WAEC Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 206

A filibuster is a political procedure where one or more members of parliament or congress debate over a proposed piece of legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision being made on the proposal. It is sometimes referred to as "talking a bill to death" or "talking out a bill" and is characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body.

The legal term writ of mandamus refers to an order by a court to a lesser government official to perform an act required by law, which he has refused or neglected to do.

A writ or order of mandamus is an extraordinary court order because it is made without the benefit of full judicial process, or before a case has concluded. It may be issued by a court at any time that it is appropriate, but it is usually issued in a case that has already begun.

In the context of Nigerian federalism, exclusive legislative list is the list on which matters over which only the federal authority can legislate are enumerated. This is contained in Part I of the Second Schedule of the 1999 constitution. There are 68 of such matters.

Federalism is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government with regional governments in a single political system. the following are some key features of federalism

• The presence of constituent parts called republics, states, etc.
• The relations between the federation and its entities are governed by the Federal Constitution.
• Foreign policy activities are conducted by the federal government on behalf of all entities.
• The bicameral structure of the federal parliament where one is the organ of the federal government, and the other is representing the interests of the federation (this is a mandatory feature of a federal state). with a Written Constitution
• The regions may issue their own constitution, decrees and other normative-legal acts that will be legal in their territory on a par with the federal constitution and federal laws.
• The subjects of the federation can have their own flags, emblems anthems and all other signs of the state, except state sovereignty.
• The subjects of the federation cannot be independent subjects of international relations.

The following are some basic characteristics of a unitary state

(a) The central government not only has the power to dissolve the subordinate levels it has created, it can equally modify or reduce the powers given to them.

(b) The subordinate levels are created as agents of the center to administer the local areas on behalf of the centre and to also convey the wishes of the people in the local areas to the center where real power lies.

(c) A unitary government may either operate a unicameral or bicameral legislature. For example Ghana and Britain are unitary states, with the former operating a unicameral while the latter a bicameral legislature.