WAEC Government 2015 Theory — Question 12

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.