WAEC Government 2000 Past Questions & Answers

The correct answer is C because government as an institution is made up of three main arms or branches. These are the Legislature, which makes laws; the Executive, which carries out or executes the laws; and the Judiciary, which interprets the laws. This option correctly combines all three major functions that define the institution of government.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B, focusing only on the judicial function, without realizing that it represents just one of the three essential arms of government.

Political authority is the right to command and make decisions that people are expected to obey. This right is not just about having power, but about having power that is accepted as right and proper by the citizens. This acceptance is called legitimacy, which is why authority is defined as the legitimate right to exercise political power.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B because it describes political power, but they forget that authority is specifically legitimate power, not just the ability to control behaviour.

The rule of law is a fundamental principle which states that everyone, including the government and its officials, is subject to and accountable under the law. This means laws must be applied equally and fairly to all people, without any special treatment or bias. Therefore, the core of the rule of law is legality (acting according to the law) and impartiality (treating everyone the same before the law).

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B because they confuse the 'rule of law' with the 'rule of men,' where rulers have supreme and unchecked power, which is the direct opposite of this principle.

Fundamental human rights, like freedom of speech, are usually written down in a country's constitution. However, these rights are not absolute and can be limited under certain conditions, which are also specified in the constitution. The security of the state is the most important reason to limit any right, because if the state collapses, no one's rights can be protected.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B, thinking that governments will punish people for exposing their wrongdoings, but in a true democracy, using speech to hold the government accountable is a protected right, not a crime.

An obligation, or duty, is something a citizen is required to do by law or moral code. Paying respect to national symbols like the flag is a fundamental civic obligation that demonstrates loyalty and patriotism. The other options are rights or voluntary activities; for example, contesting elections is a political right, not a compulsory duty.

Common mistake: Students often confuse rights with obligations, and might choose 'Contesting elections' because it is an important part of citizenship, but it is a right you can choose to exercise, not a duty you must perform.

Legitimacy is the correct answer because it is the belief by the citizens that the government has the right to rule and that its actions are acceptable. When people see the government and its officials as right and proper, they are giving it legitimacy, which allows the government to function without always using force. This acceptance is the foundation of a stable government.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'authority', which is the legal right to exercise power, but 'legitimacy' is the crucial public acceptance that makes that authority valid and acceptable.

The rule of law is a principle which states that everyone is equal before the law and no one is above it. Diplomatic immunity gives foreign diplomats special protection from being arrested or tried in the courts of the country where they are serving. Because these diplomats are not subject to the same laws as ordinary citizens, this immunity is a clear limitation on the principle of the rule of law.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose parliamentary supremacy, thinking immunity limits the parliament's power, but the core principle being limited is equality before the law, not the parliament's ability to make laws.

A federal system of government is one where power is shared between a central government and component units like states or regions. This structure means that many government functions, ministries, and agencies are repeated at both the federal and state levels. For example, you will have a Federal Ministry of Education and also a State Ministry of Education in each state, which leads to this duplication and therefore increases the overall cost of administration.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D because maintaining an army is very expensive, but this is a high cost for almost any country, not a specific reason why federalism itself is costly compared to other systems.

A multi-party system is the correct answer because it allows for the existence of several political parties, each representing different ideologies and interests. This variety provides a platform for a wide range of opinions from various groups in society to be heard and represented in government. In contrast, systems with fewer parties, like one-party or two-party systems, naturally limit the diversity of views that can be officially represented.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Two-party' because it offers a clear choice, but it actually limits representation to only two major viewpoints, excluding many other interests.

In a presidential system of government, there is a separation of powers between the different arms of government. The Executive President, as the head of the executive arm, has the constitutional power to reject a bill passed by the legislature (the legislative arm). This power to refuse to sign a bill into law is known as a veto, and it is a key part of the checks and balances in this system.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Prime Minister' because they confuse the presidential system with the parliamentary system, where the Prime Minister is the head of government.