WAEC Government 2014 Theory — Question 12

Model answer

i. People prefer a democratic government to a military government because democratic government respects the fundamental human rights of citizens. The rights and freedom of the people are mostly certainly to be guaranteed and protected under a democratic government. ii. Democratic government allows for popular participation of the masses in politics. The people have the power to contribute to the making of government and in influencing government policies; this is usually not the case under a military government. iii. Another reason why people prefer a democratic government to the military type is because a democratic government makes it possible for leaders to be held accountable by the people they govern. iv. Democracy allows for orderly and peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the other through the conduct of election. The peaceful transfer of power is not guaranteed under a military government. v. Under a democratic government, there is the respect for the rule of law, that is, both the government and the governed are equal before the law. This is not the case with a military government, hence the reason why people prefer a democratic government to military rule.