WAEC Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 177

881.

One feature of a Unitary State is

A.

the large size of the country

B.

high level of economic development

C.

absence of constitutional division of power to the units

D.

presence of heterogeneous groups

Correct answer is C

In a unitary system, all powers are centralized in the hands of the central government and that centre is the reservoir of all state powers. In this system, there are no provincial governments and the constitution empowers the central government to legislate, execute and adjudicate with full might.

Simply put, the central government is supreme and autonomous in a unitary government. It does not share its power with the component units

882.

The degree of centralization is high in a

A.

unitary system of government

B.

federal system of government

C.

confederal system of government

D.

representative government

Correct answer is A

In a unitary system, there are no provincial governments and the constitution empowers the central government to legislate, execute and adjudicate with full might. Power is concentrated at the central government

883.

Devolution of power is associated with a

A.

decentralized political system

B.

feudal political system

C.

totalitarian political system

D.

centralized political system

Correct answer is A

Devolution is about the transfer of power by a central government to local or regional administrations. It is a form of administrative decentralization.

884.

Which of the following is a means of establishing representative government

A.

The existence of functional political parties

B.

The existence of para-military groups

C.

Operation of checks and balances

D.

The operation of rule of law

Correct answer is A

Just as we have been taught earlier, representative government is when citizens elect officials to represent their interest. The elected representatives are called public servants. This is usually done through elections. For they to be an election, they have to be political parties who present candidates for different elective positions.

885.

Which of the following is a benefit of the principle of checks and balances?

A.

enables the executive to exercise absolute power

B.

encourages loyalty of the judiciary to the executive

C.

rules out disagreement among the organs of government

D.

prevents domination of one organ of government by another

Correct answer is D

With Checks and balances,  no organ of government will act outside its jurisdiction. It prevents one organ of government becoming too powerful and undermining the position of other arms of government.