Constitution

Traps in Constitution

• Confuses federal and unitary systems
  Federal: powers divided CONSTITUTIONALLY between centre and units (Nigeria, USA). Unitary: power concentrated at the centre, which may delegate (Ghana, UK).
• Mixes types of constitution
  Rigid = special procedure to amend (e.g. Nigeria). Flexible = amended like ordinary law (UK). Written = in a single document. Unwritten = conventions, statutes, case law.
• Picks the wrong country or place
  Learn the place with its distinguishing fact (OPEC HQ: Vienna; founded in Baghdad). Read whether the stem asks where something began or where it is now.
• Military rule misconceptions
  Military regimes suspend the constitution and rule by decrees/edicts; the ruling council (e.g. Supreme Military Council) combines executive and legislative powers.
• Picks a closely related concept
  Learn related terms as contrasting pairs with one-line definitions, then identify which one the stem describes.
• Reverses the principle or its effect
  Ask what problem the principle is meant to solve; the right answer serves that purpose, the reversal defeats it.
• Misunderstands judicial independence
  Independence is secured by security of tenure, salaries charged on the consolidated fund, appointment through a judicial service commission, and immunity for judicial acts.
• Confuses legislative structures
  Unicameral = one chamber (Ghana); bicameral = two (Nigeria: Senate + House of Reps). Speaker presides; whips enforce party discipline; quorum is the minimum number to transact business.
• Confuses electoral systems and bodies
  Franchise = right to vote. First-past-the-post: highest votes wins a constituency. Proportional representation: seats in proportion to votes.
• Confuses executive roles
  Collective responsibility: the cabinet stands or falls together. Individual responsibility: a minister answers for their department. Ceremonial head of state vs executive head of government.
• Misunderstands features of civil service
  Civil service: permanence, neutrality, anonymity, impartiality, recruitment on merit.
• Gives only one part of the concept
  Recall the full definition and check the option covers it, not just one component.
• Over-generalises a feature
  Political systems vary; options with all/always/never are usually wrong unless the definition itself is absolute.
• Confuses Ghanaian constitutional history
  Burns 1946: African unofficial majority in Legislative Council. Coussey 1951: led to Nkrumah as Leader of Government Business. 1957 independence; 1960 republic (Nkrumah president); 1992 Fourth Republic.
• Confuses parliamentary and presidential systems
  Parliamentary: executive drawn from and responsible to legislature (fusion), separate head of state and head of government. Presidential: separate executive, fixed term, president is both heads.