2001 - JAMB Government Past Questions & Answers - page 1

1
Power differs from influence in that it is
A
persuasive while influence is directive
B
coercive while influence is harmful
C
coercive while influence is persuasive
D
arrogant while influence is corruptive
CORRECT OPTION: c
Power differs from influence in that it is coercive while influence is persuasive.
G. A. I. Ofoegbu (1999) defined power as the ability of a person or a group of persons to enforce his or their decisions on other people by use of sanctions, punishment or penalties against disobedience. On the other hand, through persuasion and conviction an individual could be made to accept and to obey the views of other persons.
2
The standing committee of a legislature is one
A
whose member stand while delibrating
B
that has statutory responsibities
C
that perform adhoc functions
D
that has legislators as members.
CORRECT OPTION: c
The standing committee of a legislature is one that performs adhoc functions.

In the Presidential System of Government for instance, the bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee for study and report to the House. The committee also reports back to the House for the second reading to take place. It is the duty of the committee to study and report and not to pass the bill
3
Where the constitution is supreme,unconstitutional acts of the executive and the the legislature can be checked by the courts through
A
recall
B
judicial review
C
vote of no confidence
D
impeachment.
CORRECT OPTION: b
Where the constitution is supreme,unconstitutional acts of the executive and the the legislature can be checked by the courts through judicial review.


Judicial Review is judicial power to declare any actions of the executive and the legislature unconstitutional, null and void.
4
The central decision-making organ of a confederation is made up of
A
technocrats appointed by the units
B
politicians elected from the confederal constituencies
C
politicians nominated by the government of member states
D
representatives of pressure groups.
CORRECT OPTION: c
The central decision-making organ of a confederation is made up of politicians nominated by governments of member states.

There is even no central because the legislature of the whole country because the legislature of the confederating states remain and make laws for the units.
5
Which of the following is true of a parliamentary system of government?
A
clear seperation of government organs.
B
strict operation of bicameral legislature.
C
removal of government by impeachment.
D
adherence to majority rule.
CORRECT OPTION: d
Adherence to majority rule is true of a parliamentary system of government.


This is so due to the fact that the party having a majority in the legislature controls both the executive and the legislature from where the Prime Minister and ministers of his cabinet are chosen. The stability of this system also depends upon the ruling party controlling a reasonable majority in the parliament.
6
A major feature of authoritarianism is that government is
A
consensual
B
personalized
C
centralized
D
decentralized.
CORRECT OPTION: c
A major feature of authoritarianism is that government is centralized.


It should be remembered that authoritarianism is a form of government in which the state controls or directs everything.
7
The central point of capitalism, as expounded by Karl Marx, is that
A
capitalist profit is the surplus value obtained from workers labour
B
workers are inherently incapable of being owners of their labour
C
capitalists shall always increase worker earning capacity through wages
D
capitslists shall always readily consent to workers welfare demands.
CORRECT OPTION: a
The central point of capitalism as expounded by Kari Marx is that capitalists' profit is the surplus value obtained from workers' labour.


According to Marx, workers produce more than what they get employers. The capitalist employers buy the services of labour cheap, but they sell the goods produced by labour at a rate higher than the amount spent for the payment of wages and up keep of the factory and they appropriate this excess as profit.
According to D.N.Ghosh (1959) Karl Marx described profit as nothing but legalized robbery.
8
A constitution that requires a plebiscite or a referendum to be amended is
A
rigid
B
unwritten
C
flexible
D
written
CORRECT OPTION: a
A constitution that requires a plebiscite or a referendum to be amended is rigid.
9
An important function of a constitution is that it
A
provide a framework for the study of government
B
facilities cross-fertilization of ideas of governance
C
serves as the fountian head of authority for the execise of power
D
promotes citizen participation in government and administration.
CORRECT OPTION: c
An important function of a constitution is that it serves as the fountain head of authority for the exercise of power, Constitutions prescribe how the power of the sate is to be allocated between the various organs of government. Most constitutions define the limits of a government's authority thereby establishing the various rights of a state's citizens.
10
when a bill passed by the legislature is vetoed by the executive, the action underscores the principle
A
probity and accountability
B
separation of powers
C
collective responsibility
D
checks and balances.
CORRECT OPTION: d
When a bill passed by the legislature is vetoed by the executive the action underscores the principle of checks and balances.

The doctrine or principle of checks and balances advocates the use of one organ of government to check the activities of the other organs. When the executive vetoes the bill passed by the legislature, and the executive has checked the activities of the legislature, thereby putting the principles of the checks and balances into practice.
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