representation of the component units
C.provide a place for retired politicians in the legislature
D.invite politicians for questioning

Objective

Question 25

The most important function of the Upper House in a federation is to

A.serve as the highest court of the land
B.ensure equal representation of the component units
C.provide a place for retired politicians in the legislature
D.invite politicians for questioning

Objective

Question 26

Bi-cameral legislature is the same as

A.legislature with two chambers
B.one chamber legislature
C.the Upper House in any legislature
D.the Lower House in any Legislature

Objective

Question 27

A short break in parliamentary session is referred to as

A.suspension
B.recess
C.dissolution
D.termination

Objective

Question 28

The term guillotine in the legislature refers to

A.allocation of time to a bill
B.passing a bill into law
C.voting a bill into law
D.passing an appropriation bil

Objective

Question 29

Th rights of individuals are usually enshrined in the

A.law books
B.courts
C.constitutions
D.journals

Objective

Question 30

A citizen's freedom of movement may be restrained if he

A.has refused to salute the Head of State
B.has been convicted by the courts
C.refuses to vote at elections
D.criticizes the government

Objective

Question 31

A major advantage of a one-party system is that it

A.prevents dictatorship
B.promotes unity
C.allows opposition
D.promotes freedom and liberty

Objective

Question 32

Which of the following best describes the concept of enfranchisement Right

A.to campaign for candidates during elections
B.to sue and be sued
C.given to people to vote and be voted for
D.to free expression on political issues

Objective

Question 33

The process by which voters may remove a public officer before the end of his term of office is called

A.referendum
B.genymandering
C.recall
D.bye-election

Objective

Question 34

The arrangement by which a country is divided into parts for election purposes is called

A.enfranchisement
B.gerrymandering
C.delimitation
D.democratization

Objective

Question 35

A yes or no vote cast by electorate to decide an important issue in an area is known as

A.franchise
B.plebiscite
C.electorate college
D.public opinion

Objective

Question 36

The term winner-takes all can be associated with

A.second ballot system
B.representative government
C.first-past-the post system
D.proportinal representation

Objective

Question 37

Anonymity of the civil servants means that they

A.are free from their political heads
B.are to be seen but not be heard
C.cannot vote for any political party
D.are to execute government policies

Objective

Question 38

The Loi-Cadre Reforms of 1956 in the French West Africa were as a result of

A.pressure from the French territories
B.change in French Policy of Association
C.opposition to Bamako Conference
D.British colonial policy of granting internal self-government

Objective