Topics in Government
Facts on Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy One-party system explained with its advantages and disadvantages What is Democracy? Definitions of Democracy Types of Government Arms of Government: Functions of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary Scheme of Work for Government, SS1, First Term Scheme of Work for Government, SS1, Second Term Scheme of Work for Government, SS1, Third Term Concept, Advantages and Disadvantages of Multi-Party System Concept, Advantages and Disadvantages of Two-Party System What are pressure groups? Types of pressure group Characteristics of Pressure Group Types of Constitution Scope of Government Characteristics of Government Importance of Government One-party system explained with its types and characteristics Multi-party system explained with its characteristics Party System: Zero Party System Two-Party System explained with its CharacteristicsAcademic Questions in Government
The following countries practice a zero party system except _____.
A. Cambodia
B. Vatican City
C. Bahrain
D. Saudi Arabia
E. Oman
F. Kuwait
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the two-party system?
A. It is democratic in nature
B. There isn't a third party
C. The two parties are always dominant in the political terrain
D. The president must emerge from one of both parties
E. It encourages freedom of expression at the press
F. It presents a choice of candidates to the people
In a two-party system, only 2 political parties are present in countries where they are practised.
A. True
B. False
A type of democracy whereby shura is practiced is termed _____ democracy
A. Direct
B. Indirect
C. Constitutional
D. Islamic
E. Authoritarian
F. Participatory
A type of democracy whereby the people vote a bill into law is termed _____ democracy
A. Direct
B. Indirect
C. Constitutional
D. Islamic
E. Authoritarian
F. Participatory
In democracy, every citizen has got the right to vote and be vote for. Also, the principle one man one vote in this regard refers to which characteristic of democracy?
A. Separation of power
B. Freedom of expression
C. Constitutional supremacy
D. Rule of Law
E. Political equality
F. Popular sovereignty
Democracy is defined as a government formed by the consent of the governed.
A. True
B. False
Which of the following is not a type of democracy?
A. Peripheral democracy
B. Direct democracy
C. Islamic democracy
D. Representative democracy
E. Participatory democracy
F. Authoritarian democracy
The arms of government (also referred to as organs of government or branches of government) are:
These three arms of government serves as a separation of power. The term 'separation of power' implies that they carry out their distinct (separate) functions and responsibilities in accordance with the nation's constitution.
Please read more on constitution here.
Below are explanations on the three arms of government:
The president, who is the number one citizen of a country and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the head of the executive arm of government. It is the responsibility of the executive to enforce or execute the law.
Please read on the responsibilities, duties and obligations of a citizen here.
The president is always expected to have a cabinet consisting of various members whom he works with. For instance, the president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (2019) will have a cabinet that will include the followings:
Nigerian Port Authourity (NPA)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and so on.
You can read on the various Nigerian acronyms and their meanings here.
In a democratic system of government, the president, state governors and local government chairmen must win the majority of votes during election before they can assume their respective offices as executive officers.
Please read on democracy and its characteristics here.
In a country like Nigeria, an elected president can serve a maximum of eight years (two terms). The vice president is simultaneously elected with the president with regards to their political party during the electoral process. Therefore, the vice president is never appointed in a democratic system of government.
Please read on the types of democracy here.
When the president leaves the country, the vice president automatically serves in the capacity of the president until the president returns.
The legislature is a group of elected persons who are required to make law.
In Nigeria, the legislature consist of the bicameral national assembly which comprises:
In Nigeria, three members of each state comprises the senator for that respective state with one member from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). For this reason, the Nigerian senate comprises of 109 senators (since it has 36 states excluding the FCT).
Note: There are 36 states in Nigeria as at 2019. Three senators represents each of their constituent state. Meanwhile, the house of representative is comprised of 360 members.
Please read on the Nigerian national symbols here.
The senate, house of representative or the presidency can initiate a bill. The point to remember is: 'a bill must pass through both houses before it can become a law'.
The head of the senate is referred to as the senate president while that of the house of representative is referred to as the speaker. Both must be elected within their respective houses alongside their deputies.
Meanwhile, understand that an impeachment proceedings can only be initiated by the lower house (house of representatives). Consequently, the senate will not be able to impeach any federal officer (including the president) unless the house of representative put forward the impeachment charges.
Conversely, the house of representative cannot impeach, neither do they have any say in the decision to remove an executive from office. It is the responsibility of the senate to try, convict, and remove the president or other impeachable federal officers.
It is the responsibility of the house to suggest, debate on and pass bills which may become a law.
For a bill to be passed into law, it must be approved by a minimum of 2/3rd majority from both the senate and house of representative.
Please read on the functions of the executive, legislative and judiciary here.
The judiciary is an independent arm of government whose power is enforced in the courts.
Like the executive and legislature, they function under the guidance of the constitution.
According to the hierarchies, the courts comprising the judiciary include:
The Chief Justice (CJ) is the head of the supreme court. In Nigeria, the chief justice is referred to as the CJN (Chief Justice of Nigeria).
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Amazing facts in Government
White House in Washington has 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms while Buckingham Palace in London has 775 rooms, including 78 bathrooms
Three United States presidents; John Adams (2nd US president), Thomas Jefferson (3rd US president), and James Monroe (5th US president) died on the 4th of July.
Coincidentally, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson also died the same year, and that's 1826.
Abraham Lincoln, the great human emancipator, freedom fighter and 16th American president was popular for the saying:
Government of the people, by the people and for the people
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America was a professional wrestler before he assumed the office of the American President. Interestingly, he was only defeated once in his wrestling career
NOTABLE POINTS IN Government
Government can be defined under the following headings:
1. As an institution of a state.
Government is defined as an institution, agency, machinery or instrument that is established to manage the affairs of general welfare of the people making up a state or country
2. As a process or as an act of governing.
Government is defined as the processes and methods involved in the formulation, administration and implementation of public policies from a procedure which had been specifically spelt out in the constitution of a country or state
3. As an academic field of study.
Government is defined as the study of institutions, theories, ideas, values and doctrines as relating to the acquisition and use of political power for the welfare of the people
The End Sars is considered a pressure group in Nigeria. It campaigned in the interest of Nigerian youths, thus forcing the Nigerian government into scrapping the Special Anti-Robbery Squard (SARS) who had constantly brutalized Nigerians, especially the youths; through extortion, indiscriminate shootings, threats and other violent conducts.
Unfortunately, some Nigerian youths paid the ultimate price with their lives at the Lekki tollgate massacre. This happened on the 20th day of October, 2020.
Burna Boy, a Nigerian musician made a song titled '20 : 10 : 20' in this regard.
The organs of government (also referred to as arms of government or branches of government) are:
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
These three arms of government serves as a separation of power.
Separation of Power implies that they carry out their distinct (separate) functions and responsibilities in accordance to the nation's constitution.
The president (who is number one citizen of a country and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) is the head of the executive arm of government. It is the responsibility of the executive to enforce or execute the law.
The legislature is a group of elected persons who are required to make law.
In Nigeria, the legislature consist of the bicameral national assembly which are:
The upper house or chamber (Senate)
The lower house or chamber (House of Representative)
The judiciary is an independent arm of government whose power is enforced in the courts.
Like the executive and legislature, they function under the guidance of the constitution.
Below are some functions of the executive arm of government:
They ensure the security of the citizens in a country.
The executive cannot pass laws into the constitution. Instead, they can forward bills to the legislature (or parliament) which will deliberate upon it. (Think of 'bill' as a proposal to be made into law; which will be submitted to the parliament in the form of a draft act).
It is the president's responsibility to provide quality healthcare system, education, good roads (transport system), power, labour and finance through his ministers. For instance, the minister of agriculture oversees the affairs of agriculture in a nation. The ministers may also be accountable to the national assembly with regards to how they go about their ministries.
They bring about maintenance of law and order in a country through the National Security Agencies (NSA) like the police, army, navy and air force.
They prepare and execute the nation’s budget.
The president approves the law into the constitution.
Plesse read more on the functions of executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government here
No one is above the constitution, even the president or prime minister.
The constitution is the supreme law in a country, nation or state.
The constitution specifies how the nation or state should be governed.
The constitution gives power to the different organs of government; (that is, the executive, judiciary and legislature).
Juxtaposing the above points, below is a definition for the term constitution:
Constitution is a supreme law that specifies the government of a nation, the distribution of powers to the different organs of government within that nation and the fundamental rights of all her citizens.
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