Unit Five Review: Ethnicity, Imperialism, and Nigeria

The national question for Nigeria is if it 

• has regions with enough in common to remain a nation.
• have a presidential or parliamentary system.
• form a federal or unitary political system.
• should give the military a larger role in policy-making.

Which of the following is the best description of the importance of Nigeria’s constitution in determining political decision-making?

• The consitution is a asic pillar of the government's legitimacy.
• The constitution is important, but has een easily amended by the legislature.
• The 1999 constitution has had limited effect in controlling political corruption.
• Nigeria currently has no constituion, since the last one was suspended in 1995.

Which of the following influences on Nigerian political culture can be traced back directly to pre-colonial days?

• authoritatian, centralized rule
• kingship-based or localized politics
• intense corruption
• parliamentary style of government

Which of the following was an important consequence of British domination for the Nigerian political system?

• Introduction of sharia to Nigeria.
• Prosperity was brought to Nigeria in the form of development of a strong middle class.
• Ethnic divisions, already in place, utilized and intensified under British rule.
• The British first introduced democratic government to the Nigerians.

The “first-past-the-post” electoral system of Nigeria has resulted in

• multi-member districts
• power given to the southern region due to voting patterns
• a two-tiered system of elections
• regional differences that are emphasized in the legislature

Which of the following was the most important reason that Nigeria changed from a parliamentary to a presidential style government?

• Nigerians were more familiar with a presidential form during colonial rule.
• The ethnic cleavages resulted in lack of consensus making it difficult for the parliamentary system to function.
• Nigeria was trying to attract US aid in 1979 and believed that aid would be more likely if a presidential system was in place
• A.  The parliamentary system was too easily taken over by military generals.

The main goal of the Igbo during the Biafra crisis in 1967 – 1970 was to

• take over the military and the presidency.
• drive the British out of Nigeria
• capture the oil fields of the southwest
• secede from Nigeria and create a separate state.

A direct consequence of ethnic and economic tensions in Nigeria has been an increase in

• compromise in order to maintain a government structure in spite of differences.
• periodic outbreaks of violence based on retribution and distrust.
• support for a “dual executive” to represent all interests.
• support for constitutional reform to increase state power to permit groups to express their interests.

Nigeria’s civil society is underdeveloped primarily due to the fact that

• its citizens are severely split in their ethnic and religious loyalties
• no serious attempts have been made to establish civil and political organizations
• the state controls almost all aspects of political and economic life.
• western influences have not affected Nigeria very much

In Nigeria, judicial review

• Has been exercised, with effect, only recently
• Has operated as a check on the president and legislature since 1999.
• Does not exist either in theory or practice
• Is used by state courts, but not federal ones.