JAMB Government 2013 Past Questions & Answers

Delegated power refers to authority that is given by a higher body to a lower body to act on its behalf. Since the original holder of the power is not the one performing the action, the power is being exercised indirectly. For example, a minister exercises power that has been delegated to them by the president, meaning the president's power is used indirectly through the minister.

Common mistake: Students often confuse this with 'by devolution', but devolution is a specific type of delegation (usually to regional governments), whereas 'indirectly' describes the general way any delegated power is exercised.

The term 'de jure' is a Latin phrase that means 'by law'. Therefore, de jure sovereignty refers to the legal right of a government to exercise power, which is established and recognized by the country's constitution and legal framework. This form of sovereignty is based on legal recognition, not on the actual ability to control, making 'law' the correct source.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'force' because they confuse de jure sovereignty (legal right to rule) with de facto sovereignty (actual control, which can be gained through force).

The question provides the classic definition of a state in political science. A state is a political entity characterized by four main elements: a population (a group of people), a defined territory, a government (which creates a common law), and sovereignty. The description in the question perfectly matches these core features of a state.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'nation', but a nation is a group of people united by common culture or language, and they may not have their own defined territory or government.

Political socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn about politics and form their political values, beliefs, and attitudes. This learning happens through agents like family, schools, religious bodies, and the media. Therefore, the core of political socialization is the passing on, or 'transmission', of these political values from one person or group to another.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose option A, 'free choice of party programmes', because choosing a party is a political activity, but it is an outcome of socialization, not the process itself.

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle classified governments based on two things: the number of rulers and whether they ruled for the common good or for their own selfish interest. According to him, aristocracy is the form of government where a few of the best and most virtuous citizens rule for the benefit of the entire society. This matches the description in the question perfectly.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'autocracy', but this is incorrect as autocracy refers to rule by a single person with absolute power, not rule by a few.

Gerontocracy is a system of government where political power is held by the oldest members of the society. The term comes from the Greek words 'geron' meaning 'old man' and 'kratos' meaning 'rule'. Therefore, 'rule by the old people' is the direct definition of gerontocracy. The other options are different forms of rule: theocracy is rule by religious leaders, and monarchy is rule by a king or queen.

Common mistake: Students might confuse gerontocracy with other forms of government like theocracy or monarchy if they are unfamiliar with the specific definition and simply guess from the options provided.

Government is typically divided into three arms: the Legislature (makes laws), the Executive (implements laws), and the Judiciary (interprets laws). A commissioner is a member of the executive arm of government at the state level. Therefore, their main constitutional responsibility is to carry out or implement the laws passed by the legislature.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'making laws' because they confuse the role of the executive commissioner with that of a legislator in the House of Assembly.

Rule adjudication is the process of interpreting laws and settling disputes, which is the main function of the judiciary. The judiciary, made up of courts and judges, is the arm of government responsible for applying laws to specific cases. The legislature makes the laws and the executive carries them out, but only the judiciary adjudicates or judges based on those laws.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose the legislature because it makes the rules (laws), but 'adjudication' specifically refers to interpreting and applying those rules in court, which is the judiciary's function.

Judicial review is the power of the courts (the judiciary) to examine the actions of the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure they follow the constitution. If an action by the executive is found to be unconstitutional, the court can declare it invalid. This is the primary way the judiciary checks and controls the power of the executive branch.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'judicial overview' because it sounds very similar to the correct term, 'judicial review', which is the specific legal principle being tested.

In a unitary system of government, all governmental power is held by a single, central authority. This concentration of power prevents conflicts between different levels of government, like states or regions, which can sometimes weaken a country. Because decisions are made quickly and from one source without arguments over jurisdiction, the government is considered very strong and stable.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'distant from the people' because while this can be a disadvantage of a unitary system, the question specifically asks for a major advantage.