Government is defined as an agency established to manage the affairs of
Government is an institution or agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed, and implemented. It manages the affairs of the state, including its citizens, territory, and resources, to ensure order, welfare, and security.
A function of government is
One of the primary functions of government is legislation, which involves the making, amending, and repealing of laws to regulate society. This is typically carried out by the legislative arm.
Government maintains law and order through the following except
The maintenance of law and order falls under the executive branch, which includes agencies like the police (for enforcement), immigration (for border control), and prison service (for incarceration). The legislature makes laws but does not directly enforce them, making it the exception.
According to Karl Marx, socialism developed as a consequence of the evils of
Karl Marx critiqued capitalism for its exploitation of the working class (proletariat) by the owners of production (bourgeoisie), leading to alienation, inequality, and crises. He argued that these 'evils' would inevitably lead to a proletarian revolution and the establishment of socialism as a transitional stage to communism.
A system of government which is based on public ownership of means of production and distribution is called
Socialism emphasizes collective or state ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange to achieve economic equality and eliminate class distinctions. Capitalism relies on private ownership, feudalism on land-based hierarchies, and oligarchy on rule by a small elite group.
Which of the following is not a feature of a state?
The essential elements of a state are a permanent population, defined territory, government, and sovereignty (supreme authority within its borders). Mass media is a societal institution but not a defining feature of statehood; it influences public opinion but is not required for a state's existence.
Acceptability of the government in power by the governed is known as
Legitimacy refers to the popular acceptance and recognition by the people of the right of a government to exercise power and make binding decisions. Sovereignty is the supreme power of the state, democracy is a form of government, and authority is the power to command, but legitimacy specifically denotes voluntary acceptance.
For democracy to be sustained in a country it needs
A well-informed electorate is crucial for democracy as it enables citizens to make educated choices, hold leaders accountable, and participate meaningfully in governance. Wealthy leaders or biased institutions undermine democracy, and while security is important, an informed populace is foundational.
Which of the following agents can be considered as the most effective agent of political socialization?
Mass media is the most effective agent of political socialization due to its wide reach, ability to shape public opinion, and dissemination of political information, ideologies, and events in real-time. While family, peers, and school influence individuals, mass media impacts society broadly and persistently.
The guiding principle of communism is from each according to his/her
This principle, articulated by Karl Marx, embodies communist ideals: individuals contribute based on their abilities, and resources are distributed according to needs, aiming for a classless society without exploitation. The other options distort this egalitarian concept by introducing irrelevant or discriminatory factors.
Which of the following countries practised totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism involves absolute state control over all aspects of public and private life. Italy under Mussolini (Fascism), Russia under Stalin (Communism), and Germany under Hitler (Nazism) exemplified this in the 20th century. Japan was militaristic but not fully totalitarian, and England was democratic.
The theory of separation of powers was propounded by
Montesquieu, in his 1748 work 'The Spirit of the Laws,' proposed dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny and ensure liberty through mutual checks. Dicey discussed rule of law, Weber bureaucracy, and Almond political systems.
The principle of checks and balances is important because it
Checks and balances allow each branch (legislative, executive, judicial) to limit the powers of the others, preventing any one from becoming dictatorial or abusive. This promotes accountability and protects against concentration of power, unlike the other options which misrepresent the principle.
An agreed set of regulations, conventions and customs by which a country or an organization is governed is the
A constitution is the fundamental set of rules, principles, and conventions that outlines the structure, powers, and limits of government, as well as citizens' rights. Sovereignty is authority, suffrage is voting right, and culture is broader societal norms.
A constitution is considered to be flexible if it
A flexible constitution can be amended using the same ordinary legislative majority as for regular laws, allowing easy adaptation to changing circumstances (e.g., British unwritten constitution). Rigid ones require special procedures like supermajorities.
The body responsible for the implementation of law is the
The executive branch enforces and implements laws passed by the legislature, through agencies like the police and civil service. The judiciary interprets laws, the legislature makes them, and courts are part of the judiciary.
Bicameralism is necessary in a federal state to demonstrate that
In federal systems, a bicameral legislature (two houses) ensures that both national and regional/local interests are represented; the upper house typically represents states equally, safeguarding localized concerns against majority dominance.
Which of the following strengthens the power of the Supreme Court against the executive and the legislature?
Judicial review empowers the Supreme Court to examine and invalidate laws or actions of the executive and legislature that violate the constitution, ensuring supremacy of the constitution and preventing overreach by other branches.
In the United States of America, the legislature is called the
The US federal legislature is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, collectively known as Congress. National Assembly is used in countries like Nigeria, Parliament in the UK, and National Security is unrelated.
In a constitutional monarchy, the king or queen is referred to as
In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch serves as a ceremonial head of state with symbolic duties, while real political power resides with elected officials or parliament (e.g., UK). The monarch's role is non-partisan and representational.
A corrupt judicial system erodes the observance of
The judiciary is the guardian of the rule of law, ensuring fair application of laws and conventions. Corruption undermines impartiality, eroding public trust and the principle that all are equal before the law, leading to injustice and instability.
Which system of government has fusion of ceremonial and executive functions as a feature?
In the presidential system, the president serves as both head of state (ceremonial role) and head of government (executive role), fusing these functions. Cabinet/parliamentary systems separate them, confederal is loose alliance, and republican denotes elected head.
One duty of a good citizen is
Good citizenship involves upholding human rights and dignity, promoting social harmony and equality. Building infrastructure is governmental, loyalty to other nations betrays patriotism, and defending suspects is legal, not a universal duty.
The rights of citizens to benefit from public utility is classified as
Social rights encompass welfare provisions like access to utilities (water, electricity), education, and healthcare, aimed at ensuring a decent standard of living. Natural rights are inherent (life, liberty), religious are faith-based, and political involve governance participation.
Which of the following is a fundamental right? Right to
The right to life is a universal fundamental human right, protected in documents like the UDHR, as it is the foundation for all other rights. Education and criticism (expression) are important but secondary; public office is a privilege, not a right.
The political party whose membership comprises people of high social status is called
Elite parties draw membership from upper classes or influential elites, focusing on their interests. Religious parties are faith-based, broker parties mediate interests, and mass parties seek broad popular support across classes.
A political party is significant because it
Political parties exist primarily to contest elections and seek control of government to implement their ideologies and policies. While they may cause division or malpractices, their core significance is power-seeking to represent voter interests.
A political system in which there only one legalized political party is called a
A de jure one-party system legally prohibits other parties, enforcing monopoly through law (e.g., some communist states). De facto is practical dominance without legal ban, totalitarian emphasizes control, and multi-party allows competition.
Provision of political education through rallies and newspapers is a function of
Political parties educate the public on policies, ideologies, and issues via campaigns, rallies, and media to mobilize support and voters. Pressure groups lobby specific causes, elites influence informally, and clergy focuses on moral guidance.
Which of the following is not a method used by pressure groups to achieve their objectives?
Pressure groups influence policy without seeking elected office; they use lobbying, protests, strikes, and boycotts to pressure decision-makers. Contesting elections is a method of political parties, not pressure groups, which remain non-partisan.
An effective way of strengthening societal institutions is through the expression of
Public opinion, as the collective view of society, influences and strengthens institutions by holding them accountable and guiding reforms. Personal, group, or elite opinions are subsets but lack the broad legitimacy and impact of general public sentiment.
A 'Yes' or 'No' vote on a specific political issue in a country is called
A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a single issue, typically yes/no, to decide policy or constitutional changes (e.g., Brexit). Public opinion is general sentiment, gerrymandering is electoral manipulation, and suffrage is voting right.
The electoral system in which the winner should have more than all the votes of all the other contestants put together is called
Absolute majority (or 50%+1) requires the winner to have more votes than all opponents combined, often using runoffs if needed. Simple majority is plurality (most votes), referendum is issue vote, second ballot is runoff.
Which of the following is a civic public servant?
Civic public servants are non-partisan civil servants like the Clerk of the House, who administers legislative procedures impartially. Majority leader and party whip are partisan politicians, and minister is executive political appointee.
Which of the following statements about public corporation is not true?
Public corporations are government-owned enterprises financed primarily by public funds (taxes, loans), not private individuals, to provide essential services. They are established by statute, require significant capital, and are managed by appointed boards.
Local governments are vital in modern politics as they
Local governments decentralize power, allowing citizens to participate in decision-making and learn governance skills at grassroots level, fostering democracy. They do not encourage dictatorship, make national laws, or execute all policies.
In the pre-colonial era the breaking of an oath by a chief could
In traditional African societies, oaths bound chiefs to their people and ancestors; breaking them was seen as betrayal, leading to destoolment (deposition) to maintain communal trust and order. Other consequences like curses or wars were possible but destoolment was direct.
One feature of pre-independence constitutions in West Africa is the
Colonial constitutions in West Africa featured executive councils (advising the governor) and legislative councils (limited law-making with colonial majority), reflecting indirect rule and gradual devolution of power before independence.
The excessive power of the traditional rulers in the pre-colonial era could be checked by
Priests, as spiritual leaders and custodians of traditions and oaths, could invoke religious sanctions, prophecies, or rituals to check rulers' abuses, maintaining balance between secular and sacred authority in pre-colonial societies.
The Secretary of State for the colonies was responsible for
The British Secretary of State for the Colonies oversaw imperial policy, formulating and directing administration in colonies, including West Africa, from London. Local democratization or advocacy was secondary to imperial control.
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