1.
Abraham Lincoln describes democracy as
A) Government of the people, by the people, for the people
B) Power of the people
C) Government by the majority
D) Government by the elite.
2. What does democracy depend on?
A) The power of the government
B) The will of the people
C) The influence of political parties
D) The support of the military
3. What is the principle that characterizes all modern democracies?
A) Majority rule and minority rights
B) Majority rule without minority rights
C) Minority rule without majority rights
D) No rule, only chaos
4. What is the meaning of the Greek word “demos”?
A) People
B) Power
C) Democracy
D) Government
5. What is the meaning of the Greek word “kratos”?
A) People
B) Power
C) Democracy
D) Government
6. What are the fundamental rights in a democracy?
A) Rights that can be legislated away by the government
B) Rights that depend on the good will of the majority
C) Rights that exist independently of the government
D) Rights that can be eliminated by majority vote
7. What is the protection of free speech in a democracy?
A) A negative right that requires governments to limit speech
B) A positive right that requires governments to protect speech
C) A right that can be used to incite violence
D) A right that can be used to promote racism or ethnic hatred
8. What is the principal mechanism for translating consent into governmental authority in a
democracy?
A) Free and fair elections
B) Authoritarian rule
C) Military coup
D) Dictatorship
9. What is the principle of religious freedom in a democracy?
A) The right to use religion as an excuse for violence
B) The right to follow one’s conscience in matters of religious faith
C) The right to control and regulate religious organizations
D) The right to promote one religion over others.
10. How are legislators chosen in a democracy?
A) By a small, exclusive group
B) By the military
C) By the ruling party
D) By the citizens through various methods
11. What is the purpose of democratic elections?
A) To fight for survival
B) To compete to serve
C) To suppress opposition parties
D) To manipulate election results
12. What is the role of the opposition in a democracy?
A) To suppress the ruling party
B) To cooperate with the ruling party
C) To criticize the ruling party and present alternatives
D) To exclude themselves from public life
13. What is the purpose of habeas corpus?
A) To allow indefinite detention without charges
B) To ensure a fair and speedy trial
C) To prevent suspects from being released
D) To grant bail to all accused individuals
14. What is the supreme law of the land in a country
A) The laws established by the people
B) The constitution
C) The authority of the national government
D) The guarantees for fundamental human rights
15. What is the purpose of constitutionalism?
A) To ensure the authority of the national government
B) To adapt and change the constitution as needed
C) To establish limits on the power of the government
D) To provide guarantees for fundamental human rights
16. How is power divided in a constitutional democracy?
A) The legislature makes the laws, the executive carries them out, and the judiciary ensures their
implementation
B) The executive makes the laws, the legislature carries them out, and the judiciary ensures their
implementation
C) The judiciary makes the laws, the executive carries them out, and the legislature ensures their
implementation
D) The legislature, executive, and judiciary all have equal power in making and implementing
laws
17. In a parliamentary system, the majority party (or a coalition of parties willing to govern
together) in the legislature forms the executive branch of the government.
A) True
B) False
18. What is the principal claim of a presidential system?
A) Separation of powers and checks and balances
B) Direct accountability, continuity, and strength
C) Flexibility and power sharing
D) Stability through strong majority parties
19. What is the potential weakness of separately elected presidents and legislatures?
A) Stalemate and inability to enact policies
B) Lack of political allies in the legislature
C) Dependence on the internal dynamics of the parliament
D) Inability to check and balance the government
20. Judges in a democracy can easily be removed for minor offenses
A) True
B) False
21. What is the power of judges in a democracy?
A) To review public laws and declare them unconstitutional
B) To enforce laws without restrictions or influence
C) To make decisions based on political considerations
D) To remove themselves from deciding cases of conflict
22. What is the role of political parties in good governance?
A) To ensure unlimited power for the ruling government
B) To serve as a check on the ruling government
C) To prioritize the interests of under-represented groups
D) To manipulate public opinion and control policies
23. What is the purpose of election campaigns in a democracy?
A) To provide a peaceful and fair method for selecting leaders
B) To ensure unlimited power for the ruling government
C) To manipulate public opinion and control policies
D) To prioritize economic interests over social issues
24. What is the role of political parties in ensuring responsiveness and accountability in
governance?
A) To defend every action of the ruling government
B) To criticize every action of the ruling government
C) To promote good governance and hold government accountable
D) To mobilize citizens to support ruling government actions
25. What is the purpose of opposition in political parties in parliament?
A) To support and defend every action of the ruling government
B) To scrutinize government policies and ask questions
C) To prevent the approval of government budgets and political appointees
D) To mobilize citizens to oppose ruling government actions
26. What is one way political parties provide political education to the public?
A) Through manifestoes
B) Through interest groups
C) Through NGOs
D) Through rallies
27. In which country do political parties take their members through sensitization activities to
prepare them for elections?
A) Nigeria
B) South Africa
C) Ghana
D) Kenya
28. How do political parties contribute to citizen participation in decision making?
A) By organizing rallies
B) By recruiting national leaders
C) By bridging the gap between government and the people
D) By providing political education
29. All these are negative actions that political parties have been accused of except:
A) Vote-buying
B) Lies
C) Violence
D) Illegal party-funding
30. What is one potential consequence of political parties becoming driven by revenge and self-
interest?
A) Increased citizen participation
B) Improved governance
C) Undermining of good governance
D) Strengthening of democracy
31. What is one criticism of interest groups?
A) Lack of influence
B) Influence of “special interests”
C) Lack of organization
D) Lack of funding
32. What is one role of internationally based NGOs?
A) Monitoring the conduct of governments
B) Advocating for political parties
C) Organizing rallies
D) Recruiting national leaders
33. What is one characteristic of NGOs?
A) They focus solely on economic issues
B) They are affiliated with political parties
C) They have large national followings
D) They operate under minimal political control of states
34. Which constitution made a distinction between President and National Assembly?
A) 1957 Constitution
B) 1960 Constitution
C) 1969 Constitution
D) 1979 Constitution
35. Which constitution emphasized the need for the three arms of government to be independent
from one another?
A) 1957 Constitution
B) 1960 Constitution
C) 1969 Constitution
D) 1979 Constitution
36. Who appoints the Prime Minister in the Parliamentary system of government under the 1969
Constitution?
A) The President
B) The Speaker of Parliament
C) The Cabinet
D) The Members of Parliament
37. In the parliamentary system of government, if the policies of the cabinet were rejected, the
government was expected to resign
A) True
B) False
38. How many years was the term of the National Assembly during the Second and Third
Republic?
A) Four
B) Five
C) Six
D) Eight
39. How many Members had the 1969 and 1979 Constitutions of the Second and Third
Republics provided for?
A) 140
B) 160
C) 180
D) 200
40. How many Members are currently in the Parliament of Ghana?
A) 270
B) 285
C) 275
D) 280
41. Who presides over all sittings of the Parliament of Ghana?
A) The Majority leader
B) The Speaker
C) The President
D) The Chief Justice
42. How many Members were there in the National Assembly under the 1957 independence
Constitution?
A) 72
B) 100
C) 112
D) 104
43. Which party had majority of seats in the First National Assembly of the First Republic?
A) Convention People’s Party
B) United Party
C) National Liberation Movement
D) Northern People’s Party
44. How many extra seats were created specifically for the first female Parliamentarians in the
First Republic?
A) 5
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
45. Who chairs the Parliamentary Service Board in Ghana?
A) The Speaker
B) The President
C) The Chief Justice
D) The Clerk-to-Parliament
46. How many terms can a representative serve in the Parliament of Ghana?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) No limit
47. How many female Members of Parliament were there in addition to the 10 specifically
elected female Parliamentarians in the First Republic?
A) 5
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
48. Which Republic saw the adoption of a presidential system of government?
A) First Republic
B) Second Republic
C) Third Republic
D) Fourth Republic
49. Who chooses the Ministers in the Presidential system of government under the 1979
Constitution?
A) The Cabinet
B) The President
C) The Speaker of Parliament
D) The Members of Parliament
50. Which constitution provided for an elected multi-party democratic unicameral legislature?
A) 1957 Constitution
B) 1969 Constitution
C) 1979 Constitution
D) 1992 Constitution
51. Who is nominated by the majority party in Parliament to be the Speaker?
A) The President
B) The Prime Minister
C) The Members of Parliament
D) The Chief Justice
52. How many Deputies assist the Speaker in presiding over the Parliament of Ghana?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
53. How many weeks does Parliament sit on average throughout the year?
A) 24 weeks
B) 36 weeks
C) 48 weeks
D) 52 weeks
54. Which constitution provided for the creation of District Assemblies?
A) 1957 Constitution
B) 1979 Constitution
C) 1969 Constitution
D) 1992 Constitution
55. Which political party had the highest number of seats in the National Assembly under the
1969 constitution?
A) Progress Party (PP)
B) People’s National Party (PNP)
C) Popular Front Party (PFP)
D) United National Convention (UNC)
56. How many female Members of Parliament were there in the National Assembly under the
1969 constitution?
A) 1
B) 3
C) 5
D) 18
57. When did parliamentary democracy in the country get interrupted by a coup d’etat?
A) 1969
B) 1981
C) 1992
D) 2005
58. Which political party had the highest number of seats in the Second Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) New Patriotic Party (NPP)
B) National Democratic Congress (NDC)
C) People’s National Convention (PNC)
D) Convention People’s Party (CPP)
59. How many female Members of Parliament were there in the Second Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) 16
B) 18
C) 19
D) 25
60. When was the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic inaugurated?
A) 1993
B) 1997
C) 2001
D) 2005
61. Which political party had the highest number of seats in the Third Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) National Democratic Congress (NDC)
B) New Patriotic Party (NPP)
C) People’s National Convention (PNC)
D) Convention People’s Party (CPP)
62. How many female Members of Parliament were there in the Third Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) 16
B) 18
C) 19
D) 25
63. When was the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic inaugurated?
A) 1993
B) 1997
C) 2001
D) 2005
64. Which political party had the highest number of seats in the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) New Patriotic Party (NPP)
B) National Democratic Congress (NDC)
C) People’s National Convention (PNC)
D) Convention People’s Party (CPP)
65. How many female Members of Parliament were there in the Third Parliament of the Fourth
Republic?
A) 16
B) 18
C) 19
D) 25
66. Which committee is responsible for considering matters relating to the Judiciary?
A) Committee of selection
B) Judiciary committee
C) Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary affairs
D) Standing Orders Committee
67. How many members are there in the Committee of Selection?
A) 19
B) 20
C) 21
D) 25
68. Which committee is responsible for considering proposals for the amendment of the Standing
Orders?
A) Judiciary Committee
B) Committee of Selection
C) Standing Orders Committee
D) Appointments Committee
69. Which committee enquires into complaints of contempt of Parliament or matters of
privilege?
A) Judiciary Committee
B) Committee of Selection
C) Standing Orders Committee
D) Committee of Privileges
70. Which committee advises the Speaker on requests to hold offices of profit or emoluments?
A) Committee of Selection
B) Committee of Privileges
C) Members Holding Offices of Profit Committee
D) Judiciary Committee
71. Which committee considers the budget of Parliament and other constitutionally independent
bodies?
A) Special Budget Committee
B) Public Accounts Committee
C) Committee of Selection
D) Committee on Government Assurance
72. How many members are there in the Public Accounts Committee?
A) 19
B) 20
C) 25
D) 30
73. How many members are there in the Finance Committee?
A) 19
B) 20
C) 25
D) 30
74. Which committee examines all assurances, promises, and undertakings given by Ministers?
A) Special Budget Committee
B) Public Accounts Committee
C) Committee on Communications
D) Committee on Government Assurance
75. How many members are there in the Committee on Communications?
A) 16
B) 18
C) 19
D) 20
76. How many members are there in the Education Committee?
A) 16
B) 18
C) 19
D) 20
77. Which committee examines questions relating to defense and internal affairs?
A) Committee on Communications
B) Committee on Defense and the Interior
C) Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
D) Committee on Education
78. How are local government activities financed in Ghana?
A) Direct central government transfers
B) Internally generated funds
C) Loans and financial agreements
D) All of the above
79. Which of the following local government funding sources gives them more autonomy in the
used of the funds?
A) Loans and other financial agreements
B) Internally Generated Funds
C) District Assemblies Common Fund
D) District Development Facility
80. District Assemblies can raise loans or obtain overdrafts to finance projects on their own.
A) True
B) False
