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SS2: GOVERNMENT - 1ST TERM

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  1. Electoral Process | Week 1
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  2. Types of Electoral Process | Week 2
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  3. Electoral Process Continues - Proportional, Representation, Repeated Ballot, Direct and Indirect Elections | Week 3
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  4. Ballot Systems | Types of Voting | Week 4
    3 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  5. Organization of Election | Week 5
    4 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  6. Electoral Commission and Electoral Officers | Week 6
    4 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  7. Public Opinion and Mass Media | Week 7
    6 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  8. Civil Service | Week 8
    6 Topics
  9. Personnel Administration in the Civil Service | Week 9
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  10. Public Corporation | Week 10
    9 Topics
  11. Commercialization, Privatization and Deregulation of Public Corporations | Week 11
    4 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz



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Topic Content:

  • Theory Questions & Answers – Public Opinion and Mass Media

Theory Questions – Public Opinion and Mass Media:

1. Write short notes on the following: (a) Mass Media (b) Print Media  (c) Internet (d) Broadcasting Media (e) Electronic Media

2. (a) State two main types of Mass Media.

(b) Discuss the impact of Mass Media in daily administration of government

3. What is the impact of Mass Media in nation-building?

4. What is the effect of Mass Media in Nigeria?

5. (a) What is Public Opinion?

(b) Discuss the characteristics of Public Opinion.

6. How can Public Opinion be formed?

7. Discuss how Public Opinion can be measured.

8. Discuss the importance and demerits of Public Opinion.

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Evaluation Questions – Electoral Commission and Electoral Officers

1. Write short notes on the following:

(a) Mass Media

Answer:  Mass media is the medium through which ideas, information, views on issues and opinion is disseminated to the general public to inform, educate and enlighten them. Mass media spreads information to a large audience within a short time.

(b) Print Media   

Answer:  Print media is one of the oldest and most basic forms of communication which includes Newsletters, Handbills, and Billboards. Some Billboards are electronic Billboards. The Print media help in disseminating information and building knowledge to a wide range of people.

(c) Internet

Answer:  Internet media includes e-mail, social media sites, websites, internet-based radio, and television. This communication is usually through virtual communities, networks, social networks, bookmarking sites, social news, media sharing, microblogging, and forums.

(d) Broadcasting Media

Answer:  Broadcast media use audio and video content to disseminate information to their audience through an electronic mass communication medium or electromagnetic spectrum e.g. Radio, TV, etc.

(e) Electronic Media

Answer:  Electronic media is a broadcast or storage media that takes advantage of electronic technology to share ideas, information, and different views on issues and opinions with a wider range of people. This may include Radio, Television, Internet, Fax, DVD, and CD.

 

2. (a) State two main types of Mass Media.

Answer: 

Print Media: Print media is one of the oldest and most basic forms of communication which includes Newsletters, Handbills, and Billboards.

Electronic Media: Electronic media is a broadcast or storage media that takes advantage of electronic technology to share ideas, information, different views on issues, and opinions to a wider range of people

 

(b) Discuss the impact of Mass Media in the daily administration of government

Answer: 

  • Mass media enables the people in the state to express their views on public issues. This helps to inform the government how the people view government policies, programs, and activities.
  • The needs and aspirations of the people are made known to the government through the mass media.
  • The government presents its views, intentions, and opinions through careful propaganda and press censorship. This helps the government to win people’s support and shape public opinion.
  • The mass media, political parties, civil society, etc. can check or control maladministration through criticism and exposure of such acts in the media.
  • The mass media is a crucial link between the government and the people. The government passes information, popularizes its policies and programmes, and activities through them.
  • Mass media helps in the political enlightenment of the people through its numerous media such as news, phone-in programmes, political discussion, and debates.

 

3. What is the impact of Mass Media on nation-building?

Answer: 

  • It provides employment opportunities to a large number of people e.g. Editors, Pressmen, Scriptwriters, etc.
  • It provides feedback to the government on its policies.
  • It pays taxes thereby generating revenue for the government.
  • It educates citizens on their rights, privileges, duties, and obligations.
  • It is an instrument for change in society.
  • It informs the people on important national issues.
  • It is an important avenue for criticizing government policies.
  • It mobilizes the people for political participation.

 

4. What is the effect of Mass Media in Nigeria?

Answer: 

  • It creates diversity in communication: There are various mediums through which information can be dispersed to the people.
  • It makes it possible for information from other parts of the world to reach people in Nigeria with ease, within the shortest possible time.
  • The mass media widens people’s knowledge not only of what happens locally but all over the world.
  • Mass media is the easiest and fastest medium by which information reaches people.
  • The government mobilizes people’s support for its activities and policies through the mass media.
  • It has helped to check the excesses of the government.
  • The needs of the people are made known to the government.

 

5a. What is Public Opinion?

Answer: 

Public opinion is a total view held by the majority of people in a community on a given public issue at a given time. It can also be defined as the attitude, beliefs, and values which are seen to be commonly held and expressed by a majority of the citizens on a given public issue.

 

(b) Discuss the characteristics of Public Opinion.

Answer: 

  • Public opinion is an opinion held by the majority on a given public issue.
  • Issues that concern the general public is the central factor in public opinion e.g. Social, Economic, and Political issues.
  • Information and communication are important in the formation of public opinion.
  • Public Opinion is dynamic. It changes with time.
  • Public opinion is not held on a general issue but on specific issues of the state.

 

6. How can Public Opinion be formed?

Answer: 

  • Public opinion can be formed through information provided by the mass media.
  • The organization that people belong to e.g. religion or social groups provides information that helps form public opinion.
  • Pressure groups also give information to their members and the general public that helps them form opinions.
  • Families also help their wards to form public opinion.
  • Educational institutions help in the formation of public opinion through information derived from books, libraries, teachers, clubs, societies, etc.
  • Influential people in the society such as political leaders, traditional rulers, etc. also help in the formation of public opinions.
  • Peer groups also assist in the formation of public opinion.

 

7. Discuss how Public Opinion can be measured.

Answer: 

  • Public opinion can be measured through speeches, articles, and interviews expressed in the media or in the press.
  • It can be measured through opinion polls. A survey carried out on a sample of a given population or area on given issues to measure the wishes of the people on a given issue can be taken as the opinion of the general public on a given issue.
  • Public demonstrations or protests can also be a measure of public opinion.
  • Election: General elections, referendums, and plebiscites are a medium of measuring public opinion.
  • Opinions of opinion leaders on given issues such as traditional leaders, religious leaders, and activists are measures of public opinion.

8. Discuss the importance and demerits of Public Opinion.

Answer: 

Merits/ Importance of Public Opinion

  • It helps the government to find out the views of the public on its programmes and policies.
  • Public opinion can help control the excesses of the government.
  • Through public opinion, the government can determine the needs and aspirations of the general public.
  • The government through propaganda can manipulate public opinion in favour of government policies and programmes.
  • A government that respects public opinion will enjoy popular support and recognition of the people.
  • Public opinion is an important link between the ruler and the ruled.

Demerits of Public Opinion

  • Public opinion can be manipulated by a few to satisfy their selfish interests.
  • The government can also manipulate public opinion through mass propaganda.
  • Public opinion views may not represent the opinion of the majority of the people on a given public issue.
  • Public opinion can be misleading, it may sometimes not present the true pictures of things.
  • Incessant adoption of political instability.

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