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Swali 1 Ripoti
The primary function of the judiciary is to
Maelezo ya Majibu
The primary function of the judiciary is to interpret laws. The judiciary examines the meaning, scope, and application of legislation passed by the legislature and determines how those laws apply to specific cases. This includes deciding disputes between individuals, between individuals and the state, and between different levels or arms of government.
Maintaining law and order is primarily the function of the executive arm (through agencies like the police). Making laws is the function of the legislature (the National Assembly in Nigeria). Enforcing laws is also an executive responsibility. While judicial decisions help shape law through precedent and judicial review, the defining and primary role of the judiciary is interpretation rather than creation or enforcement of law.
In Nigeria, the judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court, acts as the guardian of the constitution by interpreting its provisions and ensuring that the actions of the other arms of government conform to constitutional requirements.
Swali 2 Ripoti
The minister of defence in Hausa pre-colonial political system is
Maelezo ya Majibu
In the Hausa-Fulani pre-colonial emirate system, the emir governed with the assistance of titled officials who held specialised responsibilities. The Madawaki was the commander of the cavalry and served as the equivalent of a minister of defence or war chief. He was responsible for organising and leading the military forces of the emirate, particularly the cavalry, which was the principal fighting arm.
The other titled officials had different roles:
The title Madawaki derives from the Hausa word for horse/cavalry, reflecting the holder's primary function as the military commander.
Swali 3 Ripoti
A type of government defined by equal representation, credible elections and the sanctity of the ballot box is
Maelezo ya Majibu
Democracy is the form of government characterised by equal representation, credible elections, and the sanctity of the ballot box. The word itself comes from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (rule), meaning government by the people.
In a democracy, citizens participate in governance either directly or through elected representatives. The defining features include:
An oligarchy is rule by a small, privileged group, not by the broad citizenry. An aristocracy is government by a hereditary nobility or elite class. Republicanism refers to a system where the head of state is elected rather than a hereditary monarch, but it does not by itself guarantee equal representation or credible elections. Democracy is the system that places all three principles at its core.
Swali 4 Ripoti
When a constitution requires a special organ or a more difficult amendment procedure, such constitution is applicable in which system of government?
Maelezo ya Majibu
A constitution that requires a special organ or a more difficult amendment procedure is known as a rigid constitution, and this type of constitution is most closely associated with a federal system of government.
In a federal system, power is constitutionally divided between the central (federal) government and the component units (states or regions). To protect this division of powers and prevent either level of government from unilaterally altering the constitutional arrangement, the constitution is made rigid - that is, it requires a special, more complex procedure to amend. Typically, this involves:
For example, Nigeria's 1999 Constitution (a federal constitution) requires a two-thirds majority of both the Senate and House of Representatives, plus approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, to pass a constitutional amendment.
Parliamentary and unitary systems may use either rigid or flexible constitutions. A confederation typically operates through treaties rather than a single constitution. The federal system, however, inherently requires rigidity to safeguard the balance of power between levels of government.
Swali 5 Ripoti
Which of the following promotes private ownership of properties?
Maelezo ya Majibu
Capitalism is the political and economic ideology that promotes private ownership of property and the means of production. Under capitalism, individuals and private businesses own resources, factories, land, and other forms of property, and economic decisions are driven primarily by market forces of supply and demand.
Key features of capitalism include:
The other ideologies differ significantly:
Swali 6 Ripoti
The head of the legislative arm at the third tier of government in Nigeria is the
Maelezo ya Majibu
Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government: the federal government (first tier), the state government (second tier), and the local government (third tier). Each tier has executive and legislative arms.
At the local government level, the legislative body is the local government council, composed of elected councillors representing the various wards. The presiding officer of this legislative council is known as the Leader of the council.
This is distinct from the other tiers:
A common mistake is confusing the Chairman (executive head) with the head of the legislative arm. The Leader of the council is the correct title for the person who presides over the legislative deliberations at the local government level.
Swali 7 Ripoti
The Head of the Army in the Yoruba political kingdom is
Maelezo ya Majibu
In the traditional political system of the Yoruba (centred on the Old Oyo Empire), the Are-Ona Kakanfo was the supreme commander of the army. This was one of the most prestigious titles in the empire, and the holder was responsible for leading the Oyo military forces in warfare and defending the empire's territory.
The Are-Ona Kakanfo was required to live outside the capital (Oyo-Ile) to serve as a frontier military leader. He was expected to win every battle; tradition held that if he lost a war, he must either die in battle or take his own life rather than return in defeat.
The Bashorun was the head of the Oyo Mesi (the council of seven kingmakers and chief advisers to the Alaafin), functioning as a prime minister rather than a military leader. The Ogboni was a powerful secret society that served judicial and religious functions. Sango (Shango) is not a political title but the Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning, associated with the third Alaafin of Oyo.
Swali 8 Ripoti
The application of the rule of law can be hindered by
Maelezo ya Majibu
The rule of law is the principle that every person, regardless of status or position, is subject to and accountable under the law. However, there are recognised exceptions that hinder its full application. One of the most significant is diplomatic immunity.
Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law that exempts foreign diplomats and their families from the jurisdiction of the courts in the country where they serve. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), diplomats cannot be arrested, detained, or prosecuted by the host country's legal system, even if they commit offences. This creates a situation where certain individuals are effectively above the domestic law, directly contradicting the principle that the law applies equally to everyone.
The other options do not constitute recognised hindrances to the rule of law:
Swali 9 Ripoti
Political power in a democracy is derived from the
Maelezo ya Majibu
Democracy is a system of government in which political power ultimately resides in and is derived from the people. This is the foundational principle of democratic governance, often expressed in Abraham Lincoln's famous definition: "government of the people, by the people, for the people."
In a democracy, the people exercise their sovereign power through elections, referendums, and other participatory mechanisms. Government officials derive their legitimacy and authority from the consent of the governed. This distinguishes democracy from other systems:
The people remain the source of political power in a democracy because all governmental authority depends on their mandate, expressed through free and fair elections.
Swali 10 Ripoti
A law made by local government and public corporation and empowered by an Act of Parliament is
Maelezo ya Majibu
A law made by local government authorities or public corporations under the authority granted to them by an Act of Parliament is called a bye-law (also spelt by-law).
Bye-laws are a form of delegated or subsidiary legislation. Parliament passes an enabling Act that grants specific bodies - such as local government councils and public corporations - the power to make rules and regulations within their areas of jurisdiction. These bye-laws deal with local matters such as sanitation, market regulations, traffic management, building codes, and other issues that affect the specific locality or organisation.
The other options represent different legal concepts:
The key feature of bye-laws is that they derive their authority from a parent Act of Parliament and operate only within the limited area or domain of the body that made them.
Swali 11 Ripoti
The group that had the best egalitarian traditional political system is the
Maelezo ya Majibu
Among the major Nigerian ethnic groups, the Igbo had the most egalitarian traditional political system. Unlike the centralised, hierarchical systems of the Yoruba (with the Oba and chiefs) or the Hausa-Fulani (with the Emir and a feudal structure), the Igbo operated a largely decentralised and republican system in which no single individual held supreme authority over the community.
In the traditional Igbo political system, governance was based on collective decision-making through institutions such as the council of elders, the age-grade system, the Oha (village assembly), and title societies like the Ozo. Every adult male could participate in the village assembly, and decisions were typically reached through consensus rather than imposed by a ruler. This structure meant that power was widely distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of a king or chief.
The Yoruba political system, centred on the Oba and the Oyo Mesi, was hierarchical though it had checks on royal power. The Edo system (Benin Kingdom) was a highly centralised monarchy under the Oba of Benin. The Hausa-Fulani emirate system was the most centralised, with the Emir exercising considerable political, judicial, and religious authority. The Igbo system stands out for its emphasis on equality and popular participation.
Swali 12 Ripoti
The party system that was operational in Nigeria under the aborted Third Republic was the
Maelezo ya Majibu
Nigeria's aborted Third Republic (1992-1993) operated under a two-party system. General Ibrahim Babangida's military administration created exactly two political parties for the transition programme: the Social Democratic Party (SDP), described as "a little to the left," and the National Republican Convention (NRC), described as "a little to the right."
This was a unique arrangement in Nigerian political history because both parties were created by the military government rather than emerging organically from the political landscape. The government wrote their constitutions, provided their initial funding, built their secretariats, and defined their ideological orientations. All other political associations were banned, ensuring that only these two parties could participate in the transition elections.
The Third Republic is described as "aborted" because the process never reached completion. The presidential election held on 12 June 1993, which was widely believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola of the SDP, was annulled by the Babangida administration, effectively killing the transition to civilian rule.
This is distinct from the Second Republic (1979-1983), which operated a multi-party system with five registered parties, and the Fourth Republic (1999-present), which also operates a multi-party system.
Swali 13 Ripoti
A confederal system of governance is characterised by
Maelezo ya Majibu
A confederal system of governance is characterised by independent regional governments. In a confederation (also called a confederacy), the component states or regions retain their sovereignty and independence, and the central authority is relatively weak. Power flows from the component states to the centre, not the other way around.
In a confederation, the central government typically handles only matters that the member states collectively agree to delegate to it, such as defence or foreign affairs, and even then its authority depends on the consent and cooperation of the member states. Each member state retains the right to withdraw from the confederation and can override or ignore decisions of the central body. Historical examples include the early United States under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and the Confederate States of America (1861-1865).
The other options describe different systems. A strong central authority is the hallmark of a unitary system, not a confederation. Unitary state control, where all power resides in a single central government, is the direct opposite of confederalism. Direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than through representatives, is a form of governance unrelated to the distribution of power between central and regional governments.
Swali 14 Ripoti
The maintenance of peace, order and cleanliness in Igbo society was a function of
Maelezo ya Majibu
In the traditional Igbo political system, the maintenance of peace, order, and cleanliness in the community was the responsibility of the age grades.
Age grades (also called age groups or age sets) are organisations of people born within a certain range of years who are grouped together and assigned specific communal responsibilities. In Igbo society, age grades performed essential civic duties including:
While other institutions also played important roles in Igbo governance, their functions were different:
Age grades were effectively the executive arm of Igbo traditional governance, carrying out the practical tasks needed to maintain community life.
Swali 15 Ripoti
One of the key characteristics of the civil service is
Maelezo ya Majibu
One of the key characteristics of the civil service is anonymity. This principle means that civil servants work behind the scenes and are not publicly identified with the policies or decisions of the government. The minister or political head takes public credit or blame for the actions of the ministry, while the civil servants who advise and implement those policies remain anonymous.
Anonymity serves several important purposes. It protects civil servants from political backlash, enabling them to give frank and impartial advice without fear of public criticism. It also supports the principle of ministerial responsibility, under which the minister is accountable to the legislature and the public for everything that happens in the ministry.
Mediocrity, corruption, and favouritism are all negative traits that contradict the ideals of a professional civil service. The civil service is expected to operate on principles of merit, integrity, impartiality, neutrality, and anonymity. These principles are what distinguish a professional bureaucracy from a patronage-based system.
Swali 16 Ripoti
The Nigerian Supreme Court became the highest court of appeal in the
Maelezo ya Majibu
The Nigerian Supreme Court became the highest court of appeal under the 1963 Republican Constitution. Before this, when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the country remained a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as head of state, represented by a Governor-General. Under the 1960 Independence Constitution, the final court of appeal was still the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
When Nigeria became a republic on 1 October 1963, the 1963 Constitution severed this remaining link with the British judicial system. The Supreme Court of Nigeria was elevated to become the final court of appeal, meaning that all legal disputes were resolved within Nigeria's own judicial system without any further recourse to a British court.
This was a significant step in Nigeria's sovereignty, as it meant the country's judiciary was fully independent. The 1954 Constitution (Lyttleton) and the 1960 Constitution did not achieve this, and there was no 1945 constitution in Nigerian constitutional history - the constitution in that era was the Richards Constitution of 1946.
Swali 17 Ripoti
The main objectives of African Union is to
Maelezo ya Majibu
The African Union (AU), which replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2002, was established with the central objective of promoting co-operation and economic development among its member states. The AU's Constitutive Act sets out goals that include accelerating political and socio-economic integration of the continent, promoting peace, security, and stability, promoting sustainable development, and fostering international cooperation.
The other options are either inaccurate or describe other organisations entirely. Regulating business transactions within the international community is more aligned with organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Overseeing the free flow of political engagement between Africa and developed nations does not accurately describe the AU's mandate - the AU focuses on intra-African cooperation. Settling disputes among South East Asian countries is the concern of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), not the African Union.
The AU currently has 55 member states encompassing the entire African continent and works toward continental unity, collective development, and the resolution of African challenges by Africans themselves.
Swali 18 Ripoti
OMBUDSMAN is usually used to represent
Maelezo ya Majibu
The term Ombudsman originates from Scandinavian governance and refers to an independent official appointed to investigate citizens' complaints against government agencies, departments, or officials. The Ombudsman acts as a mediator between the public and the government, ensuring that administrative actions are fair and just.
In Nigeria, the institution that performs this function is the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), established in 1975 under Decree No. 31. The PCC receives and investigates complaints from members of the public about the actions or inactions of government ministries, departments, agencies, and their officials. It has the power to investigate complaints, summon witnesses, and recommend remedies, though it cannot enforce its findings through the courts.
The Code of Conduct Bureau deals with the assets declarations and ethical conduct of public officers, not public complaints. An Agency for Human Rights focuses broadly on human rights protection. SERVICOM (Service Compact with All Nigerians) is a service delivery initiative, not a complaints-investigation body. The Public Complaints Commission is the recognised Nigerian equivalent of the Ombudsman.
Swali 19 Ripoti
The fusion of executive and legislative powers is a core feature of
Maelezo ya Majibu
The fusion of executive and legislative powers is a defining feature of the parliamentary system of government. In this system, the executive branch (the Prime Minister and the Cabinet) is drawn from and remains part of the legislature (Parliament). The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the majority party in the legislature and must maintain the confidence of the legislative body to remain in power.
This means that the same group of people both make laws (legislative function) and implement them (executive function), creating a fusion rather than a separation of powers. Key features of the parliamentary system include:
By contrast, in a presidential system, there is a clear separation of powers between the executive (President) and the legislature - the President is not a member of the legislature and is elected independently. Autocracy and monarchy describe forms of rule, not the structural relationship between executive and legislative branches.
Swali 20 Ripoti
Census controversy was one of the factors that contributed to the military intervention in
Maelezo ya Majibu
The census controversy of 1962-1963 was one of the major political crises that contributed to the first military intervention in Nigeria in 1966. The 1962 census results were rejected amid allegations of inflation by the regions, and the 1963 recount produced figures that were equally disputed, deepening distrust between Nigeria's regions.
The census crisis combined with other factors, including the Western Region crisis of 1962 (the Action Group crisis), the controversial 1964 federal elections, and the disputed 1965 Western Region elections, created a climate of political instability. These cumulative crises led to the military coup of January 15, 1966, when a group of young military officers overthrew the civilian government of the First Republic.
The year 1967 saw the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War, not a military coup. The interventions of 1975 (Murtala Mohammed coup) and 1985 (Babangida coup) were military-to-military coups driven by different factors, not by the census controversy of the early 1960s.
Swali 21 Ripoti
The essence of the doctrine of separation of powers is to prevent
Maelezo ya Majibu
The doctrine of separation of powers divides governmental authority among three distinct branches: the legislature (which makes laws), the executive (which implements laws), and the judiciary (which interprets laws). Each branch operates independently within its sphere, and no single branch is permitted to exercise the powers belonging to another.
The central purpose of this arrangement is to prevent the abuse of powers. When all governmental power is concentrated in one person or body, there is a high risk of tyranny and arbitrary rule. By distributing powers across three branches and establishing a system of checks and balances, the doctrine ensures that each branch can restrain the others from exceeding their constitutional authority.
Independence of the judiciary is a result of separation of powers, not its core purpose. Financial independence is not directly addressed by the doctrine. "Friction of powers" is not a recognised political concept in this context. The overarching goal is safeguarding citizens from the concentration and misuse of governmental power.
Swali 22 Ripoti
An important characteristic of state is
Maelezo ya Majibu
Sovereignty is one of the most important characteristics of a state. It refers to the supreme and absolute authority of the state to govern itself without external interference and to make and enforce laws within its territory. A political entity cannot be considered a state in the full sense without possessing sovereignty.
The four essential features of a state, as recognised in political science, are: population, territory, government, and sovereignty. Without sovereignty, a territory may be a colony, protectorate, or dependent territory, but it does not qualify as a fully independent state.
A strong military is a resource that some states possess, but it is not a defining characteristic of statehood; many recognised states have small or no militaries. A treasury (financial resources) is useful for governance but is not a requirement for a territory to be called a state. Homogeneous culture is not a feature of most modern states, many of which are multi-ethnic and multi-cultural.
Swali 23 Ripoti
The institution of government that interprets laws made by the legislature is
Maelezo ya Majibu
The institution of government responsible for interpreting laws made by the legislature is the judiciary. Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the three arms of government have distinct functions:
The judiciary, through its system of courts, determines the meaning and application of laws passed by the legislature. It resolves conflicts between individuals, between individuals and the state, and between different levels of government. In Nigeria, the judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court, with the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, State High Courts, and other specialised courts beneath it.
The judiciary also exercises the power of judicial review, which allows courts to examine whether laws or executive actions are consistent with the constitution and to declare them void if they are not.
Senators are individual members of the upper legislative chamber (the Senate) - they are part of the legislature, not a separate institution. They participate in law-making, not law interpretation.
Swali 24 Ripoti
The highest court in the Hausa-Fulani political system was presided by
Maelezo ya Majibu
In the pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani political system, the Emir was the supreme authority in the emirate. He served as the political, religious, and judicial head. As the highest judicial authority, the Emir presided over the Emir's Court, which was the highest court of appeal in the emirate system.
The judicial hierarchy in the Hausa-Fulani system worked as follows:
The other titles had different roles in the system:
Swali 25 Ripoti
Confederalism could be regarded as
Maelezo ya Majibu
A confederation (confederalism) is a system of government in which sovereign, independent states come together and delegate limited powers to a central authority while retaining most of their powers and sovereignty. This arrangement results in a weak centre and strong components.
In a confederation:
This contrasts with other systems on the spectrum of power distribution:
Historical examples of confederations include the early United States under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and the Senegambia Confederation (1982-1989).
Swali 26 Ripoti
The British company granted the charter to rule and administer the northern area before direct colonial rule was known as
Maelezo ya Majibu
Before the establishment of direct British colonial rule in Nigeria, the British government used chartered companies to administer and trade in various parts of the territory. The company that was granted the royal charter to govern the northern area of present-day Nigeria was the Royal Niger Company.
The Royal Niger Company was originally established as the United African Company by Sir George Taubman Goldie in 1879 and later reorganised. In 1886, it received a royal charter from the British Crown, giving it the authority to administer the territories along the Niger River and its tributaries, particularly the northern regions. The company exercised governmental powers including the collection of taxes, administration of justice, and making of treaties with local rulers.
In 1900, the British government revoked the company's charter and assumed direct control, establishing the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria under Sir Frederick Lugard. The other options presented are fictitious company names that did not exist in Nigerian colonial history.
Swali 27 Ripoti
The NPN presidential candidate in the Second Republic was
Maelezo ya Majibu
The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was one of the major political parties in Nigeria's Second Republic (1979-1983). Its presidential candidate was Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who won the 1979 presidential election and became the first executive President of Nigeria under the 1979 Constitution.
Shehu Shagari won a contested election against candidates from other major parties. He secured victory in a result that was controversially upheld by the Supreme Court, particularly regarding whether he had met the constitutional requirement of winning at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the then 19 states.
The other candidates mentioned ran under different parties:
Swali 28 Ripoti
Which of the following is NOT a duty of citizens in a state?
Maelezo ya Majibu
Spying on the state is NOT a duty of citizens. In fact, espionage (spying) against one's own country is a criminal offence that can amount to treason. A citizen who spies on the state by passing classified information to foreign governments or hostile entities undermines national security and sovereignty.
The recognised duties of citizens in a state include:
Other standard duties of citizens include loyalty to the state, respect for the national flag and anthem, obedience to the laws of the land, readiness to defend the country when called upon, and respect for the rights and dignity of fellow citizens. All of these strengthen the state, whereas spying against the state actively works to undermine it.
Swali 29 Ripoti
The age qualifications of members of the Senate and House of Representatives under the 1979 constitution were
Maelezo ya Majibu
Under the 1979 Nigerian Constitution, the minimum age qualifications for members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were 30 and 21 years respectively.
The 1979 Constitution established a bicameral legislature (the National Assembly) consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). To be eligible for election to the Senate, a person had to be at least 30 years old. To be eligible for election to the House of Representatives, a person had to be at least 21 years old.
The age difference reflects the traditional view that the Senate, as the upper chamber, requires greater maturity and experience from its members. This pattern is common in bicameral legislatures around the world - for example, the United States also sets a higher age requirement for senators (30 years) than for members of the House of Representatives (25 years).
The other options present incorrect pairings. "35 and 30 years" overstates both requirements. "30 and 35 years" reverses the expected order (the Senate requires the higher age, not the House of Representatives). "21 and 30 years respectively" also reverses the correct order.
Swali 30 Ripoti
Public corporations are entities
Maelezo ya Majibu
Public corporations are entities created by the state. They are government-owned enterprises established through an act of parliament, a decree, or an executive order to provide essential services to the public. Examples include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Key characteristics of public corporations include: they are owned by the government, they are established by law (statute or decree), they have a separate legal identity from the government, they are managed by a board of directors appointed by the government, and they are funded primarily from public revenue, though they may also generate their own income.
The other options are inaccurate. "Set up for production of goods" is too narrow - public corporations provide both goods and services (such as electricity, water, and transportation). "Created by an edict" is partially correct (some were created by military decrees), but this is not the defining characteristic and is too restrictive - many public corporations are created by acts of parliament. "Established by public/private partnership" describes a different arrangement - public-private partnerships involve shared ownership and management between government and private entities, which is distinct from a public corporation that is wholly state-owned.
Swali 31 Ripoti
The elective principle was first introduced under
Maelezo ya Majibu
The elective principle was first introduced in Nigeria under the Clifford Constitution of 1922. Before this constitution, all members of the Legislative Council were either officials or nominated by the Governor. The Clifford Constitution broke new ground by allowing a limited number of Nigerians to be elected to the Legislative Council for the first time.
Specifically, the Clifford Constitution provided for four elected African members: three representing Lagos and one representing Calabar. Only adult males who earned a minimum annual income of 100 pounds were eligible to vote, making the franchise highly restrictive. Despite these limitations, it was a significant milestone because it introduced the concept of elective representation into Nigerian governance.
The introduction of the elective principle also stimulated the formation of political parties in Nigeria, notably Herbert Macaulay's Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923, which was formed specifically to contest the elections made possible by the Clifford Constitution.
The Richards Constitution (1946) introduced regionalism. The Macpherson Constitution (1951) expanded the elective principle with wider suffrage. The Lyttleton Constitution (1954) introduced federalism. None of these constitutions first introduced the elective principle.
Swali 32 Ripoti
The authority of a leader derived from a constitution is
Maelezo ya Majibu
The sociologist Max Weber classified authority into three types: traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational. Authority derived from a constitution falls under legal-rational authority.
Legal-rational authority rests on established laws, rules, and procedures rather than on the personal qualities of a leader or inherited custom. A leader who governs under a constitution draws legitimacy from the legal framework that defines the office, its powers, and its limitations. The authority belongs to the office, not to the individual who occupies it.
Charismatic authority derives from the exceptional personal qualities, heroism, or persuasive ability of a leader. Traditional authority is based on long-standing customs, hereditary succession, and established practices (as seen in monarchies and chieftaincies). Delegated authority refers to powers transferred from a superior body to a subordinate one and does not describe a type of legitimacy in Weber's classification.
Constitutional governance is the clearest example of legal-rational authority, where leaders are bound by codified rules and can be held accountable through legal processes.
Swali 33 Ripoti
Sovereignty refers to the
Maelezo ya Majibu
Sovereignty refers to the supreme power and authority of a state over its own affairs. It means that a state has the final and absolute authority to make and enforce laws within its territory (internal sovereignty) and to conduct its relations with other states without being subject to the control of any external power (external sovereignty).
This concept is central to the definition of a modern state. Internal sovereignty means the state has the highest authority over all individuals and institutions within its borders. External sovereignty means the state is independent and equal in status to other states in the international community, free from external interference in its domestic affairs.
The option referring to using force to enforce obedience describes coercion, which is only one instrument a sovereign state may use, not the definition of sovereignty itself. Negotiating with other states describes diplomacy, a function of sovereignty but not its meaning. Governing other nations describes imperialism or colonialism, which is the opposite of respecting other states' sovereignty.
Swali 34 Ripoti
A type of constitution where the procedure for its amendment is enshrined in it is a
Maelezo ya Majibu
A rigid constitution is one that has a special, formal amendment procedure explicitly laid down within the constitution itself. This procedure typically requires more than a simple majority of the legislature - it may demand a two-thirds or three-quarters supermajority, approval by a specified number of state legislatures, or a national referendum before any change can take effect.
The defining feature of a rigid constitution is that the process for altering it is deliberately made difficult and is prescribed within the document. The Nigerian Constitution, for example, is rigid: Section 9 specifies that amendments require approval by a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the National Assembly and ratification by at least two-thirds of all state Houses of Assembly.
A flexible constitution, by contrast, can be amended through the ordinary legislative process - no special procedure is required. An unwritten constitution is not codified in a single document and typically relies on conventions, statutes, and judicial precedents. A democratic constitution relates to the system of government rather than to the amendment procedure.
When a question refers to amendment procedures being "enshrined" in the constitution, it points directly to a rigid constitution, because that formality and specificity is what distinguishes it from other types.
Swali 35 Ripoti
A remarkable feature of the Republican Constitution was the
Maelezo ya Majibu
The Nigerian Republican Constitution of 1963 replaced the Independence Constitution of 1960. The most remarkable feature of the 1963 constitution was that the Queen of England ceased to be the Head of State of Nigeria.
Under the 1960 Independence Constitution, Nigeria was a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) as the formal Head of State, represented locally by a Governor-General (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe). The Prime Minister (Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) served as the Head of Government.
When the Republican Constitution took effect on 1 October 1963, Nigeria became a republic. The position of Governor-General was replaced by a ceremonial President (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first President), while the Prime Minister remained the Head of Government. The Supreme Court of Nigeria replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final court of appeal.
The option stating that the president was the head of government is incorrect because the president under the 1963 constitution was a ceremonial head of state, not the head of government. The Prime Minister continued to exercise executive authority. The defining change was the severance of the formal constitutional link to the British Crown.
Swali 36 Ripoti
A system in which more than two political parties contest for an election is referred to as
Maelezo ya Majibu
A multi-party system is a political system in which more than two political parties have a realistic chance of contesting and winning elections, either independently or as part of a coalition. In such a system, multiple parties compete for political power, and no single party is guaranteed dominance.
Nigeria operates a multi-party system. Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has had numerous registered political parties contesting elections at various levels - federal, state, and local government.
The other options describe different party systems. A one-party system is one in which only a single political party is legally permitted to hold power (as in some authoritarian states). A two-party system is one in which only two major parties dominate the political landscape (such as the United States with the Democrats and Republicans). A zero-party system is not a recognised classification in standard political science - every political system has at least the concept of organised political participation.
The key feature that defines a multi-party system is the presence of more than two viable political parties competing in elections, which is exactly what the question describes.
Swali 37 Ripoti
The African Union came into existence in 2002 when it replaced the
Maelezo ya Majibu
The African Union (AU) came into existence on July 9, 2002, replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU had been established in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the primary aims of promoting unity and solidarity among African states, eradicating colonialism, and defending the sovereignty of its member states.
By the late 1990s, African leaders recognised the need for a more effective continental body that could address the challenges of the post-Cold War era, including conflict resolution, economic integration, and governance. The Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted in 2000 at the Lome Summit (Togo) and came into force in 2001. The AU was formally launched in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a financial institution that continues to exist alongside the AU. "Federation of African Unity" and "Organisation of African Community" are not real organisations. The OAU is the only body that the AU replaced.
Swali 38 Ripoti
A community that cooperates and harnesses its resources together is said to be practising
Maelezo ya Majibu
Communalism is a traditional system of social organisation in which members of a community cooperate, pool their resources, and work together for the common good of the group. Under communalism, land and other productive resources are often held collectively, and the fruits of communal labour are shared among community members.
This system was widely practised in pre-colonial African societies, where the extended family or village community worked together on farming, building, and other tasks. The emphasis is on collective ownership, mutual aid, and shared responsibility rather than individual accumulation of wealth.
The other options describe different economic or political ideologies:
The distinguishing feature of communalism is its voluntary, community-level cooperation without state control - unlike communism or socialism, which operate at the national or state level.
Swali 39 Ripoti
A major argument against the First Republic parties is
Maelezo ya Majibu
The most prominent criticism of the political parties of Nigeria's First Republic (1960-1966) is that they were rooted in regional sentiment rather than national ideology. Each major party drew its support base from a particular ethnic group and geographic region:
This ethnic and regional character meant that the parties pursued sectional interests rather than truly national programmes, deepening divisions and contributing to the political instability that ultimately led to the collapse of the First Republic.
While corrupt practices existed, and funding and ideological weakness were also issues, the defining and most frequently cited criticism of First Republic parties is their deep-seated regionalism and ethnic loyalty.
Swali 40 Ripoti
A proposal discussed in the parliament and passed for signing to become a law is a
Maelezo ya Majibu
A bill is a proposed piece of legislation that is formally introduced, discussed, and debated in parliament. The process of turning a bill into law typically follows these stages:
After the bill is passed by parliament and signed by the executive, it becomes an Act (a law). Until it receives that signature, it remains a bill. The question describes this exact process: a proposal discussed in parliament and passed, awaiting signing to become law.
A decree is legislation made by a military head of state, and an edict is issued by a state military governor. Neither involves parliamentary discussion or passage.
Je, ungependa kuendelea na hatua hii?