WAEC Government 2013 Past Questions

Question 1

Government can be defined as the study of

A.constitutions
B.cabinet system of government only
C.how people rule themselves
D.presidential system of government only

Objective

Question 1

(a) Describe the term Government as an art of governing

(b) Highlight any four duties of government

Theory

Question 2

Which of the following is a feature of a state?

A.Pursuance of sectional interest
B.Colonial expericnce
C.Territorial boundary
D.Temporary existence

Objective

Question 2

(a) Explain de-concentration of power

(b) Outline any five importance of decentralization

Theory

Question 3

As a political ideology, communism seeks to

A.accumulate capital in the hands of a few
B.accommodate division of citizens into classes
C.eliminate all forms of socio-economic inequalities
D.create economic opportunities for profit making

Objective

Question 3

(a) What is constitution?

(b) Why do some countries use written constitutions?

Theory

Question 4

Totalitarianism means a government headed by

A.a dictor
B.wealthy people
C.educated elite
D.the masses

Objective

Question 4

(a) Explain concurrent functions in a federation

(b) Outline five features of a confederal system of government.

Theory

Question 5

Monarchy means government

A.headed by a king
B.by the people
C.of the majority
D.run by the elite

Objective

Question 5

Describe the organizational structure of a political party.

Theory

Question 6

The rule of law is observed when

A.democracy is practised
B.laws are kept scret
C.revolution is encouraged
D.only the elite can govern

Objective

Question 6

Outline any six functions of the Emir in the Hausa/Fulani traditional political system

Theory

Question 7

Delegated legislation is necessary because it

A.helps to promote dictatorship
B.prevents even development
C.is useful in times of emergency
D.gives a lot of power to the president

Objective

Question 7

Explain the importance of the Brazzaville Conference of 1944 in the constitutional development of French West Africa

Theory

Question 8

One of the criticisms against delegated legislation is that it

A.promotes separation of powers
B.is not parctised in advanced countries
C.encroaches on parliamentary power
D.gives too much power to the judicary

Objective

Question 8

Highlight four factors that led to the collapse of the West African Students' Union (WASU) before the end of the Second World War.

Theory

Question 9

Fundamental Human Rights seek to

A.promote the dignity of man
B.train political activists
C.encourages economic activities
D.enthrone mob rule

Objective

Question 9

Give any six reasons for the breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951

Theory

Question 10

Constitutionalism implies that

A.citizens should read the constitution al;ways
B.leaders should ignore the dictates of the constitution
C.citizens should challenge the provisions of the constitution
D.leaders should act according to the stipulations of the constitution

Objective

Question 10

(a) Explain the term Indirect Rule

(b) Why was the policy criticized?

Theory

Question 11

Which of the following is not a source of a country's constitution?

A.Legislative decisions
B.past contitutions
C.writ of Mandamus
D.Judicial precedents

Objective

Question 11

What factors have governed Nigeria's relations with her neighboring states?

Theory

Question 12

which of the following is not within the scope of a constitution?

A.Fundamental Human Rights
B.Organs of government
C.Coup d'etat
D.Preamble

Objective

Question 12

(a) identify any four past Secretaries-General of the United Nations Organisation (UNO)

(b) State any five functions of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation

Theory

Question 13

Centralization of power is a feature of a

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

Objective

Question 14

In a unitary state, governmental powers are concern tarted at the

A.component units
B.local level
C.centre
D.regions

Objective

Question 15

Which of the following is true of a parliamentary system of government?

A.there is an Executive President
B.Fusion of powers is discouraged
C.Collective responsibility is emphasized
D.The Prime Minister is the head of the judiciary

Objective

Question 16

The system of government in which the president acts as the head of state and the head of government is

A.diarchy
B.Presidential
C.unitary
D.parliamentary

Objective

Question 17

Which of the following is a factor in the formation of a federation?

A.Desire for a union
B.Absence of a common enemy
C.Small population
D.Geographical incontiguity

Objective

Question 18

Which of the following is a feature of a confederation?

A.it has a rigid constitution
B.the central government is stronger than the component units
C.there is a legal right of secession
D.there is no provision for a state constitution

Objective

Question 19

The formation and implementation of policies are the major duties of the

A.police
B.judicary
C.executive
D.legislature

Objective

Question 20

Bicameralism is adopted because it

A.guards against intra-party clashes
B.prevents arbitary law making
C.projects party manifestoes
D.is the only system available

Objective

Question 21

Parliamentary filibuster refers to a

A.a procedure of impeachng the president
B.delay method of prolonging debates in parliament
C.process of passing bills into law
D.a special way of initiating money bills

Objective

Question 22

Which of the following functions is performed by the executive?

A.Recruitment of judges
B.Passing of bills to laws
C.Adjudication of cases
D.Implementation of policies

Objective

Question 23

When a court of law declares an action of the executive ultra-vires , it implies that

A.the action is illegal and above the power given
B.the executive has to implement the action
C.such an action should be passed into law
D.only the legislature can deal with such an action

Objective

Question 24

Which of the following is a duty of a good citizen?

A.paying tax regularly
B.Must assist the poor
C.should challenge the of the land
D.Must join the law enforcement agents

Objective

Question 25

Citizens can be deprived of their rights during

A.democratic regime
B.parliamentary debate
C.emergency periods
D.political campaigns

Objective

Question 26

Which of the following is an obligation of a citizen?

A.Arresting offenders
B.Voting at elections
C.Prosecuting offenders
D.Adjudicating cases

Objective

Question 27

A multi-party system often leads to the formation of a

A.coalition government
B.very strong executive
C.dictatoral government
D.confederal government

Objective

Question 28

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

A.Educating the government
B.Interest articulation
C.Aggregation of opinions
D.Selection of persons for gobvernment

Objective

Question 29

Franchise means the right of all qualified citizens to

A.manipulate election results
B.conduct elections
C.enforec electoral laws
D.vote and be voted for

Objective

Question 30

The geographical units into which a country is divided for the purpose of election are called

A.states
B.constituencies
C.polling areas
D.county councils

Objective

Question 31

One way to ensure a free and fair election is to

A.operate a one-party system
B.allow parties to campaign on election day
C.guarantee the security of electoral officers and mate rials
D.appoint a politician as the chairman of the electoral commission

Objective

Question 32

An election which involves the use of an electoral college is

A.run-off election
B.a general election
C.an open balloting
D.an indirect election

Objective

Question 33

Which of the following functions is performed by the electoral commission?

A.Distribution of party membership cards
B.Presenting parties manifestoes
C.Delimiting the country into constituencies
D.Conducting oath of office for elected president

Objective

Question 34

Which of the following statements distinguishes political parties from pressure groups?

A.Political parties only lobby government to change certain policies
B.Pressure groups select candidates for political of fices
C.Political parties influence government policies
D.Pressure groups influence government policies to member's interest

Objective

Question 35

Public opinion enables a government to

A.influence the public
B.Suppress its opponents
C.cut down the coat of governing
D.know the feeling of the masses

Objective

Question 36

The anonymity in the civil service means that a civil servant

A.is above the law of the land
B.receives neither praise nor blame
C.should take part in partisan politics
D.should not bee disciplined for any misconduct

Objective

Question 37

Which of the following is a problem of civil service?

A.Red-tapism
B.Offering professional advice to political leaders
C.Continuous keeping of records
D.Changing of government through election

Objective

Question 38

Public corporations are Set Up by

A.a minister
B.a director
C.a permanent secretary
D.an act of parliament

Objective