CONTENT

1. Basic Concepts in Government

2. Forms of Government
3. Arms of Government
4. Structures of Governance
5. Systems of Government
6. Political Ideologies
7. Constitution
8. Political Parties and Party Systems
9. Pressure Groups
10. Principles of Democratic Government
11. Process of Legislation
12. Public Opinion
13. The Civil Service
14. Citizenship
15. The Electoral Process
16. Constitutional Development in Nigeria
17. Imperialist Penetration
18. Institutions of Government in the Post-Independence
19. Local Government
20. Political Parties and Party Politics in Post-Independence Nigeria
21. Post-Independence Constitutions
22. Pre-Colonial Polities
23. Process of Decolonization
24. Public Commissions Established by The 1979 and Subsequent Constitutions
25. Public Corporations and Parastatals
26. The Military in Nigerian Politics
27. The Structure and Workings of Nigerian Federalism
28. Foreign Policy
29. Nigeria in International Organizations
30. Nigeria’s Foreign Policy
31. Relations with African Countries
32. International Organizations

CHAPTER ONE
Basic Concepts in Government

Meaning of Government
Government is defined as a group of people with the political authority to control the affairs of a state. It
involves the formulation and enforcement of laws and policies on behalf of its population within its
jurisdiction. As an institution of the state, it refers to the: Executive, Legislative, Judiciary.

Features or Characteristics of Government

1. Political Power: The government must capture state or political power to control the affairs of
its citizens.
2. Policy-Making: The government formulate policies that have great significance to the state.
3. Law and Order The government is responsible for maintaining law and order within its territory
by establishing legal systems, police force, etc.
4. Legitimacy: The government must be accepted and supported by its people.
5. Taxation: This is a way of generating revenue for funding government projects.
6. Public Services: The government provides essential services like healthcare centres, education
and infrastructures.
7. Periodic Change: Unlike the state, the government is not permanent and is meant to change
after a specific period of time.

Functions of Government

1. Law and making function

2. Formulation and implementation of policies
3. Maintenance of law and order
4. National defense
5. Protection of lives and properties
6. Protection of civil liberties
7. Provision of social amenities
8. Taxation and revenue generation
9. Foreign relations/diplomacy
10. Infrastructural development

State

A state is defined as a body of people inhabiting a definite territory with an organized legitimate
government exercising sovereignty.

Features of a State

1. Territory: A state must have certain boundaries where it exercises its sovereignty.
2. Population: this boundary will have a politically organized group of people inhabiting it.
These set of people are called the citizens of the state.
3. Sovereignty: This is the most essential characteristics of a state. It is the supreme authority
of a state to control its own affairs without any external interference.
4. Government: This is the institution through which the powers of the state are willed.
5. Permanence: Unlike a government, a state is relatively permanent to allow it develop as it
should.
6. Recognition: A state must be recognized by other states that surrounds it.
Society

A society is a group of individuals who live in a particular geographical area who share social, cultural,
economic and political relationship.

Nation

This is a large group of people having a common language, culture, history and sense of belonging and
usually constituting a political entity.

Nation-State

Nation-State is defined as a territorial bounded polity that exercises sovereignty and is ruled as a nation.
NB: A Nation-State is synonymous with sovereignty.

Power

Power is the ability of capacity of individuals or institutions to control the actions of others within a
political system.

Authority

Authority refers to the right to exercise power over others in a political system. It was classified into
three types by Max Weber;

1. Traditional authority: This is based on customs, traditions and historical legitimacy.

2. Charismatic authority: This is based on the charisma and personal qualities of the leader.
3. Legal-Rational authority: This is based on rules, laws and procedures. In this type of authority,
power resides in the office not the individual.

Legitimacy

This is the right and acceptance of the government, authority, political system or an administration
usually by the citizens of the state. It is derived from the latin word “legitimus” meaning according to the
law.

Sovereignty

This is the supreme authority of a state to control its own affairs without any external interference. The
modern theory of sovereignty was first developed by French Political Philosopher Jean Bodin.

Types of Sovereignty

1. Political sovereignty: Also known as popular sovereignty where the supreme power is vested in
the people.
2. Legal sovereignty: This power is used to make laws in the state.
3. Internal sovereignty: The supreme power of a state to control its own affairs.
4. External sovereignty: The supreme power of a state to be free from external interference.
5. De facto sovereignty: This type of sovereignty is acquired through the use of force.
6. De jure sovereignty: This type of sovereignty is acquired through the laws of the land.

Political Culture
Political culture is defined as the beliefs, norms, attitudes, values that shape the political behavior of
individuals in a political system.

Political Socialization

Political socialization is the process by which individuals learn, develop and acquire political values that
shape their political system.

Agents of Socialization include; Family, Schools, Political Party, Mass Media, Religion, etc.

Political Participation

Political participation refers to the active involvement of individuals in the political processes and
activities that shape their political system.

Forms of Political Participation include; Voting, Campaigns, Running for office, Contesting elections,
Protesting and Petitioning, etc.

PAST QUESTIONS (JAMB)

Year 2021, NO. 1,13,35. Year 2020, NO. 1,2,3. Year 2019, NO. 1,2,3. Year 2018, NO.1, 2,3. Year 2017, NO.
2,37. Year 2016, NO. 24, Year 2015, NO. 34,38 Year 2014, NO. 2,3. Year 2013, NO. 3,4,5. Year 2012, NO.
2,4. Year 2011, NO. 2,3,4. Year 2010, NO. 2,4, Year 2009, NO. 25, 35 Year 2007, NO. 16 Year 2006, NO.
12 Year 2005, NO. 39 Year 2003, NO. 4 Year 2001, NO. 1

CHAPTER TWO
Forms of Government

Democracy

Democracy originated from the Greek words “demos” meaning “people” and “kratos” meaning “rule” or
“power”. It is a form of government where the power to rule is vested in the people. According to
Abraham Lincoln, democracy is defined as the government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Democracy is also the most famous form of government.

Features of Democracy

1. Free and fair elections.

2. Popular participation.
3. Protection of individual rights.
4. Rule of law.
5. Separation of powers.

Merits of Democracy

1. Decisions are from the wishes of the majority.

2. Fundamental human rights are entrenched.
3. It guarantees the supremacy of the constitution.
 4. It provides for equality among citizens
5. There is orderly transfer of power.

Demerits of Democracy

1. Decision making is slow as it involves multiple levels of discussion.

2. Neglect of the minority as democracy is based on the principle of majority rule.
3. It may lead to instability of government.
4. It is expensive to operate.
5. It is vulnerable and easy to manipulate.

Monarchy

Monarchy is a form of government in which a single ruler, often referred to as a monarch, emperor, king
or queen, holds supreme power until he or she dies or abdicates the throne. This type of government is
usually hereditary when it comes to succession. That is, the title is passed down to a descendant after
the person’s death.

Aristocracy

Aristocracy is a form of government where power is held by a small group of privileged individuals who
are considered to be special or gifted. In this form of government decision-making is based on social
status and is sometimes refer to as ruling by the best.

Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small group of individuals who have control
over the decision- making process. This group is often made up of wealthy and influential people and are
usually there for their own selfish interest.

Autocracy
Autocracy is a form of government where the supreme power is vested in the hands of one individual
without any forms of restriction. This form of government often leads to dictatorship.

Other forms of Government

Plutocracy: Government by the wealth or rich.

Gerontocracy: Government by the old.

Theocracy: Government by the priest.

PAST QUESTIONS (JAMB)

Year 2021, NO. 3, Year 2020, NO. 4, Year 2018, 4,5,17, Year 2017, NO. 5, Year 2014, NO. 5,6, Year 2013,
NO. 6,7,13, Year 2012, NO. 5,Year 2011, NO. 5, Year 2010, NO. 4,5,6, 2009, NO. 32,39, Year 2008, NO.
7,20, Year 2006, NO. 9, Year 2005, NO. 41,43, Year 2004, NO.43, Year 2003, NO. 2, Year 2002, NO. 15,
Year 2000, NO. 11.
CHAPTER 3
Arms of Government

The Nigerian government is composed of three arms: legislative, executive and judiciary.

Legislature

The legislature is the arm of government that is responsible for making of law. It is a group of people
that vote for new laws in a state or country.

The Nigerian legislature is called National assembly.

The UK legislature is called Parliament

The US legislature is called Congress.

Types of Legislature

There are two main types of legislature which are:

1. Unicameral
2. Bicameral

The legislature of a country can be unicameral (one chamber) or bicameral (two chambers).

The Nigerian legislature under section 4 of the constitution is bicameral, it consists of the upper
house/chamber which consists of 109 senates and the lower house/chamber which consists of 360
house of representatives. The upper house is also known as the red chamber and the lower house is
known as the green chamber.

Functions of the Legislature

1. Law-making function: The major function of the legislature is to make law.

2. Oversight function: They supervise the other arms of government.
3. Deliberative function: They deliberate on issues that are of importance to the nation.
4. Budgeting: They have the power to approve budget and allocate funds for various programs.
5. Treaty ratification: In some countries, the legislature has the authority to ratify or approve
treaties.
6. The legislature also approve war.

Delegated Legislation

Also known as secondary legislation or subordinate legislation are legislations or laws made by
organized bodies other than the legislature. A form of delegated legislation is bye-laws which are made
by the local government. Other forms include: order-in-council, court ruling, statutory instrument.

NB: Decrees are laws made by the military government usually at the state level.

Edicts are laws made at the federal level.

Acts is a bill that has passed through various stages for it to become law.
Executive

The executive is the arm of government that is responsible for executing government policies. It is
responsible for the day to day administration of the state. The head of government is usually in this arm
and in case of a presidential system of government, the president who is the head of government and
head of state leads the executive alongside his ministers.

Types of Executive