Political parties and pressure groups

Traps in Political parties and pressure groups

• Over-generalises a feature
  Political systems vary; options with all/always/never are usually wrong unless the definition itself is absolute.
• 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 pressure groups with parties
  Pressure groups seek to INFLUENCE policy; political parties seek to CAPTURE and control government through elections.
• Attributes the idea or event to the wrong person
  Pair each thinker with one book and one key idea (Montesquieu – Spirit of the Laws – separation of powers; Hobbes – Leviathan – absolute sovereign; Locke – limited government).
• Confuses nationalist leaders and movements
  NCBWA (1920) – J.E. Casely Hayford; NNDP (1923) – Herbert Macaulay; NYM (1934/36); UGCC (1947) – J.B. Danquah; CPP (1949) – Kwame Nkrumah; NCNC (1944) – Azikiwe and Macaulay; Action Group (1951) – Awolowo; NPC – Ahmadu Bello.
• Picks a closely related concept
  Learn related terms as contrasting pairs with one-line definitions, then identify which one the stem describes.
• Assigns the function to the wrong body
  Make a table: body → main function → membership. Match the function in the stem to the body, not the topic area.
• Describes a different system of government
  Learn each classification as a table with one defining feature per type (parliamentary: fused executive and legislature; confederation: units keep sovereignty) and match the stem to that feature.
• 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.
• Misunderstands features of democracy
  Direct democracy: citizens decide in person (ancient Athens, referendums). Representative: elected representatives decide. Features: periodic free elections, rule of law, majority rule with minority rights, freedom of expression.
• 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.
• Chooses a true but irrelevant statement
  Test each option against the exact term in the stem, not against whether it is true.
• Gives only one part of the concept
  Recall the full definition and check the option covers it, not just one component.