2005 - JAMB Government Past Questions and Answers - page 5

A major flaw in a liberal democracy is political instability.

Aristotle even maintained that the real democracy at time give rise to mob rule. It was also breeds constant disagreement in state matters. Such disagreements often result to instability in government.

An unwritten constitution is partially written and based on conventions.

F. Adigwe (1974) defined unwritten constitution as that made up of several enactments and conventions like the British constitution. He also pointed out that an attempt was made to codify some of, but not all, the rules and principles, during the regime of Cromwell.

voting in elections is the most important aspect of political participation in a democracy.

Membership of a political party makes one to see it as a must to vote at elections and also fights vigorously to see that others vote for his party.

He endeavors to attend many political rallies. A person with good conscience tries as much as possible to observe most electoral rules.

The person also stands the good chance of contesting at elections.

An elected legislator in a presidential system can loose his seat by recall.

The word ''Recall'' was defined by G.A.I. Ofoegbu (1999) as a device by which elected officials in the legislature or government could be called back even before their tenure expires.

Under a parliamentary system of government,the cabinet holds office at the pleasure of the legislature.

Under the parliamentary system of government, the Prime Minister is the Head of government while the King, Queen or ceremonial President is the Head of State.

The Chairman or leader of the party that won the highest number of seats in the legislature becomes the Prime Minister. He, the Prime Minister forms the government according to the constitution.

The Prime Minister can only choose his ministers from his party men in the legislature. The executive can be removed from office by the legislature. This could happen if the legislature passes a vote of no confidence in the executive.

A non-monarchical state can best be described as a republican government which has a Head of State elected by the people. That means that a sovereign state is referred to as a republic if the country has no traditional ruler or his representative as its Head of State but one chosen by the people with a fixed term of office.

The first successful disengagement of the military from politics in Nigeria was carried out by the government of Murtala/Obasanjo .

On the 1st day of October 1979, General Olusegun Obasanjo handed power over to Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the 1st Executive President of Nigeria. This Shagari's regime which is known as the Second Republic came to an end on the 31st day of December 1983.

During the Second Republic, the Great Nigerian People's Party won the governorship election in Borno and Gongola States

The traditional rulers play advisory role in the present local government structure.

Since the 1976 local government reform, the traditional rulers have maintained the position of advicers to local government councils. And this is mostly on traditional matters.

In local government administration, Chief and Council' implies that the chief is a member of the local council but he does not exercise veto power. In this system, the chief and council must agree on decisions before such could be upheld as binding