2014 - WAEC Government Past Questions & Answers - page 1

1

Government protects the lives and property of the citizens of a state through the

A
courts and the police
B
legislature and priseons
C
ministers and the police
D
customs and the police
CORRECT OPTION: a

The police is the civil force of a state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order. 

Court is a body of people presided over by a judge, judges, or magistrate, and acting as a tribunal in civil and criminal cases.

2

Political power could be acquired through

A
persuaasion
B
election
C
sanction
D
nomination
CORRECT OPTION: b

Politicians get power from the mandate given them by you when you accept and participate in the electoral process. Political power is gotten from election

3
Which of the following countries in Africa practised socialism?
A
Nigeria
B
Togo
C
Tanzania
D
Kenya
CORRECT OPTION: c
4
Nazism was introduced by
A
Adolf Hitler
B
Tsar Nichilas ll
C
Karl Marx
D
Mao-Tse-Tung
CORRECT OPTION: a
5

The following are merits of separation of powers except

A
abuse of power
B
freedom and liberty
C
stable political system
D
absence of dominance
CORRECT OPTION: a

The merits of the theory of separation of powers are stated below.

  • Protection of Liberty and Rights
  • Increase in Government's Efficiency
  • Limited Government
  • Prevents Abuse of Power
6

Which of the following is not a merits of checks and balances it?

A
prevents excessive use of power
B
has respect for human rights
C
encourages the use of veto power
D
prevents dictatorship
CORRECT OPTION: c

With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them. Checks and balances plays against one arm of government being too powerful hence discourages veto power

7

Representative government is alternatively called

A
rule of law
B
indirect democracy
C
separation of powers
D
classical democracy
CORRECT OPTION: b

Representative government otherwise known as indirect democracy is An electoral system where citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns.

8

A constitution is a

A
set of regulations and customs
B
body of doctrine and principles
C
set of principles and customs
D
body of rules, regulations and conventions
CORRECT OPTION: d

Constitution; a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

9

A feature of rigid constitution is that it requires

A
amendment by the judiciary
B
one-third majority for its amendment
C
special amendment procedures
D
the votes of electorate for its amendment
CORRECT OPTION: c

Rigid constitution is one under which certain laws, called constitutional laws or fundamental laws "cannot be changed in the same manner as ordinary laws."

10

A characteristic of a federal system of government is that power is

A
shared between the central and unit governments
B
shared between the component units of government
C
held by the national government
D
held by the state government
CORRECT OPTION: a

Federal system has basic characteristics: * Federalism provides a division of legal authority between state and national/central governments. Both states and the national government are supreme within their own spheres.

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