JAMB Government key terms

The supreme and final authority of a state to make and enforce laws within its territory without external interference. In a democracy it is said to reside in the people.

The acceptance by citizens that a government's authority to rule is rightful and proper. A regime may hold power through force yet still lack legitimacy in the eyes of the governed.

A system in which power is constitutionally divided between a central government and component states or regions, each with its own defined sphere of authority that the other cannot unilaterally abolish.

A constitutional arrangement where one central government holds all legal authority, and any local councils exist only as creations of that centre, which may modify or abolish them.

The doctrine that legislative, executive and judicial functions should be exercised by distinct organs, so that no single body accumulates enough power to dominate the state.

Institutional devices that let each branch of government restrain the others, such as a presidential veto, judicial review of statutes, or a legislature's power to confirm appointments.

The principle that everyone, including rulers, is subject to the same publicly known law, and that no punishment may be imposed except for a proven breach of it.

The body of fundamental rules establishing the organs of government, distributing their powers and defining the relationship between the state and the citizen.

A constitution whose amendment demands a special procedure more demanding than ordinary legislation, such as a supermajority in parliament or approval by state legislatures.

The schedule of subjects on which only the federal legislature may make laws in a federation, for example defence, currency and foreign affairs in Nigeria.

Subjects on which both federal and state legislatures may legislate, with federal law prevailing in the event of conflict, such as education or health in many federations.

The power of courts to examine acts of the legislature and executive and to declare them void when they conflict with the constitution or a higher law.

Entitlements guaranteed to individuals by a constitution and enforceable in court, typically including life, fair hearing, freedom of expression, association and freedom from discrimination.

A court order requiring a person detaining another to bring that prisoner before the court and justify the detention, otherwise release follows. It guards against arbitrary imprisonment.

The lifelong process through which people acquire political attitudes, beliefs and behaviour, first in the family and later through schools, peers, media and religious bodies.

The prevailing pattern of beliefs, values and orientations that citizens hold towards their political system, shaping how far they participate in or defer to authority.

The aggregate of views held by a significant portion of citizens on political questions, often measured by polls and influential in elections and policy debates.

An organised association that seeks to influence government policy or legislation on behalf of a shared interest without itself contesting elections for public office.

Direct persuasion of legislators, ministers or officials by interested parties, through meetings, correspondence or professional agents, to secure favourable decisions.

An independent body charged with organising elections, compiling the voters' register, registering parties and candidates, and announcing results free of executive control.

The right of all adult citizens to vote regardless of sex, wealth, religion or literacy, usually subject to a minimum age and registration on the electoral roll.

A voting method in which the elector marks the ballot privately, so that no one can know how any individual voted, protecting voters from intimidation or bribery.

The transfer of powers, functions or resources from central government to lower levels such as states, regions or local councils, whether by devolution, delegation or deconcentration.

A legislature composed of two chambers, typically an upper house representing regions and a lower house representing citizens, so that lawmaking requires the agreement of both.

The value of the next best alternative forgone when a choice is made, measured by what must be given up rather than by money actually spent.

The condition in which available resources are insufficient to satisfy all human wants at once, forcing individuals and societies to choose among competing uses.

The quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a given price over a stated period, other things being equal.

The quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to offer for sale at each price over a stated period, other things being equal.

The degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price, calculated as the percentage change in quantity divided by the percentage change in price.

The price at which the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied, so that the market clears and there is neither a shortage nor a surplus.

A sustained rise in the general price level, which reduces the purchasing power of money and is commonly measured by the consumer price index.

The total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a given period, usually a year or a quarter.

Government use of taxation and public spending to influence aggregate demand, employment and price stability, either by expanding or by contracting the economy.

Actions by the central bank to control money supply, credit and interest rates in order to manage inflation, exchange rates and economic activity.

A systematic record of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world in a period, covering trade, services, income and capital flows.

A deliberate official reduction in the value of a country's currency against other currencies, intended to make exports cheaper and imports dearer.

A graph showing the maximum combinations of two goods an economy can produce with its given resources and technology, illustrating scarcity, choice and opportunity cost.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a passage rather than stated outright; the reader must combine clues to arrive at what the writer implies but does not say.

The central point that a passage as a whole is developed to support, usually expressible in one sentence and broader than any single supporting detail.

The sentence, often first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's controlling idea and is then supported by explanation, examples or evidence.

Agreement in number, person or gender between related words in a sentence, chiefly between a subject and its verb or between a pronoun and its antecedent.

Agreement in number, person or gender between related words in a sentence, chiefly between a subject and its verb or between a pronoun and its antecedent.