All 45 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Government 2011 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
Government as an institution of the state is defined as a body which
A. A. conducts elections for the country
B. B. makes, enforces and interprets laws for the stateCorrect
C. C. hires and trains political leaders
D. D. makes and interprets laws
Explanation
Government as an institution of the state refers to the machinery through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and realised. It is divided into the legislature (makes law), the executive (enforces the law) and the judiciary (interprets the law).
The study of government in school is important because the students can
A. A. be assisted by political leaders
B. B. learn about their rights and qualify for electionsCorrect
C. C. qualify for elections
D. D. be nominated for a trip abroad
Explanation
The study of government helps students to know more about the political institutions of their country, their rights as well as their duties and obligations as citizens.
The primary function of government in a state is to
A. A. maintain law and orderCorrect
B. B. provide transport services
C. C. engage in campaigns and rallies
D. D. imprison criminals
Explanation
The primary function of government in any state is to maintain law and order. It is the responsibility of government to maintain peace, law and order in the state through the establishment of the police force.
The functions a state is expected to perform - maintenance of law and order, defence, provision of welfare services etc - are achieved by government through its organs: the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Organised law is an essential attribute of the state. The state relies on the use of laws, made and enforced by the government, to regulate the conduct of the people.
Power is the ability to make others do what they did not want to do. It is based on the ability to compel obedience through the use of force or threat of force for non-compliance.
Election is one of the means by which a person can acquire political power. Presidents or Governors exercise political power because they were elected by the people to govern them.
Power, which relies on the use of, or threat of, force, is transferred into authority through legitimacy. Legitimacy makes people voluntarily obey their government since they accept and recognise its right to govern.
A. A. legitimate right to exercise political powerCorrect
B. B. ability to control political behaviour
C. C. right to participate in political campaigns
D. D. right to form political parties
Explanation
Political authority is the legitimate right (accepted and recognised by the people) to exercise political power - the right to compel obedience from others.
Popular sovereignty refers to the power of the people in a democracy to effect a change of government - it belongs to the electorate, those who vote in elections.
Which of the following factors places limitation to the application of sovereignty in a state?
A. A. Civil service
B. B. International lawsCorrect
C. C. Political culture
D. D. Political parties
Explanation
International laws place a limitation on the application of sovereignty in a state. While sovereignty emphasises the supreme power of the state to make and enforce laws without external control, compliance with international law limits this power.
Democracy was practised in Athens, Greece. This type of democracy is called Direct or Athenian democracy, where citizens met periodically to discuss issues affecting their community.
Which of the following is a basic principle of democracy? Rule by
A. A. the majority and the protection of the minorityCorrect
B. B. the wealthy few
C. C. the minority at the expense of the majority
D. D. two political parties
Explanation
Democracy is about rule by the majority because the majority decides who exercises governing power through voting, while also entailing protection of the rights of the minority - oppression of minority groups is unlawful in a democracy.
Which of the following is a component of political culture?
A. A. Injunction
B. B. Cognitive orientationCorrect
C. C. Mandamus
D. D. Herbeas corpus
Explanation
Cognitive orientation is the knowledge of, awareness and beliefs of the people about the political system - it includes what people know about political institutions, history and the roles of political leaders.
The teaching and learning of political culture is known as political
A. A. participation
B. B. socializationCorrect
C. C. administration
D. D. development
Explanation
Political socialization is the process through which people learn and acquire political culture, teaching and learning about political values, attitudes and beliefs of their society.
Which of the following political concepts promotes sharing and cooperation in a society?
A. A. Aristocracy
B. B. Capitalism
C. C. CommunalismCorrect
D. D. Oligarchy
Explanation
Communalism is a political and economic arrangement which emphasises collective cooperation among members of the community so as to harness and share resources for the good of everybody.
Which of the following is true about a capitalist state?
A. A. Private individuals control the economyCorrect
B. B. The workers are not exploited
C. C. Government controls the means of production
D. D. There is no class struggle
Explanation
Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production, exchange and distribution of goods and services are in the hands of private individuals, who therefore control the economy.
According to Karl Marx, the highest stage of socialism is communism - it is at the communist stage that the goal of eliminating class distinction in society will be achieved.
Foreign domination by a group of people for social and economic benefits is known as
A. A. nationalism
B. B. colonialismCorrect
C. C. feudalism
D. D. constitutionalism
Explanation
Colonialism is a form of foreign domination in which a powerful country governs the people of a weaker territory politically, economically and culturally for economic gains.
A communist system recognises the need of the individual and strives to make provisions for such human needs, following the principle 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need'.
A. A. hierarchical land ownership between the lords and the serfsCorrect
B. B. private ownership of production and distribution
C. C. separation of powers
D. D. fusion of powers
Explanation
Hierarchical land ownership between lords and serfs is a common feature of feudalism. The feudal lord gives land to serfs, who in exchange perform duties such as pledging loyalty and paying tributes; in return the lord protects the serf.
An open market economy is one in which individuals are free to undertake any commercial or business activity, with free entry and free exit - a unique feature of capitalism.
Which of the following political systems discourages socialism?
A. A. FascismCorrect
B. B. Feudalism
C. C. Communalism
D. D. Welfarism
Explanation
Fascism discourages socialism because it believes that the institution of private property strengthens family ties and is generally in the interest of the people. Fascism also discourages individualism, pacifism and democracy.
The body charged with the responsibility of preparing a new constitution in a country is the
A. A. electoral commission
B. B. constituent assemblyCorrect
C. C. judicial service commission
D. D. electoral college
Explanation
A Constituent Assembly is a body of persons - either elected, appointed, or both - charged with the responsibility of preparing a new constitution for a country.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of confederation?
A. A. The right to secede is allowed
B. B. Sovereignty resides in the centreCorrect
C. C. The central units agree before taking decisions
D. D. Autonomous units are more powerful than the centre
Explanation
Confederation is a type of government in which sovereign states come together as independent states, in which the central government is subordinate to the government of the component units. Sovereignty does NOT reside in the central government in a confederation, so option B is not a characteristic.
Which of the following is a function of a head of state?
A. A. Settles cases
B. B. Arbitrates electoral petitions
C. C. Creates new constitutions
D. D. Receives foreign dignitariesCorrect
Explanation
The Head of State mostly performs ceremonial and symbolic roles, such as receiving foreign dignitaries. Settlement of cases and arbitrating electoral petitions are functions performed by the judiciary.
Renunciation means to formally or publicly reject or deny something. A person can change his or her citizenship through renunciation. (Note: the official key labels this answer 'C' corresponding to renunciation as listed among the options in the original paper.)
On which of the following political platforms do political parties mainly present their manifestoes to the electorate?
A. A. Campaign and ralliesCorrect
B. B. The state-controlled mass media
C. C. Public lectures
D. D. Inter-party debates
Explanation
Political parties present their programmes and policy proposals (manifestoes), which they intend to implement on assuming political power, to the electorate during campaigns and rallies.
In a two-party system, there may be more than two political parties in the country, but only two dominate the political scene, i.e. only two parties have the strength to win national elections.
Which of the following is not a form of proportional representation?
A. A. Alternative vote system
B. B. Second ballot
C. C. List system
D. D. Plurality systemCorrect
Explanation
The Alternative vote system (in which voters rank candidates in order of preference) and the Second ballot system (which requires a winner to score an absolute majority of votes cast) are types of majoritarian electoral systems, not forms of proportional representation.
A chief could be deposed in the pre-colonial era if he
A. A. violated the written constitution
B. B. persistently neglected the advice of his eldersCorrect
C. C. refused to collect taxes for the British Government
D. D. married too many wives
Explanation
In areas where traditional rulers did not exercise absolute power during the pre-colonial era, elders could remove such a ruler if he consistently neglected their advice on important issues.
A common feature in a pre-colonial centralized state was
A. A. loyalty to a political superiorCorrect
B. B. absence of a single political authority
C. C. the existence of autocratic rule
D. D. existence of separation of powers
Explanation
In a centralized state there is only a single source of authority from which orders emanate. In most pre-colonial societies with a centralised political structure, there was loyalty to only one political superior.
Under the British Crown Colony system of administration, the head of the executive council was the
A. A. Governor-GeneralCorrect
B. B. Head of government business
C. C. Speaker
D. D. Prime minister
Explanation
Under the British Crown Colony system of administration, the head of the executive council was the Governor-General, who also acted as the Head of the legislative council.
One effect of the French policy of Assimilation was that it
A. A. made all French West Africans French citizens
B. B. increased nationalist activities in French West Africa
C. C. delayed nationalism in French West AfricaCorrect
D. D. expanded education into the interior of French West Africa
Explanation
One of the effects of the policy of assimilation in French West Africa was that it delayed nationalism, because it did not allow for the formation of parties or the establishment of local assemblies in the colonies.
The late development of nationalism in French West Africa was due to
A. A. absorption of French colonial ex-service men into the French army
B. B. integration of the citizenry to British West African colonies
C. C. establishment of the traditional Council of Chiefs
D. D. oppressive French colonial policiesCorrect
Explanation
Oppressive French colonial policies such as the indigenat policy encouraged the arrest and imprisonment of Africans without trial, and forced labour delayed the formation of nationalist movements in French West Africa.
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