View Government Waec Syllabus as Text below…

WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
GOVERNMENT

PREAMBLE
This syllabus aims at assessing the candidate’s ability to
(a) define the concept of Government and show his understanding of its principles, institutions and processes;
(b) recognise his role as an informed citizen and his contribution towards the achievement of national development;
(c) evaluate the successes, failures and problems of governments in West Africa;
(d) appreciate the role of his country as a member of the international community.

RUBRICS AND SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

There will be two papers – Papers 1 and 2, both of which must be taken.

PAPER 1: This will be a one-hour multiple choice objective test consisting of fifty (50) questions drawn from the entire syllabus. The weighted contribution of this paper shall be 40%.

PAPER 2: This will be a 2½ hour essay type test consisting of two sections A and B.

SECTION A: ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT

This shall contain five (5) questions out of which candidates shall be required to attempt any two (2) only.

SECTION B: POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN
WEST AFRICA AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

This shall contain seven (7) questions out of which candidates shall be required to attempt any three (3) only. The weighted contribution of this paper shall be 60%.

DETAILED SYLLABUS

SECTION A: ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT

1. MEANING AND SCOPE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER – GOVERNMENT

(i) Government as an institution of the state.
(ii) Government as a process or art of governing.
(iii) Government as an academic field of study.

2. BASIC CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

(i) Basic Concepts – Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Democracy, Political Culture , Political Socialization, Communalism, Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, Feudalism, Fascism, Nazism, Totalitarianism, Society, State and Nation, Colonialism and Nationalism.

(ii) Basic Principles – Rule of Law, Fundamental Human Rights, Separation of Powers/Checks and balances, Constitutionalism, Political Participation, Representative Government, Centralization and Decentralization – (Delegated Legislation, Devolution and Deconcentration).

3. CONSTITUTIONS

(i) Definition and sources.

(ii) Scope.

(iii) Types – Written and Unwritten; rigid and flexible.

(iv) Functions.

4. TYPES/FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Unitary, Federal, Confederal, Presidential or non-parliamentary, Parliamentary or Cabinet, Monarchical and Republican.

5. ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT

The Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. (Types/structure, composition/membership; functions; power and limitations).

6. CITIZENSHIP

Status, Rights, Duties and Obligations of individuals in the state.

7. POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEMS

(i) Political Parties – definition, organization, types and functions.

(ii) Party Systems – definition, types and characteristics.

8. THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

(i) Meaning, Types and Suffrage.

(ii) Purposes of Elections.

(iii) Organization of Elections – Features of free and fair elections; stages of elections.

(iv) Types and characteristics of Electoral systems.

(v) Electoral Commission – Roles or duties of electoral commissions. Problems,
Organization and Characteristics.

9. PRESSURE GROUPS AND PUBLIC OPINION

(i) Pressure Groups – definition, types, characteristics, mode of operation and functions.

(ii) Public Opinion – definition, formation, measurement and functions.

10. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

(i) Definition of Public Administration.

(ii) Civil Service – Meaning, Structure, Characteristics and Functions.

(iii) The Public/Civil Service Commission – Composition and Functions.

(iv) Public Corporations – definition, purposes, functions, organization, control and problems.

(v) Local Governments – Meaning, Types, Purposes, Functions, Sources of Revenue, Control,
Problems and Reforms.

SECTION B: POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN WEST AFRICA
AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

1. PRE-COLONIAL POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF CANDIDATES’
RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.

The Structural Organization of the following:
(a) Nigeria – Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba and the Igbo.
(b) Ghana – The Akan, the Ewe and the Mole Dagbani.
(c) Sierra Leone – The Mende and Temne.

(d) The Gambia – The Wolof and Mandingo.
(e) Liberia – The Vai and the Kru.

2. COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

(i) Reasons for Colonialism.

(ii) The policy and structure of the British Colonial Administration – Crown Colony, Protectorate and Indirect Rule.

(iii) The policy of French Colonial Administration – Assimilation and Association.

(iv) Chieftaincy during colonial period – status and functions.

3. NATIONALISM IN WEST AFRICA

(i) Nationalism before the Second World War (Proto-nationalism) – Meaning, features and factors.

(ii) Nationalism after the Second World War – factors, growth and effects.

4. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS OF CANDIDATES’
RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
(i) Pre-independence Constitutions – (Background, main features, merits and demerits)
(a) Nigeria – Clifford 1922,
Richards 1946,
Macpherson 1951,
Lyttleton 1954.

(b) Ghana – Clifford 1916,
Guggisberg 1925,
Burns 1946,
Arden Clarke 1951,
Nkrumah 1954.

(c) Sierra Leone – Slater 1924,
Stevenson 1947,
Beresford Stooke 1951,
The 1956 and 1958 Constitutions.

(d) The Gambia – The 1947, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1962 and 1963
Constitutions.

Post-independence Constitutions – (Background, main features, merits and demerits)

(a) Nigeria – Independence Constitution 1960,
Republican Constitution 1963,
The 1979 and 1989 Constitutions.

(b) Ghana – Independence Constitution 1957,
Republican Constitution 1960,
2nd Republican Constitution 1969,
The 1979 and 1992 Constitutions.

(c) Sierra Leone – Independence Constitution 1961,
Republican Constitution 1971,
The 1978 and 1991 Constitutions.

(d) The Gambia – Independence Constitution 1965,
Republican Constitution 1970.

(e) Liberia – Independence/Republican Constitution 1985.

5. DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE
CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES

Nigeria;

Ghana;

Sierra Leone;

The Gambia;

Liberia.

Formation, objectives, achievements and failures.

6. MILITARY RULE IN THE CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES

Nigeria;

Ghana;

Sierra Leone;

The Gambia;

Liberia.

7. FEDERAL/UNITARY SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT IN
WEST AFRICA

Factors, Structures, Features and Problems.

8. FOREIGN POLICIES OF THE CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE
COUNTRIES

Nigeria;

Ghana;

Sierra Leone;

The Gambia;

Liberia.

Definitions, Factors, Advantages and Disadvantages.

9. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The United Nations Organization (UNO);
The Organization of African Unity (OAU);
The Commonwealth;
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Origin, aims/objectives, organizational structure, functions, achievements and problems.

W.A.S.S.C.E GOVERNMENTSUGGESTED READING LIST

AUTHOR

TITLE

1. A. APPADORAI

2. J. H. PRICE

3. C. A. LEEDS

4. C. F. STRONG

5. W. E. F. WARD

6. G. Y. AMOAH

7. ROBER S. JORDAN

8. DARE & OYEWOLE

9. OYEDIRAN & OTHERS

10. FRANCIS ADIGWE

11. DENNIS AUSTIN

12. T. HODGKIN

13. E. A. KEAY & H. THOMAS

The Substance of Politics

Political Institutions in West Africa

Political Studies

Modern Political Institutions

Government in West Africa

Groundwork of Government for West Africa

Government and Power in West Africa

A Textbook of Government for Senior
Secondary Schools

Government for Senior Secondary Schools
(Books 1 – 3)

Essentials of Government for West Africa

Politics in Ghana 1946 – 1960

African Political Parties