Topics in Government
Advantages and disadvantages of communism Communism in government Advantages and disadvantages of presidential system of government Features of the presidential system of government Advantages and disadvantages of fascism Fascism explained with examples and its characteristics Advantages and disadvantages of feudalism Feudalism in government Communalism in government Legitimacy and sovereignty in government Political power: Sources of political power Concept of power in government Functions of the executive arm of 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 Functions of the Legislature and Judiciary Scheme of Work for Government, SS1, First Term Scheme of Work for Government, SS1, Second TermAcademic Questions in Government
Which of the following is not a function of government?
A. Government provides all the jobs in the country they govern
B. Government empowers the less privilege and the physically challenged
C. Government provides a support system for the aged
D. Government provides infrastructure for her citizens
E. Government maintains external relations with other countries
F. Government generates revenue for the country they govern
In government, a type of one-party system whereby a single party is officially and legally recognized in a country or state is termed a _____.
A. Hegemonic Party
B. Pre-Dominant Party
C. Dominant Party
D. True Single-State
E. Unique-Ordered State
F. State-Exclusive Party
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the multi-party system?
A. There is an existence of several parties differing in principles and fundamentals.
B. The political parties are legally recognized.
C. It is democratic in nature.
D. Among the various parties, only one dominates the political landscape.
E. Some of the opposition parties can become politically insignificant.
F. It promotes the coalition of governments.
In a two-party system, only 2 political parties are present in countries where they are practised.
A. True
B. False
On February 25, 2023; Nigeria as a country had its presidential election. The party system involved in this election is the _____.
A. Zero Party System
B. One-Party System
C. Two-Party System
D. Multi-Party System
E. APC, PDP and LP Party System
F. Coalition Party System
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
A type of democracy whereby shura is practiced is termed _____ democracy
A. Direct
B. Indirect
C. Constitutional
D. Islamic
E. Authoritarian
F. Participatory
Feudalism was a multifaceted system that profoundly shaped the medieval society, especially, England, France, and other European countries. You can think of a medieval society as one where most people lived in villages, and most of the population were peasants.
The effects of feudalism on land ownership, social classes, and political relationships offer a fascinating glimpse into a time when loyalty and land were intertwined in the fabric of life, impacting the trajectory of European history.
Understanding feudalism is essential for students, teachers, and academicians seeking to grasp the complexities of medieval life and governance.
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Feudalism was a dominant social, economic, and political system in medieval Europe, roughly between the 9th and 15th centuries. It was characterized by a hierarchical structure where land was the primary source of wealth and power. This system not only defined the relationships among different classes, but also shaped the lives of individuals within those classes.
You can think of feudalism as a social, economic and political system in medieval societies, characterized by the identification and sovereign acquisition of landed property, which ultimately becomes a hereditary possession, and an asset to the owners.
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At the heart of feudalism was the concept of land ownership, with the king sitting at the top of the feudal hierarchy. In exchange for loyalty and military service, the king grants large pieces of land, known as fiefs, to nobles, alongside lords.
These lords, as vassals of the king, were bound to serve him in return for protection and the right to govern their territory. You can think of vassals as people who were appointed to manage lands on behalf of the king, thus becoming the 'managers' of the land. For example, a lord might be tasked with raising an army or paying taxes to the crown, and in exchange, he enjoyed the wealth generated from his lands. In this case, they become the lords of the land; thus, tracing the concept of a 'landlord' back to feudalism.
Below the lords were the lesser nobles or knights. Knights were often granted smaller plots of land in exchange for their military service. They were trained warriors who played a crucial role in defending the realm. For instance, during conflicts, a knight could be called upon to provide cavalry support.
The knight's commitment to his lord often included a promise of fidelity, known as fealty, which was a central part of feudal relationships.
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At the bottom of the feudal hierarchy were the peasants and serfs. Peasants worked the land and produced the goods needed for the survival of the entire system.
There is a significant distinction between the peasants and serfs. The peasants could eventually own land, and were free to move on with their lives; while serfs on the contrary, were bound to the land they worked, obligated to serve the lords without the freedom to leave. The serfs therefore had little to no rights, and often faced harsh living conditions.
The relationship between lords and serfs was largely one of protection in exchange for labor. In this regard, the lords provided security and land to work on, while serfs gave their labor and a portion of their harvest in return.
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From the explanation thus far; the feudal system (or feudalism) is considered to have the following characteristics:
It was a dominant social, economic, and political system in medieval Europe, roughly between the 9th and 15th centuries. This system is based on land ownership.
It was a hierarchical means of owning land. Such land ownership serves as a means of power and wealth.
The king sits at the top of the feudal system.
The king grants large pieces of land, known as fiefs, to nobles or lords in exchange for their loyalty and military service.
The lords are vassals of the king. They serve him in return for protection and the right to govern their territory.
The lesser nobles, knights, and other vassals ranked below the lords, and were often granted smaller plots of land.
The knights were considered as the military wings of the feudal system. They are trained warriors, playing a crucial defence role in feudalism.
Through a promise of fidelity termed as fealty, the knight becomes trusted servants to the lords.
If a knight was guilty of treason, the lord might claim his possession by forfeiture.
If a knight or noble dies without heirs, his property is reverted to the lord.
Peasants and serfs ranked at the bottom of the feudal system.
The peasants and serfs worked the land and produced the goods needed for the survival of the entire system.
Peasants could own land, and may enjoy freedom with time. Unfortunately, the serfs cannot own land, but are rather bound to the land they worked; and obligated to serve the lord without the freedom.
The overlords are duty-bound to offer protection to themselves.
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Feudalism didn't only take root in England; it had variations across Europe. In France, for instance, the system was characterized by a decentralized government with many local lords holding significant power over their territories.
In contrast, the Holy Roman Empire exhibited a more complex structure where various states operated independently but were united under imperial authority.
One prominent example of feudalism in practice was in England, particularly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. William the Conqueror established a new feudal order, redistributing lands to his loyal supporters.
Over time, feudalism began to decline due to several factors. The rise of trade and cities during the late middle ages weakened the rigid class hierarchy, as wealth began shifting from land to commerce. Monarchs sought to consolidate power, often undermining the authority of local lords.
Significant events like the 'Black Death' also reduced the population, providing peasants with leverage to negotiate better terms for their labor.
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Amazing facts in Government
The shortest war ever lasted for just 38 minutes. This is the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896
174 world leaders signed the Paris Agreement on Earth Day in 2016 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. This agreement presents the largest number of countries ever to come together to sign anything on a single day. The agreement aims to combat climate change, accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed to strengthen the global climate effort
United States of America is comprised of fifty states and Washington D.C.
The letter 'q' is not present in any of the American states
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
Ecclesiocracy is a form of government whereby religious leaders are recognized as the first citizens of a state.
The religious leaders in ecclesiocracy do not proclaim themselves as a direct instrument of divine revelation concerning laws governing the society.
A typical example of ecclesiocracy is seen in Vatican City where the pope presides as the leader of the state. However, the pope does not claim to receive direct revelation from God concerning civil laws.
The grand Ayatollah of Iran (Ali Khamenei) and president of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir are also considered as instances of leaders in ecclesiocracy.
It is worthy of note to state that the laws and rules governing the land in ecclesiocracy are based on religious beliefs, thus making it somewhat related to theocracy.
One of the duties of the government is to make laws that govern the society. Without laws, some of the rich may oppress the poor. Similarly, some of the highly placed in the society may end up oppressing the weak without being brought to justice.
The absence of government in a society, country, nation, state or community is referred to as anarchy.
An instance of anarchy occurred in Somalia in 1991 after a dictator name Said Barre was overthrown. This made Somalia disintegrate into fractions with local warlords imposing their authority over their land.
Below are some of the functions of government:
It is the role of the government to protect and defend the fundamental human rights of her citizens.
The government maintains law and order through the law enforcement agencies. These will include the police, customs officers and other local securities.
It is the duty of the government to generate revenue. This can be achieved through foreign trade.
It is the responsibility of the government to maintain external relations with other countries. For this reason, the president may visit other countries for business and bilateral trade purposes. Similarly, other presidents may visit your country in this regard.
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.