WAEC Government 2022 Theory — Question 4

Model answer

Five differences between government as an institution and the state: i. A state has a permanent status; Government on the other hand is transient. It comes and goes. ii. It is a territorial association of people with defined boundaries; Government is an administrative institution of the state. iii. Membership of a state is compulsory; Membership of a government is optional. iv. A state is an abstract concept; Government and its officials are tangible. v. A state is a larger entity; Government is relatively a smaller institution within the state. vi. A state depends on the government to carry out its activities; Government is the machinery through which the functions of the state are performed. vii. The state is sovereign; Government is not sovereign. viii. States are identical in their features; Governments differ from state to state. ix. The emergence of the state has different theories; While emergence of government has one central justification. x. Every state possesses a legal status/constitution; Whereas government in power enforces the constitution. xi. A state is a fixed entity; Whereas government and its officials are not fixed.