JAMB Government 2009

A: Nigeria Police Council

The President appoints the Inspector-General of Police on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council. The Police Service Commission handles appointments to other police offices; it does not appoint the Inspector-General.

C: constitution

Section 85 of the 1979 Constitution fixed each state House of Assembly at three times the number of seats allocated to that state in the federal House of Representatives. The electoral commission administered elections within that constitutional framework.

D: establishment of the Federal Character Commission

The Federal Character Commission promotes equitable representation of states and ethnic groups in federal institutions. Its purpose includes preventing domination of public positions by a few groups.

D: federal government

An exclusive legislative list assigns subjects to the federal legislature alone. This differs from a concurrent list, on which both federal and state legislatures may have law-making authority.

C: Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari's military government adopted countertrade arrangements, exchanging Nigerian exports for imported goods rather than relying entirely on cash payment. Babangida's government subsequently reviewed those agreements.

B: Mauritania

In the 2009 context of this question, Mauritania had already withdrawn from ECOWAS in December 2000. The question concerns that historical membership position.

C: five

The UN Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ten additional members are elected for fixed terms.

D: ease of amendment

A flexible constitution can be amended through a comparatively simple legislative procedure. This makes adaptation easier, although it does not automatically ensure constitutional stability.

A: ability to impose one's will upon others

Political power is the capacity to influence behaviour or impose a will despite resistance. Authority is a related concept involving a recognized right to exercise power.

A: royal proclamation

In the British parliamentary system, prorogation formally ends a parliamentary session under the Crown's authority. It differs from a final reading of a bill or the removal of an office-holder.

D: universal suffrage

Universal suffrage extends electoral participation to all citizens who meet general eligibility requirements rather than restricting it to a privileged class. Eligibility rules still apply to voters and candidates.

B: political socialization

Political socialization is the process through which people learn political beliefs, values and expectations. Political culture describes the shared orientations that this learning helps transmit.

A: prime minister and members of the parliament

In a parliamentary cabinet system, the prime minister is normally a member of parliament alongside other legislators. Juries belong to the judicial process and do not form the legislature.

A: constituted by the will of the majority of the citizens

Democratic government derives authority from the people, commonly expressed through majority choice. Constitutional democracy also protects rights and limits what a majority may do.

B: communism

Communism is associated with common ownership of productive property. Capitalism emphasizes private ownership, while mercantilism concerns policies for national commercial advantage.

C: Public Complaints Commission

The Public Complaints Commission investigates complaints about maladministration by public authorities and officials. It reports findings and recommendations through its statutory complaints process.

A: constitutionalism

Constitutionalism requires government to operate within constitutional rules and limits. Public authority must respect the fundamental law rather than relying on unrestricted personal power.

B: cost effectiveness

A unitary structure can reduce duplication of institutions and administrative costs across levels of government. This potential cost advantage depends on implementation and does not imply that every unitary state is cheaper.

A: Registration of political parties

In Nigeria, INEC registers political parties under the constitutional framework. It does not create the parties itself, establish electoral courts or inaugurate parliament.

A: totalitarianism

Fascism favours authoritarian concentration of power and extensive control over political and social life. These features are associated with totalitarianism rather than liberalism.

B: the use of veto power

A veto allows the executive to withhold assent to a bill and require further legislative consideration. Constitutional rules may permit the legislature to override that refusal.

A: nationalism

Nationalism involves identification with a nation and consciousness of shared belonging. Integration describes bringing groups together, while emancipation means release from domination.

D: independence

Judicial independence protects decision-making from improper pressure and is central to impartial justice. Resources and discipline matter, but they do not substitute for freedom from interference.

D: foreign policy

Foreign policy comprises the principles, goals and decisions guiding a country's relations with other countries and international bodies. It is broader than any single economic or engagement policy.

D: multilateral diplomacy

UN membership allows Nigeria to conduct diplomacy with many states through a common institution. That is multilateral diplomacy, distinct from bilateral dealings between two countries.

C: Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement provided a platform for independent choices outside automatic Cold War bloc alignment. Non-alignment did not require neutrality on every conflict or silence on international issues.