Government Past Questions | West African Examinations Council (WAEC)

Question 1

The judicial order requiring a detained person to be brought before a judge is the writ of

Options

A) Habeas corpus

B) Mandamus

C) Prohibition

D) Certiorari

The correct answer is A.

Explanation:

The judicial order requiring a detained person to be brought before a judge is the writ of Habeas corpus.

Question 2

A political party can contest and win a widely accepted election if it has

Options

A) the ability to rig election

B) intolerant attitude to oppositions

C) a broad-based membership

D) the support of very wealthy politicians

The correct answer is C.

Explanation:

A political party can contest and win a widely accepted election if it has a broad-based membership.

Question 3

Political parties aim at all the following except

Options

A) contesting elections

B) forming a government

C) organizing general elections

D) educating the electorate politically

The correct answer is C.

Explanation:

It is the duty of the electoral commission to organize elections.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a means through which political parties reach the populace?

Options

A) Posters

B) newspapers

C) schools

D) the internet

The correct answer is C.

Explanation:

Because in schools there are mostly underaged minors who are not allowed to vote.

Question 5

An association whose ultimate aim is to influence government policies is known as

Options

A) civil service

B) pressure group

C) political party

D) public corporation

The correct answer is B.

Explanation:

Because they influence government policies for the benefit of their members while political party aims at acquiring governmental power.
Civil service are services rendered by the public for the benefit of the masses while public corporations are organization established by the government for the benefit of the public

Question 6

Membership of pressure groups is usually limited because they

Options

A) pursue specific and narrow objectives

B) promote other people's interests

C) do not have dynamic leadership

D) promote the interest of the government

The correct answer is A.

Explanation:

Pressure groups are formed for specific purposes and to majorly pursue the interest of their members. For example, the NUT which is a professional pressure group for teachers and seek to ensure that teachers needs are taken care of and teachers are well paid.

Question 7

Elections are conducted to

Options

A) provide permanent employment for the people

B) make the people choose their leaders

C) known the number of people in a country

D) know the social amenities in the community

The correct answer is B.

Explanation:

An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.

Question 8

Power is transformed into legal authority through

Options

A) force

B) prayers

C) influence

D) legitimacy

The correct answer is D.

Explanation:

Legitimacy is a political concept which refers to the acceptance and recognition by the citizens of a country the right of their rulers to govern.

Question 9

Conventions are mostly used by states that have

Options

A) a large number of illiterates

B) a lot of people not interested in political activities

C) unwritten constitution

D) rigid constitution

The correct answer is C.

Question 10

One advantage of a flexible constitution is that it

Options

A) can lead to dictatorship

B) can easily be manipulated

C) is best suited for a federation

D) can be amended by a simple majority

The correct answer is D.

Explanation:

A flexible constitution is that which can easily be needed. Therefore it can easily be amended with the use of a SIMPLE MAJORITY.

Question 11

A constitution that requires complicated procedure for its amendment is

Options

A) rigid

B) flexible

C) written

D) unwritten

The correct answer is A.

Question 12

The official who enforces discipline among members of his party in parliament is the

Options

A) majority leader

B) minority leader

C) clerk of the House

D) chief whip

The correct answer is D.

Question 13

When an action of the executive is declared ultra vires, it is a control exercised by the

Options

A) public

B) minister

C) judiciary

D) parliament

The correct answer is C.

Question 14

One of the features of an absolute monarch is that the ruler

Options

A) is elected by the electorate

B) has a definite tenure of office

C) is elected by the representatives of the people

D) wields the supreme power in a state

The correct answer is D.

Question 15

A notable feature of cabinet system of government is

Options

A) collective responsibility

B) the separation of powers

C) violation of human rights

D) impeachment of the executive

The correct answer is A.

Question 16

The privilege citizens enjoyed in a country irrespective of sex, tribe or creed is

Options

A) right

B) constitution

C) manifesto

D) franchise

The correct answer is A.

Question 17

The judicial order requiring a detained person to be brought before a judge is the writ of

Options

A) Habeas corpus

B) Mandamus

C) Prohibition

D) Certiorari

The correct answer is A.

Question 18

A political party can contest and win a widely accepted election if it has

Options

A) the ability to rig election

B) intolerant attitude to oppositions

C) a broad-based membership

D) the support of very wealthy politicians

The correct answer is C.

Question 19

Political parties aim at all the following except

Options

A) contesting elections

B) forming a government

C) organizing general elections

D) educating the electorate politically

The correct answer is C.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a means through which political parties reach the populace?

Options

A) Posters

B) newspapers

C) schools

D) the internet

The correct answer is C.

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