New Curriculum First Term Government examination for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: First Term
Subject: Government
Time: 2 hours
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer all 40 questions. Each question carries 1 mark.

1. A mixed economy combines private manufacturing and publicly funded schools. What is the strongest conclusion? (a) economic policies can combine capitalist and socialist elements    (b) social provision makes private enterprise impossible    (c) communal farming is the only permitted occupation    (d) every economic activity must be privately owned
2. An economic programme advocates collective ownership and the elimination of economic classes. Which ideological ideal does it express? (a) oligarchic plutocracy    (b) feudal hierarchy    (c) communism    (d) constitutional monarchy
3. How would a regime built on authoritarian nationalism typically view a newspaper criticising its leader? (a) a constitutional branch of the armed forces    (b) a threat to centralised political control    (c) proof that opposition rights are fully protected    (d) the sole source of legislative sovereignty
4. The main difficulty in translating an ideal of equal access into a functioning economy concerns ________. (a) whether production requires labour at all    (b) whether political communities need any resources    (c) coordination, incentives and the allocation of scarce goods    (d) whether human wants can ever differ
5. Why is hereditary recruitment within a small political elite potentially damaging to accountability? (a) automatic respect for popular dissent    (b) guaranteed broad political representation    (c) complete equality of access to office    (d) entrenchment and limited public accountability
6. What is the principal constitutional danger when loyalty to one leader overrides independent institutions? (a) erosion of checks that prevent abuse of power    (b) guaranteed citizen control of state budgets    (c) automatic transfer of power through elections    (d) higher certainty of judicial independence
7. A government takes control of key utilities to widen access. To which economic approach is this decision closest? (a) a socialist approach to essential production    (b) unrestricted laissez-faire ownership    (c) abolition of all coordinated investment    (d) rule by a hereditary aristocracy
8. A school elects delegates instead of polling all pupils on every policy. What form of democratic decision-making is being modelled? (a) military dictatorship    (b) absolute monarchy    (c) direct democracy    (d) representative democracy
9. Which argument for social ownership addresses unequal access rather than merely ownership labels? (a) all industries are guaranteed to produce identical goods    (b) prices always vanish immediately    (c) officials never face information problems    (d) basic services can be provided on need rather than ability to pay
10. ________ is most closely associated with privately owned productive capital and market exchange. (a) Traditional feudalism    (b) Capitalism    (c) Direct democracy    (d) Communism
11. Officials lose their offices after citizens vote in a competitive election. Which democratic principle is illustrated? (a) hereditary succession    (b) political accountability    (c) judicial immunity from public law    (d) unrestricted executive tenure
12. Flood relief and road repairs are coordinated by a public authority. What role of government does this response exemplify? (a) an instrument for organising collective welfare    (b) a body without any enforcement powers    (c) a substitute for every traditional institution    (d) an organisation confined to private contracts
13. Which proposed arrangement is NOT consistent with a strongly communist ideal? (a) an explicit goal of reducing class divisions    (b) production organised for common rather than private gain    (c) private monopolies controlling essential productive assets for permanent profit    (d) collective claims over major productive resources
14. A legally independent state voluntarily signs an international treaty limiting certain activities. How should its sovereignty be understood? (a) sovereignty operating alongside agreed international obligations    (b) complete abolition of sovereign statehood    (c) automatic replacement of national law by private custom    (d) the disappearance of every internal authority
15. Which statement correctly distinguishes feudalism from communalism? (a) communalism depends on a formal stock exchange    (b) both necessarily require universal equal private land titles    (c) feudalism often organises obligations hierarchically around landholders    (d) feudalism has no connection with control of land
16. What underlying concern do socialist and communist critiques of concentrated private property often share? (a) collective provision of public goods    (b) cooperation in productive work    (c) distribution guided by social needs    (d) sharp inequalities arising from concentrated private ownership
17. All these are essential elements commonly used to describe a state EXCEPT ________. (a) a population    (b) a permanent governing political party    (c) a defined territory    (d) sovereignty
18. An officer signs a lawful directive under a statute. Why might it be obeyed even without personal admiration? (a) the officer is necessarily the wealthiest citizen    (b) the office carries recognised legal authority    (c) obedience always proves every policy is fair    (d) the directive cannot be challenged in court
19. All these are democratic safeguards EXCEPT ________. (a) institutional checks on government    (b) freedom to express competing views    (c) regular and credible elections    (d) the exclusion of organised opposition from elections
20. The correct first step in reviewing a proposal to concentrate political powers in one leader is to ________. (a) replace every elected institution immediately    (b) assume all opposition must be disloyal    (c) identify which constitutional safeguards and accountability channels would be weakened    (d) discard all evidence about previous abuses
21. Which of the following activities best distinguishes government as an academic field from the day-to-day act of governing? (a) directly administering every public programme    (b) exercising arrest powers against residents    (c) systematically studying political institutions and processes    (d) issuing legally enforceable cabinet decisions
22. Why could rule by a small skilled council initially appear efficient? (a) the judiciary automatically becomes independent    (b) decisions may be made quickly by a limited group    (c) all citizens necessarily help formulate every decision    (d) no conflict of interest can ever arise
23. Which feature would make an organisation a government rather than a voluntary pressure group? (a) authority to make and enforce binding public rules    (b) membership based on support for a single cause    (c) ability to publish political criticisms    (d) power to lobby legislators about public budgets
24. Officials consult residents, compare responses to flooding and select one policy. Which stage of governing is taking place? (a) political socialisation within a family    (b) policy formulation and decision-making    (c) judicial sentencing    (d) termination of sovereignty
25. A wealthy five-person clique controls candidacy and legislation without popular accountability. Identify the political form involved. (a) participatory budgeting    (b) universal suffrage    (c) direct democracy    (d) oligarchic control
26. What best distinguishes legitimacy from the mere ability to force compliance? (a) ownership of the largest business    (b) public acceptance of a right to rule    (c) capacity to issue a sudden command    (d) access to military resources
27. All the following may accompany fascist political control EXCEPT ________. (a) unrestricted political competition under independent institutions    (b) militarised public mobilisation    (c) suppression of organised opposition    (d) leader-centred political loyalty
28. An election result is widely disputed and officials refuse independent scrutiny. What political resource is most directly weakened? (a) the geographical size of the state    (b) the authority of all cultural customs    (c) the definition of physical coercion    (d) the perceived legitimacy of the government
29. A health service is sold only to people able to pay. What is a likely social disadvantage of this arrangement? (a) automatic equality of household income    (b) unequal access among income groups    (c) guaranteed uniform wages in every occupation    (d) the disappearance of all private enterprise
30. The ________ relationship linked landholding lords to dependants who provided labour or service. (a) feudal    (b) tributary    (c) mercantile    (d) communal
31. An investor funds a factory, owns its equipment and sells outputs for profit. Which system does the arrangement most clearly reflect? (a) capitalism    (b) communalism    (c) communism    (d) feudal land tenure
32. A council still performs public functions following the replacement of every minister. What constitutional distinction does the continuity illustrate? (a) civil society from political parties    (b) judicial review from executive orders    (c) the enduring state from its temporary government    (d) a federal constitution from a unitary one
33. Why can competition among privately owned producers improve outcomes for consumers? (a) agree to prevent new firms from operating    (b) coordinate to remove consumer choice    (c) improve quality or lower prices to attract demand    (d) are prohibited from improving their products
34. The use of threats rather than persuasion to secure obedience illustrates which form of power? (a) expert power    (b) referent influence    (c) legitimate power exercised by consent    (d) coercive power
35. What information problem may arise when one central body plans production for many different communities? (a) always gain perfect knowledge of every preference    (b) guarantee innovation in all workplaces    (c) remove the need to assess costs    (d) lack timely information about changing local needs
36. Which is NOT, by itself, sufficient proof that a political authority is legitimate? (a) broad consent to governing institutions    (b) a credible and accepted selection process    (c) its ability to intimidate opponents    (d) operation within recognised legal rules
37. In a communal farming arrangement, which situation could undermine individual incentives to increase output? (a) community rules allocate land collectively    (b) shared grazing provides access to poorer households    (c) unclear individual incentives discourage extra effort    (d) neighbours support each other during hardship
38. Which proposal would most directly reduce oligarchic tendencies? (a) transparent recruitment and meaningful electoral competition    (b) removal of independent scrutiny of officeholders    (c) secrecy over who finances political campaigns    (d) hereditary appointment to public offices
39. How does government as an academic discipline differ from the practical activity of administering a state? (a) exercises police powers on citizens    (b) has no interest in political authority    (c) must directly administer every public project    (d) systematically studies political institutions and processes
40. When households farm common land and share obligations for harvests, what principle structures their economic relations? (a) unrestricted private monopoly of the harvest    (b) collective access and responsibility for resources    (c) central rule by a hereditary emperor    (d) ownership of all land by a distant shareholder

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer Question 1 and any other TWO questions. Each question carries 10 marks.

Question 1: The state, government and public authority (10 Marks)
(a) A policy adviser argues that changing the cabinet means that the state no longer exists. Evaluate the argument by distinguishing the state from government, naming four elements of a state. (5 marks)
(b) A lawful official faces widespread opposition. Explain two differences between legally held authority and perceived legitimacy, and show why the difference matters. (5 marks)

Question 2: Policy formulation and democratic rule (10 Marks)
(a) Outline four stages or activities from defining a public problem to implementing an adopted policy. (4 marks)
(b) Using a community flood-control policy as an example, explain three reasons public participation and accountability improve democratic policy decisions. (6 marks)

Question 3: Economic systems in comparison (10 Marks)
(a) Contrast communalism, feudalism, capitalism and socialism in their typical approaches to control of productive resources. (4 marks)
(b) A country wants to fund rural clinics without eliminating private businesses. Discuss three advantages or challenges of combining market allocation with public services. (6 marks)

Question 4: Minority political rule and authoritarian nationalism (10 Marks)
(a) Explain two characteristics of oligarchy and two of fascist politics. (4 marks)
(b) Evaluate three implications for political rights or institutional accountability when power is concentrated in a small unchecked leadership group. (6 marks)

Objective Marking Scheme
Question 1 – ✅ (a) economic policies can combine capitalist and socialist elements
Question 2 – ✅ (c) communism
Question 3 – ✅ (b) a threat to centralised political control
Question 4 – ✅ (c) coordination, incentives and the allocation of scarce goods
Question 5 – ✅ (d) entrenchment and limited public accountability
Question 6 – ✅ (a) erosion of checks that prevent abuse of power
Question 7 – ✅ (a) a socialist approach to essential production
Question 8 – ✅ (d) representative democracy
Question 9 – ✅ (d) basic services can be provided on need rather than ability to pay
Question 10 – ✅ (b) Capitalism
Question 11 – ✅ (b) political accountability
Question 12 – ✅ (a) an instrument for organising collective welfare
Question 13 – ✅ (c) private monopolies controlling essential productive assets for permanent profit
Question 14 – ✅ (a) sovereignty operating alongside agreed international obligations
Question 15 – ✅ (c) feudalism often organises obligations hierarchically around landholders
Question 16 – ✅ (d) sharp inequalities arising from concentrated private ownership
Question 17 – ✅ (b) a permanent governing political party
Question 18 – ✅ (b) the office carries recognised legal authority
Question 19 – ✅ (d) the exclusion of organised opposition from elections
Question 20 – ✅ (c) identify which constitutional safeguards and accountability channels would be weakened
Question 21 – ✅ (c) systematically studying political institutions and processes
Question 22 – ✅ (b) decisions may be made quickly by a limited group
Question 23 – ✅ (a) authority to make and enforce binding public rules
Question 24 – ✅ (b) policy formulation and decision-making
Question 25 – ✅ (d) oligarchic control
Question 26 – ✅ (b) public acceptance of a right to rule
Question 27 – ✅ (a) unrestricted political competition under independent institutions
Question 28 – ✅ (d) the perceived legitimacy of the government
Question 29 – ✅ (b) unequal access among income groups
Question 30 – ✅ (a) feudal
Question 31 – ✅ (a) capitalism
Question 32 – ✅ (c) the enduring state from its temporary government
Question 33 – ✅ (c) improve quality or lower prices to attract demand
Question 34 – ✅ (d) coercive power
Question 35 – ✅ (d) lack timely information about changing local needs
Question 36 – ✅ (c) its ability to intimidate opponents
Question 37 – ✅ (c) unclear individual incentives discourage extra effort
Question 38 – ✅ (a) transparent recruitment and meaningful electoral competition
Question 39 – ✅ (d) systematically studies political institutions and processes
Question 40 – ✅ (b) collective access and responsibility for resources

Theory Marking Scheme

Question 1 — The state, government and public authority
(a) State persists beyond particular administrations; government consists of institutions/personnel governing the state (1). Four elements population, defined territory, government and sovereignty (1 each). [5 marks]
(b) Legal authority rests on office/recognised rules (1); legitimacy concerns public acceptance of right to rule (1); coercive compliance differs from consent (1); public trust affects cooperation/compliance (1); relevant example (1). [5 marks]

Question 2 — Policy formulation and democratic rule
(a) Problem identification; research/consultation; selection/authorisation; implementation with assigned resources (1 each). [4 marks]
(b) Any three explained points at 2 marks each: local information, transparency, legitimacy, better monitoring, inclusion, correction of errors. [6 marks]

Question 3 — Economic systems in comparison
(a) One accurate distinguishing feature for each: communal shared obligations; feudal hierarchical land tenure; capitalism predominant private property; socialism significant social/public control. [4 marks]
(b) Three developed points at 2 marks: widen access, retain enterprise incentives, fiscal cost/taxation, bureaucratic risk, inequality mitigation, efficient regulation. [6 marks]

Question 4 — Minority political rule and authoritarian nationalism
(a) Oligarchy small elite monopoly of power and restricted access; fascism extreme authoritarian nationalism, leader cult/suppression of opposition; 1 each. [4 marks]
(b) Any three explained at 2 marks: censorship, elite capture, erosion of checks, exclusion, intimidation, lack of peaceful transfers. [6 marks]