This JAMB Syllabus for Government aims to prepare the candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB Syllabus for Government
General Objectives | JAMB Syllabus for Government
It is designed to test their knowledge in Government, with a view to
determining their suitability for placement in institutions of higher
learning in Nigeria. These objectives are to:
- appreciate the meaning of government;
ii. analyse the framework and specify the institutions of government;
iii. appreciate the basic principles of democratic governance and their application in Nigeria;
iv. explain the concept of citizenship and define the duties and obligations of a citizen;
v. appreciate the process of political development in Nigeria;
vi. evaluate the political development and problems of governance in Nigeria;
vii. understand the determinants and dynamics of foreign policy as it relates to Nigeria;
viii. assess the role of Nigeria as a member of the international community and the workings of international organizations.
Section 1: Elements of Government
Topic 1: Basic Concepts in Government
- Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty;
b. Society, State, Nation, Nation-State;
c. Political Processes; Political Socialization, Political Participation, Political Culture.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify the fundamental concepts in governance;
ii. analyse various political processes.
Topic 2: Forms of Government
Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Autocracy, Republicanism, Democracy definitions, features, merits and demerits.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. distinguish between different forms of government.
Topic 3: Arms of Government
- The Legislature – types, structure, functions, powers;
b. The Executive – types, functions, powers;
c. The Judiciary – functions, powers, components.
d. Their relationships
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify the duties and obligations of the various arms of government and their agencies;
ii. relate each arm to its functions;
iii. appreciate how these arms interrelates.
Topic 4: Structures of Governance
- Unitary – features, reasons for adoption, merits and demerits
b. Federal – features, reasons for adoption, merits and demerits
c. Confederal – features, reasons for adoption, merits and demerits
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. compare the various political structures of governance.
Topic 5: Systems of Governance
Presidential, Parliamentary and Monarchical.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. distinguish between the different systems of governance.
Topic 6: Political Ideologies
Communalism, Feudalism, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Totalitarianism, Fascism, Nazism.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. differentiate between the major political ideologies;
ii. contrast modes of production.
Topic 7: Constitution
Meaning, Sources, Functions, Types – Written, Unwritten, Rigid and Flexible.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. Define and identify sources and functions of constitutions;
ii. compare the nature of constitutions.
Topic 8: Principles of Democratic Government
Ethics
and Accountability in Public Office, Separation of Power, Checks and
Balances, Individual and Collective Responsibility, Constitutionalism,
Rule of Law, Representative Government.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify the principles of democratic government;
ii. determine the application of these principles.
Topic 9: Processes of Legislation
Legislative Enactments – acts, edicts, bye-laws, delegated legislation, decrees.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. analyse the processes involved in the making of laws.
Topic 10: Citizenship
- Meaning, types;
b. Citizenship rights;
c. Dual citizenship, renunciation, deprivation;
d. Duties and obligations of citizens;
e. Duties and obligations of the state.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. differentiate between the various methods of acquiring citizenship;
ii. specify the rights and responsibilities of a citizen;
iii. assess the obligations of the state.
Topic 11: The Electoral Process
- Suffrage – evolution, types;
b. Election – types, ingredients of free and fair election;
c. Electoral System – types, advantages and disadvantages of each;
d. Electoral Commission – functions, problems.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. distinguish the different types of franchise
ii. identify and explain the types of electoral systems
iii. analyse the various electoral processes.
Topic 12: Political Parties and Party Systems
- Political parties – Definition, Organization, functions.
b. Party Systems – Definition, organization, functions.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. assess the role of political parties;
ii. distinguish between types of party systems.
Topic 13: Pressure Groups
- Definition, types, functions and modes of operation.
b. Differences between Pressure Groups and Political Parties.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- evaluate the functions and the modus operandi of pressure groups;
ii. distinguish between pressure groups and political parties.
Topic 14: Public Opinion
- Meaning, formation and measurement.
b. Functions and limitations.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- compare methods of assessing public opinion;
ii. assess the functions of public opinion;
iii. analyse the limitations of public opinion.
Topic 15: The Civil Service
Definition, characteristics, functions, structure, control and problems.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. analyse the significance of civil service in governance.
Section 2: Political Development in Nigeria
Topic 1: Pre-Colonial Polities
Pre-jihad Hausa, Emirate, Tiv, Igbo, Yoruba
a. Their structural organization;
b. The functions of their various political institutions.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
i. appreciate the effectiveness of the pre-colonial political systems;
ii. compare pre-colonial systems of governance.
Topic 2: Imperialist Penetration
- The British process of acquisition – trade, missionary activities, company rule, crown colony, protectorate;
b. The British colonial administrative policy – direct and indirect rule;
c. The French colonial administrative policy – assimilation and association;
d. Impact of British colonial rule- economic, political, socio-cultural;
e. Comparison of British and French colonial administration.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
- trace the processes of imperialist penetration;
ii. assess the impact of British and French policies;
iii. distinguish between British and French colonial practices.
Topic 3: Process of Decolonization
- Nationalism – Meaning, Types;
b. Nationalist Movements – emergence, goals, strategies; - Nationalist Leaders – Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi
Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Ladipo Solanke, Aminu Kano, J. S. Tarka, Tafawa
Balewa and others;
d. Emergence of nationalist parties;
e. Influence of external factors.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
Lesson
HA’YHWH🛐 YESHUA HAMASCHIAC🛐 School For “A” Levels, Jamb Class. Subject: Introduction to Government, Lesson 1. 2023/2024 Jamb Syllabus in Use Here.
A Government is the system to govern a state or community.
Government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, often a State.
Government is a means by which organizational policies are enforced, as well as a mechanism for determining policy.
Government is a political system by which a country or community is administered and regulated.
