WASSCE GOVERNMENT MAY/JUNE 2002 (SSCE WAEC MAY/JUNE 2002 GOVERNMENT)
1. A classless society is the ultimate goal of
A. socialism
B. totalitarianism
C. capitalism
D. feudalism
2. Fascism as a system of government originated in
A. Italy
B. Germany
C. France
D. Britain
3. A country is said to be democratic if
A. gerrymandering exists
B. there are free and fair elections
C. citizens are disenfranchised
D. the press is owned by the government
4. Constitutionalism is synonymous with
A. separation of powers
B. supremacy of the law
C. delegated legislation
D. checks and balances
5. Citizenship can be acquired by
A. nationalism
B. naturalization
C. indigenization
D. collectivism
6. A citizen’s right to expression can be limited if he
A. pays taxes when due
B. serves as a witness in court
C. Commit slander, libel or sedition
D. fails to vote during elections
7. An organization whose ultimate aim is to gain the control of government and implement its programmes is known as a
A. pressure group
B. political party
C. trade union
D. professional association
8. Franchise can be described as the political right to
A. vote during elections
B. contest elections
C. belong to political parties
D. vote and be voted for
9. Which of the following protect the rights of the individual in a state?
A. The police and the soldiers
B. The executive and legislature
C. The police and the courts
D. The lawmakers and lawyers
10. A representative government is one in which
A. the executive controls the judiciary
B. half of the parliament is popularly elected
C. traditional rulers from the majority in parliament
D. the ultimate power resides with the people
11. Autonomy of constituent units is an important feature of
A. confederal government
B. presidential government
C. unitary government
D. parliamentary government
12. Another name for the simple majority system of voting is the
A. first-past-the-post system
B. proportional representation
C. absolute majority
D. second ballot system
13. Under delegated legislation, the institution empowered to make laws is the
A. press
B. pressure groups
C. executive
D. political parties
14. Which of the following formulates and implements government policy?
A. Judiciary
B. Labour
C. Executive
D. Police
15. One of the main principles of the presidential system is the
A. parliamentary supremacy
B. separation of powers
C. creation of local governments
D. collective responsiblity
16. One of the functions of political parties is to
A. make law
B. declare a state of emergency
C. interpret the constitution
D. aggregate interest
17. The principle of checks and balances modifies the theory of
A. delegated legislation
B. supremacy of the law
C. separation of powers
D. rule of law
18. Pressure groups use all the following techniques to achieve their objectives except
A. lobbying
B. demonstrating
C. coup détat
D. strikes
19. Which of the following is not a purpose of election?
A. Political recruitment
B. Rigging
C. Exercise of franchise
D. Legitimacy
20. Impeachment and veto powers are features of the
A. parliamentary system
B. unitary system
C. theocratic system
D. presidential system
21. A government headed by a person elected for a fixed period of time is referred to as
A. monarchical
B. socialist
C. republican
D. military
22. A system of government where the component units are stronger than the central authority is known as
A. federalism
B. confederation
C. fascism
D. feudalism
23. The referring of political question to electorate for a decision is known as
A. referendum
B. election
C. mass media
D. public opinion
24. Which of the following allows the concentration of wealth in private hands?
A. Fascism
B. Capitalism
C. Feudalism
D. Socialism
25. A constitutional function of the local governments is the
A. provision of security guards for streets
B. provision of market stalls and motor parks
C. control of prison services
D. collection of duties on goods
26. Local governments can raise funds through
A. import duties
B. company duties
C. excise duties
D. rates
27. In unitary state, local authorities derive their powers from the
A. judiciary
B. electorate
C. elected councilors
D. legislature
28. The anonymity of civil servant means that he
A. receives neither praise nor blame publicly
B. is above the laws of the land
C. should not take part in union activities
D. should not be disciplined because of his expertise
29. Public corporations are established mainly to
A. cater for the welfare of its officials
B. provide essential services and amenities
C. co-ordinate activities of the ministries
D. advise the government on commerce
30. Under military governments local authorities issue bye-laws while state governments issue
A. edicts
B. decrees
C. warrants
D. orders
31. Traditional practices which can be sanctioned by public opinion when they are broken are called
A. decrees
B. local laws
C. customs
D. edicts
32. One major characteristics of capitalism is that it results in
A. unjust and unequitable distribution of societal resources
B. full employment for the youths
C. organization of production to meet the needs of the poor
D. job security for casual workers
33. After which of the following stages will a bill be said to have reached the report stage in Parliament?
A. Committee stage
B. First reading
C. Second reading
D. Third reading
33. What is detente in international relations?
A. Detention of war prisoners
B. Posting of ambassador
C. Military alliance between nations
D. Peace agreement between nations
35. The Aba women riots of 1929 in Nigeria was caused by the
A. fear of domination by warrant chiefs
B. absence of a well-organized system of taxation
C. fear of women being taxed
D. existence of a centralized authority
36. Which of the following pairs of countries have unwritten constitution?
A. Ghana and Germany
B. Nigeria and America
C. Britain and Israel
D. Nigeria and Ghana
37. The 1885 Berlin Conference was conveyed to
A. Encourage slave trade in Africa
B. Organize warfare against Africa
C. Seek a way or developing Africa
D. Partition Africa among European powers
38. Which of the following defines the Loi Cadre in French West Africa?
A. Outline laws for administrative and political reforms
B. A military cadre used to enforce laws
C. A new law to punish offenders without trials
D. The centre for political awareness in West Africa
39. The method used by the French to show down the development of nationalist activities in West Africa territories was
A. free press
B. the indigenat
C. free education
D. certification
40. With which of the following did the French attempt to the change African culture?
A. Socialization
B. Association
C. Assimilation
D. Indirect rule
41. The ultimate goal of the nationalists in Africa was to
A. recover the resources exploited by the colonialists
B. improve the status of the traditional rulers
C. stop export trade
D. obtain political independence
42. Indirect Rule failed in some areas of West Africa because of the
A. creation of the institution of warrant chiefs
B. introduction of kingmakers
C. non-inclusion of chiefs in administration
D. exploitation of resources in some communities
43. In the per-colonial period traditional rulers in most parts of West Africa were appointed by the
A. Oracle priest
B. Ogboni
C. Kingmakers
D. age-grade
44.Which of the following countries was a former French territory in West Africa?
A. The Gambia
B. Ghana
C. Liberia
D. Senegal
45. Which of the following states is not a member of the Organization of African Unit (OAU)
A. South Africa
B. Comoro Islands
C. Lesotho
D. Angola
46. An organ of the United Nations Organization (UNO) whose decision is binding on all members is the
A. Security Council
B. Economic and Social Council
C. Trusteeship Council
D. International Court Of Justice.
47. The foreign policy of West African states is mainly determined by
A. expansionist interest
B. constitutional provisions
C. national interest
D. international organizations
48. The Queen of England ceased to be the Head of State of Nigeria on 12 October
A. 1960
B. 1963
C. 1965
D. 1979
49. A union government was advocated for Africa by the
A. Cassabianca Group
B. Monrovia Group
C. The Brazzaville Group
D. Malagasy Group
50. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is one of the socialized agencies of the
A. Organization of African Unity (OAU)
B. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
C. Organization of petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
D. United Nations Organization (UNO)