WAEC Government 2015 Theory Past Questions

Model answer

Constitutionalism is the strict adherence to the provisions of the constitution. In other words, it means a limited government where the powers of government are limited by the fundamental laws of the land - the constitution.

Model answer

(i) Democratic government: the establishment of a democratic government is one of the factors that can promote constitutionalism, as government is made to adhere to the provisions of the constitution. (ii) Rule of law: where there is respect for the rule of law, both government and the governed will be bound by the law, promoting constitutionalism. (iii) Independent Judiciary: an independent judiciary, not subject to control or manipulation by any other arm of government, ensures constitutional dictates prevail and promotes constitutionalism. (iv) Fundamental rights: respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens is another factor that can promote constitutionalism.

Model answer

Separation of power means that a different body of persons is to administer each of the three organs of government, and none of them is to have controlling power over the others. In essence, it connotes separation in terms of functions and personnel. The purpose of separation of power is to prevent the tyranny of government and promote liberty. The French political philosopher Baron De Montesquieu is credited for popularising the concept.

Model answer

(i) In a presidential system: (a) Members of the executive are not part of the legislature - the President and his ministers are not members of the legislature. (b) Separate elections are held for members of the legislature and the executive. (c) The judiciary is composed of a body of persons different from members of the executive and the legislature. (ii) In a parliamentary system (there exists some, though limited, separation of powers): (a) Legislative power is vested in the parliament, a body different from the executive organ - though all members of the executive, including the Prime Minister, belong to the parliament. (b) The judiciary is also established as an independent branch of government for interpreting laws, with membership composition different from the executive and legislature. (c) The executive and legislature are elected together, so the executive emerges from the legislature - there is no strict separation of powers here because of the overlap (fusion) of membership.

Model answer

Parliamentarianism is a system of government in which the powers and functions of the head of state and the head of government are performed by two distinct individuals - the prime minister (as head of government) and the President or monarch (as head of state). Britain, Canada, India and Germany are some countries with a parliamentary system of government.

Model answer

(i) Under the parliamentary system, there are two heads of the executive (Head of State and Head of Government); in the presidential system, one person (the President) performs the functions of both. (ii) In the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister and cabinet members are also members of parliament; this is not the case in a presidential system, where members of the executive cannot become members of parliament at the same time. (iii) Cabinet members under the parliamentary system are collectively responsible to parliament; in the presidential system, cabinet members are individually responsible to the President. (iv) Only elected party members can be appointed as ministers under a cabinet (parliamentary) system, whereas in a presidential system, the President is free to appoint ministers both within and outside of political party lines.

Model answer

Public opinion can be defined as the aggregate views of the members of the general public about government policies and programmes. In other words, it refers to the views held and expressed by the majority of the people concerning a particular policy or programme of the government.

Model answer

(i) Political parties, in their bid to win elections, can form (shape) public opinion through their campaigns and awareness programmes highlighting the government's programmes and whether they were pleased with them and the party's manifesto. (ii) Public opinion can also be formed by opinion leaders - certain people regarded as knowledgeable in their community, because people listen to them and believe what they say about government programmes and policies. (iii) The Mass media is another way by which public opinion can be formed - the views expressed and other information spread by the mass media influence people into forming or changing their opinion about government policies. (iv) Pressure groups also help in shaping or forming public opinion.

Model answer

(i) Press freedom: it is necessary for press freedom to be guaranteed by the government, and media outlets must not be censored or banned from covering certain news, in order to promote public opinion. (ii) Freedom of speech and expression: since public opinion has to do with the views of the people, the rights of citizens to freedom of speech and expression should be guaranteed at all times for public opinion to be promoted. (iii) Opinion Polls: opinion polls are used to accurately measure public opinion so as to know the views of citizens on any issue; the use of opinion polls should be encouraged.

Model answer

(i) Presiding Officer; (ii) Polling Officer; (iii) Polling Orderly/Security Officer; (iv) Returning Officer; (v) Collating Officer.

Model answer

(i) Presiding Officer: oversees the conduct of elections at the polling stations/centres. (ii) Polling assistant/Officer: checks the names of voters in the voter register to verify their authenticity before voters cast their ballots. (iii) Polling Orderly/Security Officer: ensures there is order at the polling unit, maintaining law and order at the polling booth. (iv) Collation officer: responsible for the collation of the election result. (v) Returning officer: announces the election results.

Model answer

(i) The Secretary of state for the colonies was charged with the supervision of the administration of the colonies - he supervised how colonial governors administered each of the colonies under their control. (ii) The secretary of state for the colonies was responsible for the appointments of colonial governors for each of the British colonies. He could also make recommendations for their dismissal. (iii) The powers of vetoing laws made and approved by the Governors-General of the colonies is another function performed by the Secretary of State for the colonies. For any laws to be valid in the colonies, such laws must have been approved by the Secretary of States for the colonies. (iv) The Secretary of State for the colonies approved the drafting of new constitutions for the colonies. Constitutions drafted in the colonies must be approved by him for such constitutions to become valid. (v) He was also responsible for transferring the colonial governors from one colony to the other. (vi) He was responsible for the formulation of colonial policies through which the colonies were governed. (vii) He served as an intermediary between the colonies and British government.

Model answer

(i) West Africa Pilot by Nnamdi Azikwe; (ii) Nigerian Tribune by Obafemi Awolowo; (iii) New Africa; (iv) Northern Advocate.

Model answer

(i) Dissemination of information: local newspapers helped disseminate information concerning the evils of colonialism, providing important sources of information about the activities of colonial government. (ii) Sensitization: through different columns and editorial pages, people were educated and sensitized about the need for independence, and the importance of the struggle against colonialism. (iii) Political consciousness: nationalist newspapers aroused the political consciousness of the people through their publications, raising the level of political awareness among the people. (iv) Channel of communication: newspapers provided nationalist leaders with a platform to communicate their political ideas and visions to the people, enabling them to mobilize the masses against colonial rule.

Model answer

(i) One of the achievements of the Action Group as a political party in Nigeria was in the way the party dominated the politics of the Western Region, having majority seats and controlling the government in the Western Region between 1951 and 1962. (ii) The Action Group gained some foothold in areas outside the Western Region, forming the opposition party in the Eastern House of Assembly as well as at the Federal House of Representatives. (iii) The AG, under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, introduced and successfully implemented the Universal Free Primary Education in Western Nigeria in 1955, enabling millions of children to attend school free of charge. (iv) Another achievement of the AG was the establishment of the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) in Ibadan in 1959. (v) The Action Group (AG) also introduced free health services that made it possible for children below the age of eighteen to receive free medical treatment.

Model answer

The military as the armed force of a state can be defined as a tightly organised and highly disciplined body characterized by hierarchy of ranks and a culture of strict obedience. Simply put, it is the armed forces of the state, represented by the Army, Navy and Air Force. A military coup d'etat can be defined as the unconstitutional takeover of power or the overthrow of a government by the military.

Model answer

(i) Suspension of the constitution: one of the very first acts of a military government is the suspension of the constitution, since military rule is unconstitutional. (ii) Suspension of the parliament: under military rule, the nation's parliament is also suspended; law-making powers are vested in the military junta. (iii) Fusion of legislative and executive powers: military rule is characterised by the fusion of legislative and executive powers - with the suspension of the constitution and parliament, military governments exercise both law-making and executive functions. (iv) Ban on political activities: with the inception of military rule, ban is placed on political activities and political parties - political parties and other political associations are outlawed. (v) Military rule through decrees and edicts, and there is no respect for rule of law in a military rule, as military rule is highly centralised.

Model answer

(i) The political structure of the country: an important factor that determines the external relations of West African states is the political structure of the country - whether it is a unitary or federal state affects the external relations it will have with other states, since the diversity or otherwise of that structure will reflect in relations with other states. (ii) Nature of the economy: whether the economy is experiencing growth or not, or seeking industrial development, is another factor that determines the external relations of West African states; the economic conditions of west African states determine how they relate with the outside world. (iii) Public opinion: the views and perception of the people on burning international issues also determine the external relations of West African states, as government usually takes these views into consideration while drafting foreign policy. (iv) Character of political leadership: the nature and character of the political leaders (elites), and the foreign policy choices they make, determine the external relations of their country. (v) Geo-political location of the country: the location of states in the West African sub-region greatly determines their external relations - many West African states are member-states of ECOWAS, an international organisation of countries in the West African sub-region.