100 Objective Questions and Answers: Definition of Government

Welcome to this comprehensive Government objective question bank on the Definition of Government. This resource covers the three main aspects of government: government as an institution of the state, government as an art of governing or process of administration, and government as an academic field of study. It also covers the arms of government, characteristics of government, functions of government, and the importance of studying government. These 100 objective questions are designed for students preparing for SSCE, NECO, NABTEB, UTME, and university examinations. Each question is followed by the correct answer, making it ideal for revision and self-assessment.

Section A: Government as an Institution of the State (Questions 1–25)

1. Government as an institution of the state may be defined as?
A. A machinery established by the state to organize, manage the affairs of the state and administer its functions and duties
B. A process of making laws only
C. An academic field of study
D. A group of political parties

Answer: A

2. Government is the instrument through which the state puts its plan into?
A. Discussion
B. Action
C. Debate
D. Conflict

Answer: B

3. Government is the means through which the will of the state is?
A. Formulated, expressed, and realized
B. Ignored and rejected
C. Delayed and postponed
D. Hidden and concealed

Answer: A

4. A body of people and institution that make and enforce laws for a particular society is called?
A. Government
B. Dictatorship
C. Anarchy
D. Democracy

Answer: A

5. Government is the machinery established to manage the affairs of?
A. Rulers
B. Institutions
C. Legislators
D. State

Answer: D

6. Government as an institution of a state can be defined as a body that?
A. Recruits and trains political leaders
B. Settles disputes and interprets law for the state
C. Legislates, executes and judiciary
D. Conducts elections for the state

Answer: C

7. The three major arms of government are?
A. Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary
B. Army, Navy, and Air Force
C. Federal, State, and Local
D. President, Governors, and Chairmen

Answer: A

8. The arm of government concerned with policy formulation and implementation is?
A. Legislature
B. Judiciary
C. Executive
D. Civil Service

Answer: C

9. The arm of government concerned with law making is?
A. Executive
B. Legislature
C. Judiciary
D. Police

Answer: B

10. The arm of government that concentrates mainly on the interpretation of the law is?
A. Executive
B. Legislature
C. Judiciary
D. Armed Forces

Answer: C

11. Government as an institution of the state refers to the?
A. Police and the armed forces
B. Judiciary, the president and his ministers
C. Legislature, the executive and the Judiciary
D. Economic and political institutions

Answer: C

12. Government is the machinery established to manage the affairs of?
A. Rulers
B. Aliens
C. The civil service
D. The state

Answer: D

13. Government can be defined as the machinery through which the will of the state is?
A. Formed
B. Destroyed
C. Ignored
D. Delayed

Answer: A

14. The institution and processes connected with making, enforcing and reviewing of laws in any society is referred to as the?
A. Judiciary
B. Constitution drafting committee
C. Government
D. Bar association

Answer: C

15. Government means the machinery established by a state to manage the affairs of the?
A. Rulers
B. Aliens
C. Civil servants
D. People

Answer: D

16. The institutions which constitute the main organs of the government of a nation are the?
A. Legislature, the executive and the judiciary
B. Judiciary and the civil service
C. Trustee and the presidium
D. Civil service and the senate

Answer: A

17. The structure of government implies the?
A. Law making process of government
B. Law enforcement process of government
C. Organization of powers and functions
D. Method of revenue allocation by government

Answer: C

18. Government as an institution of the state is endowed with power and authority to provide?
A. Social welfare and security
B. Only security
C. Only social welfare
D. Political power only

Answer: A

19. The primary function of the executive arm of government is?
A. Law making
B. Policy formulation and implementation
C. Interpretation of law
D. Settlement of disputes

Answer: B

20. The primary function of the legislature is?
A. Policy formulation
B. Law making
C. Interpretation of law
D. Implementation of policies

Answer: B

21. The primary function of the judiciary is?
A. Law making
B. Policy formulation
C. Interpretation of the law and settlement of disputes
D. Implementation of policies

Answer: C

22. Government as an institution of the state is a machinery that has been designed to regulate activities through?
A. One organ of government
B. Two organs of government
C. Three organs of government
D. Four organs of government

Answer: C

23. The institution through which governments discharge responsibilities is known as?
A. Organs of government
B. Pressure groups
C. Political parties
D. National assembly

Answer: A

24. Government as an institution of the state is essential because it?
A. Regulates the day to day activities of the citizens
B. Encourages anarchy
C. Promotes lawlessness
D. Discourages peace

Answer: A

25. The constitution consists of the duties of those in government, their limitations, rights and obligations of?
A. Citizens
B. Foreigners
C. Aliens
D. Visitors

Answer: A

Section B: Government as an Art of Governing (Questions 26–50)

26. Government as an art of governing may be defined as a body vested with the power and authority for maintaining?
A. Security, peace, and stability
B. Conflict and disorder
C. Anarchy and confusion
D. War and destruction

Answer: A

27. The process of carrying out the affairs of a country is referred to as?
A. Democracy
B. Gerrymandering
C. Governance
D. Delegated legislation

Answer: C

28. Which of the following is related to government as a process of governing?
A. Implementation and adjudication of laws
B. The role of pressure groups within the state
C. Disagreement between state and local government
D. Abrogation of fundamental human rights

Answer: A

29. Government as the act of governing means the?
A. Activities of pressure groups and political parties
B. Act of vetoing a bill
C. Orders of judiciary and legislative
D. Activities by which government policies are made and implemented

Answer: D

30. Government as an art of governance refers to the process of?
A. Ruling people in the society
B. Establishing political parties
C. Providing free education
D. Acquiring skills

Answer: A

31. Government can be described as the art of?
A. Making constitutions
B. Collecting taxes
C. Engineering social conflicts
D. Making and enforcing laws

Answer: D

32. Policy formulation involves developing strategies for dealing with?
A. Policy issues placed on an agenda
B. Personal matters
C. Foreign affairs only
D. Economic issues only

Answer: A

33. Effectiveness in policy formulation refers to?
A. Valid, workable strategies that address the situation
B. Strategies that are likely to be rejected
C. Strategies that are expensive
D. Strategies that are unpopular

Answer: A

34. Acceptability in policy formulation refers to?
A. Strategies which are more likely to be put into action
B. Strategies which are rejected
C. Strategies which are ignored
D. Strategies which are delayed

Answer: A

35. The process of making a rule or policy that is expected to have a binding effect on the polity is called?
A. Rule implementation
B. Rule making
C. Rule adjudication
D. Rule rejection

Answer: B

36. Having made rules, it is important that the rules are?
A. Implemented for them to be effective
B. Ignored
C. Discarded
D. Delayed

Answer: A

37. The process by which a government reviews policy formulation and policy implementation is called?
A. Rule making
B. Rule implementation
C. Rule adjudication
D. Rule rejection

Answer: C

38. In the process of governing, input refers to the?
A. Decision and actions of the authorities
B. Regulations made by the government
C. Demand made by individuals and groups for actions by the authorities
D. Demands which have become official policies

Answer: C

39. In the process of governing, output refers to?
A. The influence of pressure group
B. Demand of the political party
C. The decision of the government
D. The opinion of the electorate

Answer: C

40. Government as an art of governing regulates the activities of the citizens through?
A. Formulation and implementation of policies
B. Ignoring the citizens
C. Promoting anarchy
D. Encouraging lawlessness

Answer: A

41. The efficiency of government in the process of administration is based on the principle of?
A. Separation of power
B. Concentration of power
C. Abuse of power
D. Delegation of power

Answer: A

42. Government makes laws and enforces them on the people through?
A. The legislature, police and prison services
B. Only the legislature
C. Only the police
D. Only the judiciary

Answer: A

43. Government as an art of governing makes provision for?
A. External security through the armed forces
B. Internal conflict
C. Anarchy
D. Lawlessness

Answer: A

44. Government maintains law and order through the following except?
A. Policies
B. Immigration
C. The legislature
D. Prison service

Answer: B

45. Which of the following is not a means by which government maintains law and order?
A. Law making
B. Maintenance of police and other security personnel
C. Provision of socio-economic services
D. Establishment of provision associations

Answer: D

46. Government as an art of governing involves making, enforcing and?
A. Interpreting laws
B. Ignoring laws
C. Destroying laws
D. Delaying laws

Answer: A

47. The day to day administration of the affairs of a state involves?
A. Making, enforcing and interpreting laws
B. Making, enforcing and ignoring laws
C. Making, delaying and rejecting laws
D. Making, hiding and destroying laws

Answer: A

48. Government as an art of governing makes policies that are?
A. Beneficial to the people
B. Harmful to the people
C. Irrelevant to the people
D. Unknown to the people

Answer: A

49. The process of carrying out the day to day administration of the affairs of a state is called?
A. Government as an art of governing
B. Government as an institution of the state
C. Government as an academic field of study
D. Government as a political party

Answer: A

50. Government as an art of governing is vested with the power and authority for maintaining?
A. Security, peace, and stability
B. Conflict and instability
C. War and destruction
D. Anarchy and confusion

Answer: A

Section C: Government as an Academic Field of Study (Questions 51–75)

51. Government as an academic field of study may be defined as the study of?
A. Agencies, political institutions and the dynamics of the state
B. Only political parties
C. Only elections
D. Only constitutions

Answer: A

52. In Nigerian Universities, the term used for government as an academic field of study is?
A. Political science
B. Pure science
C. Natural science
D. Physical science

Answer: A

53. Government as a subject refers to the study of?
A. Territorial expansion
B. Political leaders
C. The various nations of the world
D. The constitutions of the state

Answer: D

54. Government can be defined as the study of?
A. Federalism
B. Cabinet system of government only
C. How people rule themselves
D. Presidential system of government only

Answer: C

55. The study of government in schools is important because the student can?
A. Be assisted by political leaders
B. Learn about their rights
C. Qualify for elections
D. Be nominated for a trip abroad

Answer: B

56. As an academic subject, government is studied under different names which include?
A. Public Administration
B. International Relations
C. Comparative Politics
D. All of the above

Answer: D

57. The study of public administration focuses attention on?
A. Methods and techniques used by government functionaries in the management of state affairs
B. International organizations
C. Comparison of different governments
D. Philosophical explanations

Answer: A

58. International Relations as a branch of government deals with?
A. Relations between nations
B. Only domestic affairs
C. Only local government
D. Only state government

Answer: A

59. Comparative politics focuses on?
A. Comparison of different governments
B. Only one government
C. Only local government
D. Only federal government

Answer: A

60. Political theory concerns?
A. Philosophical explanations related to the origin, form, behavior and purposes of human organisation
B. Only elections
C. Only constitutions
D. Only political parties

Answer: A

61. Political Economy deals with?
A. Fiscal and monetary policies of a country
B. Only international trade
C. Only local government
D. Only state government

Answer: A

62. National politics focuses on?
A. The organization of a specific government
B. Only international relations
C. Only comparative politics
D. Only political theory

Answer: A

63. Government is an academic field of study because it is being taught in?
A. Schools, colleges and universities
B. Only primary schools
C. Only secondary schools
D. Only homes

Answer: A

64. Government borrows ideas from other disciplines like?
A. Philosophy, history, sociology, economics and law
B. Only mathematics
C. Only science
D. Only arts

Answer: A

65. Government is regarded as a school discipline because it borrows ideas from renowned philosophers like?
A. Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Rousseau, John Locke, Karl Marx
B. Only Plato
C. Only Aristotle
D. Only Karl Marx

Answer: A

66. Like other disciplines, government makes use of scientific methods, tools and?
A. Statistics in carrying out its researches and analysis
B. Only opinions
C. Only beliefs
D. Only traditions

Answer: A

67. In the study of government, public administration covers the?
A. Army, prison officers and public force
B. Civil service, public corporations and local government
C. Ministries of education, Health and Agriculture
D. Schools, hospitals and health centres

Answer: B

68. Government as an academic field of study refers to the?
A. President and his ministers
B. Study of political institutions and processes
C. Working of the organs of government
D. Membership of international organizations

Answer: B

69. The study of government essentially facilitates the understanding of the?
A. Organization of the executive arm of government
B. Observance of fundamental human rights
C. Functioning of the entire social formation
D. Governance of human societies

Answer: D

70. Government as a subject empowers its learners with the ability/knowledge of identifying their?
A. Fundamental human rights
B. Political enemies
C. Economic problems
D. Social status

Answer: A

71. Which of the following is a reason for studying government?
A. Knowledge of the rights of the individual
B. Acquisition of skills to work in a state-owned
C. Helps the individual to form a pressure group
D. Enables citizens to vote during election

Answer: A

72. The study of Government offers an individual all the following except?
A. Knowledge of his rights and duties
B. Training in good citizenship
C. Knowledge of the processes of government
D. Training to become judge

Answer: D

73. Which of the following best describes the subject matter of Government?
A. Election
B. People
C. Political party
D. Political power

Answer: D

74. The study of government is important because it?
A. Directs people’s attention to development of non-state institution
B. Enables citizens to understand the processes for managing the state affairs
C. Encourages individuals to take decisions that satisfy their aspirations
D. Encourages the elites to remain in power

Answer: B

75. Government as an academic field of study involves the study of political institutions and?
A. Processes
B. Only elections
C. Only constitutions
D. Only political parties

Answer: A

Section D: Characteristics and Functions of Government (Questions 76–100)

76. Which of the following is an attribute of government?
A. Political power
B. Anarchy
C. Lawlessness
D. Chaos

Answer: A

77. Legitimate authority of government arises from?
A. Social acceptance of the people
B. Military force
C. Foreign intervention
D. Political manipulation

Answer: A

78. Government needs enough revenue from the people which is known as?
A. Tax
B. Gift
C. Aid
D. Loan

Answer: A

79. The civil service possesses adequate personnel for?
A. Policy-making and implementation
B. Only policy-making
C. Only policy implementation
D. Only law making

Answer: A

80. No government is permanent especially one that is based on people’s participation known as?
A. Democracy
B. Monarchy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship

Answer: A

81. The periodic tenure of an elective government is either?
A. Five or four years
B. Ten or twenty years
C. One or two years
D. Fifty or sixty years

Answer: A

82. The primary function of government in a state is to?
A. Build schools and hospitals
B. Provide transport services
C. Engage in campaigns and rallies
D. Maintain law and order

Answer: D

83. The functions of government include all the following except?
A. Maintenance of peace and order
B. Provision of social services
C. Protection of citizens from malicious attack
D. Provision of free medical services

Answer: C

84. State performs the following functions except?
A. Promoting the welfare of the citizens
B. Encouraging the struggle for power
C. Providing social services
D. Encouraging trade with other states

Answer: B

85. Government can be made responsible and accountable to its citizens through the following method except?
A. Periodic change of government
B. Demonstration
C. Political education
D. Public opinion

Answer: B

86. The functions of the state are achieved through?
A. Political socialism
B. Separation of powers
C. Organs of government
D. Diplomatic means

Answer: C

87. A government performs the following functions except?
A. Safe guarding life and property
B. Maintaining laws and orders
C. Providing all the needs of its citizens
D. Providing basic welfare needs

Answer: C

88. The defense of a country is a major function of the?
A. Government of a state
B. Judiciary
C. Legislature
D. Diplomatic corps

Answer: A

89. Which of the following is not an acceptable function of government?
A. Maintaining law and order
B. Subversion
C. Providing social amenities
D. Defending the country

Answer: B

90. Government is different from other political organizations because?
A. It has legitimate power over citizens
B. Its officials have fixed terms of office
C. It can punish those who violate its rules
D. It is made up of elected officials

Answer: A

91. An indispensable feature of any government is?
A. A written constitution
B. The independence of the judiciary
C. The separation of powers
D. Political power

Answer: D

92. A common feature of government is?
A. The separation of powers
B. The making of public policy
C. The independence of the judiciary
D. A written constitution

Answer: B

93. An institution that transforms a myriad of demands into a more manageable proposal is the?
A. Executive
B. Legislative
C. Government
D. Political party

Answer: C

94. Government exercises political power on behalf of the?
A. Elite
B. Citizens
C. Party caucus
D. Vocal few

Answer: B

95. Which of the following is NOT a function of government?
A. Law making
B. Protection of lives and property
C. Encouraging anarchy
D. Provision of social amenities

Answer: C

96. Government maintains external relations with other nations through?
A. Embassies and high commissions
B. Only the army
C. Only the police
D. Only the judiciary

Answer: A

97. The study of government helps to develop?
A. Intellectual development
B. Physical strength
C. Emotional instability
D. Social isolation

Answer: A

98. Government provides the opportunity to make its citizens know their?
A. Rights, duties and obligations
B. Only rights
C. Only duties
D. Only obligations

Answer: A

99. The study of government provides career opportunities in?
A. Government, business, international organizations
B. Only government
C. Only business
D. Only international organizations

Answer: A

100. The primary function of any government is to maintain?
A. Peace, law and order in the society
B. War and conflict
C. Anarchy and confusion
D. Chaos and disorder

Answer: A

Answer Key Summary

Conclusion

This comprehensive objective question bank on the Definition of Government covers the three main aspects of government: government as an institution of the state, government as an art of governing or process of administration, and government as an academic field of study. It also covers the arms of government (executive, legislature, and judiciary), characteristics of government, functions of government, and the importance of studying government. Students preparing for SSCE, NECO, NABTEB, UTME, and university examinations will find these 100 questions invaluable for revision and self-assessment. Master these questions to build a strong foundation in government and excel in your examinations.