JAMB Government 2020 Past Questions & Answers

A constitution is the supreme set of laws and principles that establishes how a country is governed. It outlines the structure of the government, the powers and limits of its different arms, and the rights and duties of its citizens. Therefore, its most important function is to serve as the foundation or basis upon which the government exercises its authority to rule the country.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose option A because lawyers are often involved in drafting legal documents, but the primary purpose of a constitution is its function in governing, not simply who writes it.

Oligarchy is a form of government where political power rests with a small group of people. This question describes a situation where this small group rules for their own selfish interests, which is the classic definition of an oligarchy. Other forms like monarchy or dictatorship involve rule by one person, not a few.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose aristocracy because it also means rule by a few, but aristocracy is rule by the 'best' citizens for the good of everyone, not for selfish reasons.

Government is divided into three main branches or arms: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The Legislature makes the laws, and the Executive implements or carries out the laws. The specific function of the Judiciary, which is made up of courts and judges, is to interpret the law, meaning they explain what the law means and apply it to specific cases.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'punishes lawbreakers' because it is a visible outcome of court cases, but this is only a consequence of the judiciary's primary role, which is to first interpret the law to determine guilt.

The 1979 Constitution of Nigeria established several federal executive bodies to guarantee their independence from political interference. These bodies, listed in the constitution, included the Police Service Commission, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), and the National Population Commission. The National Universities Commission (NUC), however, was not established by this constitution; it was created by a military decree in 1974, five years before the 1979 constitution was enacted.

Common mistake: Students may get confused because all the options are major federal agencies, and they might not recall that the NUC was created by a separate military decree before the 1979 constitution.

The correct option is D because the Nigerian Constitution assigns specific functions to Local Government Councils, which are the third tier of government. One of these key functions is to generate revenue by collecting rates from properties and businesses within their area. This money is then used to fund local projects like maintaining markets, motor parks, and providing basic sanitation services.

Common mistake: Students often confuse the different tax authorities and might incorrectly choose the Department of Inland Revenue, which is responsible for state or federal taxes like income tax, not local government rates.

Sovereignty refers to the supreme power or authority within a country. In a democracy, this ultimate power rests with the people, who are collectively known as 'the community' or the electorate. The people exercise this power by electing their representatives to govern on their behalf.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'the Head of State' because they are a visible symbol of power, but in a democracy, the leader's authority is only granted by and derived from the people.

A confederal state, or confederation, is a loose alliance of independent states that create a weak central government for common purposes, while the member states keep most of the power. ECOWAS is a perfect example because it is an organization of sovereign West African countries that have agreed to work together, but each country remains independent. In contrast, Nigeria and the USA are federal states, where power is shared more strongly between the central and state governments.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Switzerland because its official name is the 'Swiss Confederation', but its modern political structure is actually federal, not confederal.

The question is about the law-making process, which is the primary function of the legislature, an arm of government. A public bill is a proposed law that applies to the entire population and deals with matters of general interest, such as national security, education, or healthcare. Because it is intended to promote the general welfare of everyone, it is correctly called a public bill.

Common mistake: Students often confuse a public bill with a private bill, which is incorrect because a private bill only affects a specific individual, organization, or community, not the entire population.

Fascism is a political ideology characterized by a totalitarian one-party state, led by a dictator with absolute power. This system of government originated in Italy after World War I under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Mussolini founded the National Fascist Party and came to power in 1922, establishing the world's first fascist regime.

Common mistake: Many students mistakenly choose Germany because they confuse Italian Fascism with German Nazism, but Nazism was a specific form of fascism that developed in Germany after the original ideology was first established in Italy.

The theory of separation of powers is a fundamental principle of democratic government. It was most clearly and famously explained by the French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, in his 1748 book 'The Spirit of the Laws'. He argued that to prevent tyranny, governmental power should be divided into three separate branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, with each branch checking the others.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Jean Bodin, but he is famous for developing the theory of sovereignty, which is about the supreme power of the state, not the division of governmental functions.