WAEC Government 2016 Past Questions

Question 1

Government refers to all the following except

A.an academic field of study
B.an organized group of people that formulate policies
C.a process of making and enforcing laws
D.an institution made up of people with common interest

Objective

Question 1

(a) What is fascism?

(b) Highlight any four features of fascism

Theory

Question 2

All the following are experienced by a community without government except

A.insecurity
B.planned development
C.lawlessness
D.political anarchy

Objective

Question 2

Outline five processes by which a bill becomes law in a presidential system of government.

Theory

Question 3

As an academic field the study of government does not include

A.Political economy
B.Comparative politics
C.Public administration
D.Ecological interaction

Objective

Question 3

State five factors that can limit the independence of the judiciary

Theory

Question 4

Which of the following systems of government is authoritarian in nature?

A.Capitalist system
B.Fascism
C.Republicanism
D.Constitutional monarchy

Objective

Question 4

Highlight any five roles of minority parties in a multiparty democracy.

Theory

Question 5

The system that allows the opposition to participate in governance is

A.dictatorial
B.collectivism
C.aristocratic
D.democratic

Objective

Question 5

Identify any five roles performed by the mass media in nation building

Theory

Question 6

Which of the following hinders the establishment of a representative government in a state?

A.Mass illiteracy
B.Existence of pressure groups
C.Vibrant political culture
D.Independent electoral commission

Objective

Question 6

Highlight any five features of the Igbo traditional societies.

Theory

Question 7

Which of the following is not an attribute of a state?

A.Definite territory
B.Population
C.Government
D.Common language

Objective

Question 7

a. Mention three former French colonies in West Africa.

b. Identify four qualifications for assimilation of indigenous African into French citizenship.

Theory

Question 8

In a democracy political sovereignty is vested in the

A.judges
B.people
C.legislature
D.executive

Objective

Question 8

Outline five positive effects of colonialism on West Africa.

Theory

Question 9

According to Charles Montesquieu, the theory of separation of powers is to prevent

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

Objective

Question 9

(a) Outline three aims and objectives of Peoples Party (NNP)

(b) Highlight two sources of finance of NNP.

Theory

Question 10

Decentralization is a common feature of

A.totalitarian system of government
B.federal system of government
C.unitary system of government
D.fascist system

Objective

Question 10

(a) What is National Interest?

(b) Outline four objectives of your country's foreign policy

Theory

Question 11

Bye-laws are made through

A.delegated legislation
B.executive instrument
C.presidential order
D.emergency power

Objective

Question 12

Power is transformed into legal authority through

A.force
B.prayers
C.influence
D.legitimacy

Objective

Question 13

Conventions are mostly used by states that have

A.a large number of illiterates
B.a lot of people not interested in political activities
C.unwritten constitution
D.rigid constitution

Objective

Question 14

One advantage of a flexible constitution is that it

A.can lead to dictatorship
B.can easily be manipulated
C.is best suited for a federation
D.can be amended by a simple majority

Objective

Question 15

A constitution that requires complicated procedure for its amendment is

A.rigid
B.flexible
C.written
D.unwritten

Objective

Question 16

The official who enforces discipline among members of his party in parliament is the

A.majority leader
B.minority leader
C.clerk of the House
D.chief whip

Objective

Question 17

When an action of the executive is declared ultra-vires, it is a control exercised by the

A.public
B.minister
C.judiciary
D.parliament

Objective

Question 18

In a presidential system of government, the president can constitutionally be removed from the office through

A.persuasion
B.impeachment
C.coup d' etat
D.vote -of-no- confidence

Objective

Question 19

One of the features of an absolute monarch is that the ruler

A.is elected by the electorate
B.has a definite tenure of office
C.is elected by the representatives of the people
D.wields the supreme power in a state

Objective

Question 20

A notable feature of cabinet system of government is

A.collective responsibility
B.the separation of powers
C.violation of human rights
D.impeachment of the executive

Objective

Question 21

All the following are the conditions for the adoption of federalism except

A.size
B.defence
C.population
D.homogeneity

Objective

Question 22

The privilege citizens enjoyed in a country irrespective of sex, tribe or creed is

A.right
B.constitution
C.manifesto
D.franchise

Objective

Question 23

The judicial order requiring a detained person to be brought before a judge is the writ of

A.Habeas corpus
B.Mandamus
C.Prohibition
D.Certiorari

Objective

Question 24

A political party can contest and win a widely accepted election if it has

A.the ability to rig election
B.intolerant attitude to oppositions
C.a broad-based membership
D.the support of very wealthy politicians

Objective

Question 25

Political parties aim at all the following except

A.contesting elections
B.forming a government
C.organizing general elections
D.educating the electorate politically

Objective

Question 26

Which of the following is not a means through which political parties reach the populace?

A.Posters
B.newspapers
C.schools
D.the internet

Objective

Question 27

An association whose ultimate aim is to influence government policies is known as

A.civil service
B.pressure group
C.political party
D.public corporation

Objective

Question 28

Membership of pressure groups is usually limited because they

A.pursue specific and narrow objectives
B.promote other people's interests
C.do not have dynamic leadership
D.promote the interest of the government

Objective

Question 29

Elections are conducted to

A.provide permanent employment for the people
B.make the people choose their leaders
C.known the number of people in a country
D.know the social amenities in the community

Objective

Question 30

Suffrage is also known as

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

Objective

Question 31

For an election to be fair and free Electoral Commission Must be

A.ready to manipulate results
B.ready to reject criticisms
C.headed by a minister in the executive
D.independent of other institutions of government

Objective

Question 32

Which of the following categories of people can vote in periodic elections?

A.Minors
B.Aliens
C.Lunatics
D.Citizens

Objective

Question 33

The anonymity of a civil servant means that he

A.is above the law of the land
B.should take part in partisan politics
C.receives neither praise nor blame publicly
D.should be prosecuted for professional misconduct

Objective

Question 34

Which of the following functions is performed by the civil service?

A.Enactment of laws
B.Settlement of disputes
C.Appointment of ministers
D.Implementation of policies

Objective

Question 35

Public corporations are established to

A.make maximum profits
B.help businessmen
C.provide employment for defeated politicians
D.provide utility services to the public at minimal cost

Objective

Question 36

A minister controls public corporation by

A.provide the corporation's finances
B.auditing the accounts of the corporation personally
C.criticizing the corporation through the mass media
D.ensuring the effective administration of the corporation

Objective

Question 37

An institution of government that makes bye-laws is the

A.judiciary
B.executive
C.legislature
D.local authorities

Objective

Question 38

Local governments are created to

A.give more powers to the traditional rulers
B.bring the government closer to the people
C.make the people obey more of the local laws
D.take over the functions of the central government

Objective

Question 39

Some pre-colonial West African governments were democratic because of the existence of

A.powerful traditional rulers
B.age grades
C.religious institutions
D.checks and balances

Objective

Question 40

One of the measures introduced by indirect rule was

A.collection and keeping of taxes by the chiefs only
B.not recognizing traditional institutions
C.fixing and collection of taxes by British officials themselves
D.exclusion of the educated elite from the colonial administration

Objective