WAEC Government 2009 past questions
Ten questions from the 2009 WAEC Government paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 48 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.
WAEC Government 2009 questions and answers
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1.Which of the following countries is a founding member of the Commonwealth?
- AGhana
- BSouth AfricaCorrect
- CKenya
- DNigeria
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Answer: B
South Africa was one of the founding members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, established under the Statute of Westminster in 1931 alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Irish Free State.
- A
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2.Which of the following systems of government is more responsible to public opinion?
- AAbsolute monarchy
- BPresidential system
- CParliamentary systemCorrect
- DMilitary government
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Answer: C
The parliamentary system is generally regarded as more responsive to public opinion because the executive is drawn from and remains accountable to the legislature. A government that loses the confidence of parliament can be removed through a vote of no confidence, forcing immediate accountability.
- A
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3.A system of government in which governmental positions are acquired through popular elections is known as
- Aautocracy
- Boligarchy
- Cmonarchy
- DdemocracyCorrect
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Answer: D
Democracy is the system of government in which leaders acquire their positions through free, fair, and competitive popular elections. The Greek phrase demos kratos — meaning "rule by the people" — captures its essence.
Monarchy involves hereditary or ceremonial succession; oligarchy means rule by a small privileged class; and autocracy means power is concentrated in one ruler who is not accountable through elections.
- A
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4.The subordinate class of people in the social hierarchy of a feudal system is the
- AserfsCorrect
- Bclergy
- Cknights
- Dnobles
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Answer: A
In the feudal social hierarchy, serfs (also called peasants or villeins) occupied the lowest rung. They were bound to the land owned by their lords, owed labour services and dues to those above them, and possessed very limited rights or freedoms. Above them stood knights, then nobles, then the clergy and royalty — making serfs the most subordinate class in the entire feudal structure.
- A
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5.The highest organ of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the
- AExecutive Secretariat
- BCouncil of Ministers
- CECOWAS Parliament
- DAuthority of Heads of State and GovernmentCorrect
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Answer: D
The Authority of Heads of State and Government is the supreme institution of ECOWAS. It comprises the heads of state or government of all member states and meets at least once a year to provide overall policy direction, make binding decisions, and admit new members.
- A
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6.Government as a process or art of governing means
- Athe exercise of authority in the management of the public affairs of a stateCorrect
- Ba group of persons elected to represent the people in parliament
- Cthe institution responsible for making and enforcing laws in a state
- Dthe body responsible for interpreting the constitution of a state
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Answer: A
When government is understood as a process or art, it refers to the actual exercise of authority — the methods, skills, and activities involved in administering and directing the affairs of a state on behalf of its citizens. This sense of government focuses on the how of ruling: decision-making, policy implementation, and the management of public affairs.
- A
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7.Government can be made responsible and accountable to its citizens through the following methods except
- Afreedom of the press and expression
- Bperiodic free and fair elections
- Can independent judiciary
- Dsuspension of the legislature and rule by executive decreeCorrect
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Answer: D
Accountability mechanisms such as periodic elections, press freedom, and an independent judiciary ensure that the government answers to the people. The suspension of the legislature and substitution of executive decrees removes a key check on governmental power and reduces rather than promotes accountability — it is characteristic of authoritarian governance, not responsible government.
- A
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8.The implementation of government policies is carried out by the
- AexecutiveCorrect
- Blegislature
- Cjudiciary
- Delectoral commission
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Answer: A
The executive arm of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies. It consists of the head of government, ministers, and the civil service who translate legislative decisions into practical action.
The legislature makes the laws, the judiciary interprets them and adjudicates disputes, while the executive puts policy into effect through ministries, departments, and agencies of government.
- A
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9.A common language is one of the attributes of a
- AnationCorrect
- Bstate
- Cgovernment
- Dfederation
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Answer: A
A nation is a community of people who share common cultural characteristics such as language, history, traditions, and a sense of collective identity. A common language is therefore a defining attribute of a nation, binding its members together through shared communication and cultural expression. This distinguishes a nation from a state, which is defined by territory, population, government, and sovereignty.
- A
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10.The head of the judicial arm of government is known as
- AChief JusticeCorrect
- BAttorney-General
- CSolicitor-General
- DSpeaker
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Answer: A
The Chief Justice is the head of the judicial arm of government. In Nigeria, this office is known as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and is the presiding officer of the Supreme Court, the apex court in the land.
- A
The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check
Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.
Practise all 48 questions we hold from the 2009 paper, on a timed CBT screen
Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.