Government

Characteristics of Government

len Alfred Ajibola -29th December, 2019 @ 1:47 PM

Topics 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 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


Academic Questions in Government

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

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



Characteristics of Government:

Recall that government is an institution or agency established to manage the affairs and general welfare of the people that make up a state or country.

As an instance, within your country, you probably have got good roads, clean water, good healthcare system and quality educational system; all of which are a function of your government: that is, all aforementioned infrastructures are made available by your government.

Please read on the functions of government here.


Government as an entity has its various characteristics or features that defines it. Below are explanations on the characteristics of a government:


  • Law

It is the function of the government to make law; and these laws are entrenched in the constitution.

Please read on the constitution here.

To be more specific, the legislative arm of government is responsible for the making of law. For this reason, people will often refer to the legislators as lawmakers of a country or state. Meanwhile, understand that the legislature is considered as one of the arms (or organs) of government.

Please read on the arms of government here.

 

  • Power

The government has the ability to exercise authority over its citizens because it wields political power. As an instance, the minister of housing (who is also a part of the government) may approve the demolishment of buildings in a community in order to recreate better accommodations for residents of that community.

From the above instance, the owners of such buildings may disagree with the opinion of the minister; and the best they can do regarding their disagreement is to seek refuge in another arm of government and that’s through the judiciary (or court).

Please read on the concept of government here.


Note: The judges and justices of various courts are a part of the government since they make up the judicial arm of government.

Whenever you hear statements like: 'the ruling party or party in power', it implies that the members of such political party are in government and automatically, power is attributed to them by virtue of the constitution.
Please read on multi-party system here.

 

  • Revenue

Since it is the responsibility of the government to give security, good roads, quality education and other necessary infrastructures to her citizens, then a lot of money will be needed to accomplish these purposes. In this regard, government must therefore generate revenue (money) through various means. This will include:

You can read on balance of trade and balance of payments here.

 

  • Legitimacy or Public Support

Every government must be recognized and accepted by the people. Ideally, a good government is never imposed on the people as we had seen or heard in military and dictatorship rule.

Please read on the forms of government here.

Meanwhile, understand that the legitimately of a government is a function of democracy.

Democracy means government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Abraham Lincoln.

Please read on the types of democracy here.

Power is vested on the people in democracy. This power is exercised in the choosing of their leaders through their votes during election.

Please read on fundamental human rights here.

 

  • Periodic Change

No government is permanent. This means that no government can rule forever.

Taking Nigeria as a reference, an election must be conducted once every four years so that her citizens can choose their president, governors, senators, local government chairmen and so on. This is what democracy entail. As a result, no one can rule forever in a democratic system of government.

Please read on the characteristics of democracy here.

 

  • Workforce

Every government must have men and women who will assist in implementing and interpreting the various government policies in the civil space.

Please read on civic responsibility here.

I want to assume that you probably would know someone who works with (or for) the government of your country. These workforces are paid by the government for their respective services to the state.

Please read the concept of business studies here.

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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.

Please read on the forms of government here

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.

  • Please read on the functions of government here

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

Please read more on the definitions of government here

End Sars - Len Academy

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.

Please read on pressure groups in Nigeria here