JOINT UNIVERSITIES PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS BOARD

2015 EXAMINATIONS

GOVERNMENT: MSS – J135

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. A government based on the rule of law is known as

A. Constitutional Government
B. Military Government
C. Confederal Government
D. Monarchial Government

2. A political concept that is defined as the beliefs, attitudes, and values of the society is
referred to as
A. Political socialization
B. Socialization
C. Political culture
D. Cultural socialism

3. One of these countries adopted the policy of assimilation as a colonial policy

A. Germany
B. Britain
C. Portugal
D. France

4. The appointment, ratification and dismissal of Emirs in the Pre-Colonial Hausa-Fulani

Empire
was done by
A. Emirs of Kano and Katsina
B. Emirs of Gwandu and Sokoto
C. Emir of Ilorin and Kwararafa
D. Emir of Shonga and Biu

5. The first military coup d’tat in Nigeria took place in

A. 1960
B. 1968
C. 1966
D. 1965
6. In the Oyo traditional political system, the Alaafin of Oyo was Selected or chosen by a
group known as

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 A. Tributary chiefs
B. Bales
C. Obas
D. Ogboni

7. Sovereignty is limited by
A. The criminal code
B. Decrees
C. The legal system
D. International law

8. Which of the following is NOT characteristics of democracy?

A. Popular sovereignty
B. Regular elections
C. Majority rule
D. Limited franchise
9. Liberalism is a philosophy associated with
A. Socialism
B. Capitalism
C. Feudalism
D. Nazism

10. One of the following is the primary duty of citizens to the state
A. loyalty of traditional rulers
B. obedience to ministers
C. obedience to politicians
D. allegiance to the government
11. The process of removing an elected official by the electorate after an election is termed.
A. Impeachment
B. Plebiscite
C. Recall
D. Referendum

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12. The principle of the rule of law stipulates that
A. Only judges interpret the law
B. Law makers are above the law
C. Everyone is equal before the law
D. Lawyers make law

13. The principle of federal character was first enshrined in the

A. 1989 constitution
B. 1963 constitution
C. 1999 constitution
D. 1979 constitution

14. The Nigerian federalism operates a

A. Four tier system
B. Three tier system
C. Two tier system
D. One tier system

15. After amalgamation in 1914, the first law-making body in Nigeria was
A. Legislative Council
B. National Assembly
C. Regional Assembly
D. Nigerian Council.

16. The foremost authority on federalism is

A. Walter Ofonagoro
B. Wheare K C,
C. Harold Lasswell
D. David Easton

17. A confederation is a political arrangement where there is

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 A. A strong centre and independent component units
B. A seemingly amorphous federation under a weak centre
C. A strong federation under monarchical centre
D. A shared constitutional power between a centre and two units

18. The number of political parties created by General Ibrahim Babangida was
A. 2
B. 6
C. 8
D. 3

19. Pressure groups are differentiated from political parties based on one of the following
reasons
A. Population of membership
B. They do not seek political power
C. Inability to win election
D. Registration by the government

20. Public corporation are controlled by ALL the following EXCEPT

A. Legislators
B. Judges
C. Tax payers
D. Clerks

21. One of the following is correct in a federal System of government

A. The central government has power over everything
B. Laws of the component units equate the constitution
C. Constitution must be flexible
D. Only unwritten constitution is permissible

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22. The Henry Willinks Commission was set up in Nigeria to
A. Look into possibility of federalism
B. Look into the possibility of Nigeria’s independence
C. Look into the fears of the minorities
D. Look into the tenure of colonial masters

23. The scholar who defines politics as ‘who gets what, when and how’ is known as
A. David Easton
B. Okwudiba Nnoli
C. Harold Lasswell
D. Karl Mrx

24. A unitary state can be identified on the basis of _________

A. Centralisation of Powers;
B. Devolution of Powers;
C. Allocation of Powers;
D. Decentralisation of powers.

25. What gives the state a legal backing and distinguishes it from other political
organisations?
A. people;
B. Territory;
C. Government;
D. sovereignty

26. What political activity is a pattern of learning of attitudes, values and orientations?

A. Political emancipation;

B. Political socialisation;

C. Political articulation

D. Political conscientization

27. The process of getting involved in the political activity of a society is called

A. political education;

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 B. Political philosophy;

C. Political culture;

D. Political rascality

28. Public Administration refers to the study of:

A. Public Philosophy

B. Political Sociology

C. Public Policy

D. Public Relations

29. Local Government authority is associated with:

A. National development
B. State development
C. Grassroots development;
D. Inter-state development

30. Under which system of government does executive power reside with a single
individual?

A. presidential system;

B. Parliamentary system;

C. Cabinet system,

D. Titular system

31. The classical idea of direct democracy originated from

A. Britain

B. Greece

C. United States

D. France

32. The organs of government include the following, EXCEPT -------------------

A. Executive

B. Legislature

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 C. Judiciary

D. Bureaucracy

33. --------------- economy is centrally planned and regulated

A. Capitalist

B. Authoritarian

C. Socialist

D. Liberalist

34. ------------- is a basic tenet of Marxist doctrine.

A. Biblical materialism

B. Constructive materialism

C. Dialectical materialism

D. Structural materialism

35. The following are the functions of political party, EXCEPT ---------

A. Mobilization of the masses

B. Recruitment of leaders

C. Socialization of leaders

D. Harassment of citizens

36. In the legislative process, a bill is a

A. Motion accepted for debate

B. Motion rejected after debate

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 C. Proposal before the legislature

D. Motion passed by the executive

37. The Agency that regulates the career of civil servants is known as:

A. Ministerial Service Commission

B. Executive Service Commission

C. Civil Service Commission

D. Citizens Service Commission

38. A major feature of authoritarianism is that government is

A. Consensual

B. Democratized

C. Centralized

D. Decentralized

39. The following are party systems, EXCEPT ------------

A. One- party system

B. Two- party system

C. Multi-party system

D. Multi-virate

40. The unrestrained power of the state over its citizens is underlined by

A. Sovereignty

B. Nationalism

C. Self-determination

D. Patriotism

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41. The principle of checks and balances reinforces separation of powers in order
to
A. Make the legislature more powerful

B. Prevent the emergence of dictatorship

C. Protect the powers of the executive

D. Prevent an unconstitutional change

of Government

42. The final interpretation of the provision of a federal constitution is vested in the

A. Highest legislative body

B. Highest court of the land

C. Head of state

D. Council of State

43. One major factor that differentiates the presidential from the parliamentary
systems is

A. Judicial independence

B. Party system

C. Separation of powers

D. Passage of bills

44. The supreme policy-making organ in the then Organization of Africa Unity is (OAU) was:

A. The Council of Ministers

B. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government

C. The General Secretariat

D. The Specialized Commissions

45. In which of these organs of the United Nations Organization is veto power exercised by
some countries?
A. The World Health Organization

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 B. The Security Council

C. The General Assembly

D. The International Court of Justice

46. Which factor is necessary for development of democratic institutions?

A. Strong military forces

B. Respect for individual rights

C. One party system

D. an agricultural economy

47. Bicameral Legislature, which Nigeria currently operates, means a Legislature

A. With two CCTV cameras to cover its proceedings

B. With two chambers, Upper and Lower Houses

C. That can switch from one mode to another during proceedings

D. That has two members from each State of the federation

48. The first region to be created in post Colonial Nigeria was:

A. Benue-Plateau region

B. Cross River-Ogoja region

C. Kwara-Lokoja region

D. Mid-Western region

49. Nigeria's support for the South-South Cooperation is based on her desire to.

A. Assert her leadership role in Africa

B. Promote her non-aligned policy

C. Promote economic understanding in the Third World

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D. Counter the political and military domination by major powers

50. The countries in which Nigeria participated in the ECOMOG peacekeeping

operations were

A. Sierra Leone and Cote d' Ivoire

B. Liberia and Sierra Leone.

C. Liberia and Guinea

D. Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire

JOINT UNIVERSITIES PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS BOARD

2015 EXAMINATIOS

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 GOVERNMENT: MSS – J135

GOVERNMENT ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. List and explain any five basic functions performed by a modern government.

2. Identify and explain five basic features of the Arthur Richards Constitution of 1946.

3. What are the main objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy? Suggest four ways through
which the objectives can be realized.

4. What is a political party? Explain any five functions of a political party.

5. Explain the differences between constitution and constitutionalism.

6. Outline and explain five basic functions of the executive arms of government.

7. Identify and explain the reasons for the introduction of indirect rule system in
Nigeria by the British colonialists. Why did the indirect rule system fail in the Eastern
part of Nigeria?

8. Write short notes on any three of the following:

1. Socialism
2. Capitalism
3. Communism
4. Fascism
5. Anarchism

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