WAEC Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 284

Supremacy of the Constitution: The Constitution is binding on the Federal and the State Governments. The Central Government as well as the State Governments derives their powers from the Constitution. Also, neither of the two Governments should be in a position to override the provisions of the Constitution related to the powers and status enjoyed by the other.

A centralized government is one in which power or legal authority is exerted or coordinated by a de facto political executive to which federal states, local authorities, and smaller units are considered subject. There is centralization of power in a federal system of government through the federal government to the state governemnt down to the local government.

In presidential system of government, the executive is elected and is not responsible to the legislature, which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. Such dismissal is possible, however, in uncommon cases, often through impeachment. The president is responsible to the electorates  who elected him into office. Unlike the paliamentary system where the head of state is accountable to the parliament who elected him/her into office.

A confederation is a union of sovereign states, united for purposes of common action often in relation to other states. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issues, such as defense, foreign relations, internal trade or currency, with the general government being required to provide support for all its members.

Confederation failed because of the lack of a strong central government. because they left too much power with the states. The central government had no power to levy or collect taxes, no power to regulate trade, and no power to enforce laws.

Nation-state. is a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state especially : a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities.