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Arms of Government and Separation of Powers

🏛️ Government 📋 SS1 📅 First Term ⏱ ~20 min 📝 5 quiz questions
📖 Content 📝 Quiz (5)

The Three Arms of Government

The Nigerian 1999 Constitution divides governmental power among three separate arms to prevent the concentration of power in one hand.

1. The Executive

Responsible for implementing laws and running the country day-to-day.

  • Federal level: President, Vice President, Federal Executive Council (Cabinet)
  • State level: Governor, Deputy Governor, State Executive Council
  • Local level: Local Government Chairman

2. The Legislature

Responsible for making laws (legislation) and approving the budget.

  • Federal: National Assembly — Senate (109 senators) + House of Representatives (360 members)
  • State: State House of Assembly
  • Local: Local Government Council

3. The Judiciary

Responsible for interpreting laws and settling disputes.

  • Supreme Court (highest court)
  • Court of Appeal
  • Federal High Court
  • State High Courts, Magistrate Courts, Customary Courts

Separation of Powers

The doctrine (pioneered by Montesquieu) that the three arms of government should be separate and independent to prevent tyranny.

Checks and Balances

Each arm has the power to limit the others:

  • Legislature can override presidential veto; can impeach the president
  • Executive nominates judges; can veto legislation
  • Judiciary can declare laws unconstitutional (judicial review)

📝 Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Answer all 5 questions, then click Submit to see your result.

Question 1 of 5
Which arm of government is responsible for making laws in Nigeria?
The Legislature (National Assembly at federal level; State House of Assembly at state level) is responsible for making laws.
Question 2 of 5
The Nigerian Senate consists of how many senators?
The Nigerian Senate has 109 senators — 3 from each of the 36 states plus 1 from the FCT Abuja.
Question 3 of 5
Separation of powers is associated with which political thinker?
The French philosopher Montesquieu (1689–1755) developed the doctrine of separation of powers in his work "The Spirit of the Laws" (1748).
Question 4 of 5
What is judicial review?
Judicial review is the power of the courts (especially the Supreme Court) to strike down laws or executive actions that violate the constitution.
Question 5 of 5
Which of these is a check the legislature has over the executive?
The legislature can remove the president/governor through impeachment — a check on the executive. The veto is an executive check on the legislature, and declaring laws unconstitutional is a judicial check.
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