2016 - WAEC Government Past Questions & Answers - page 1

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
CORRECT OPTION: d
2
All the following are experienced by a community without government except
A
insecurity
B
planned development
C
lawlessness
D
political anarchy
CORRECT OPTION: b
3

As an academic field the study of government does not include

A
Political economy
B
Comparative politics
C
Public administration
D
Ecological interaction
CORRECT OPTION: d

 Government as an academic field of study:- is the study of political institutions and theories, which deals with the acquisition and use of political power. It is a social science subject taught in higher institution.

4

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

A
Capitalist system
B
Fascism
C
Republicanism
D
Constitutional monarchy
CORRECT OPTION: b

Fascism is a form of far right-wing, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy 

Fascism is a form of government which is a type of one-party dictatorship. Fascistsare against democracy. ... Fascism puts nation and often race above the individual. It stands for a centralized government headed by a dictator.

5

The system that allows the opposition to participate in governance is

A
dictatorial
B
collectivism
C
aristocratic
D
democratic
CORRECT OPTION: d

In a democratic country, all eligible citizens have the right to participate, either directly or indirectly, in making the decisions that affect them. It also allows the participation of the opposition in governance

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
CORRECT OPTION: a

Illiteracy is a state whereby one is unable to read and write. In its simplest form, it can be defined as lack of any or sufficient education. Sometimes people who have had very basic education also experience challenges in reading and writing. When majority of the electorates are illiterates, electoral malpractice prevalent, making  representative government difficult

 

7

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

A
Definite territory
B
Population
C
Government
D
Common language
CORRECT OPTION: d

The state has four essential attributes, Population, Territory, Government and Sovereignty. Population and territory constitute the physical basis of the State while government and sovereignty constitute its legal basis or political basis.

8

In a democracy political sovereignty is vested in the

A
judges
B
people
C
legislature
D
executive
CORRECT OPTION: b

Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who is the source of all political power.

9

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

A
influence
B
authority
C
power
D
arbitrariness
CORRECT OPTION: d

 Baron de Montesquieu in in his book titled '' The Spirit of the Laws, argued for a constitutional government with three separate branches, each of which would have defined abilities to check the powers of the others. Thii=s is to prevent cases like arbitrariness.

Arbitrariness; is the quality of being based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

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
CORRECT OPTION: b

Decentralization—the transfer of authority and responsibility for public functions from the central government to subordinate or quasi-independent government organizations. The governmental powers in a federal system of government is decentralized in a way that, authority and reponsibilities are shared among the federal, state and local government .

 

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