Glossary of Government Terms & Definitions
Contained in this glossary of government terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in the study of government, which is studied in secondary schools and tertiary institutions as a subject or course, which involves the study of political theories, concepts, comparative government, local government, public administration, etc. that help in governance.
a
- ad hoc committee - An ad hoc committee is a temporary committee formed to address a specific issue or task, disbanding once its purpose is fulfilled.
- amalgamate - combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
- arbitrariness - An arbitrary rule, action or decision often seems unfair because it is not based on any principle, plan or system. An arbitrary legal judgment is…
- assimilation policy - Assimilation policies are based on the idea that immigrants should adopt the language, customs, and values of the national majorities, and abandon their own cultural…
- autonomy - Autonomy is the control or government of a country, organization, or group by itself rather than by others.
- autonomy - the right or condition of self-government
b
- backdating - This is the practice of marking a legally binding document, with a date that is prior to what it should be. Backdating is usually disallowed…
- bicameralism - Bicameralism or Bicameral Legislature is a legislative system where two legislative chambers exist to carry out legislative functions in a state, the lower chamber and…
- bureaucracy - The term bureaucracy refers to a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected…
- by-law - By-law is a rule established by an organization, council or board to regulate its activities and manage internal affairs. Local governments may use bylaws for…
c
- carpet crossing - This is an act of swapping political parties. It is an act of changing party allegiance or moving from one party to another. It is…
- centrally planned - A centrally planned economy or command economy, is an economic system where the government has complete control over the production and distribution of goods and…
- checks and balances - In Nigeria, the principle of checks and balances helps to ensure that no single branch of government (executive, legislative, or judicial) becomes too powerful.
- commune - a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.
- constitution - A constitution is a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or state is run.
d
- decree - A decree is an official order given by a government or by a person with power. For example, the president can issue a decree making…
- due process - Due process is the carrying out of legal matters according to established rules and principles and that individuals be treated fairly and their rights respected.
e
- edict - In Nigeria, the military rules the people through decrees and edicts. Laws passed by the central government during military regimes are known as decrees while…
- egalitarian - believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
- elective principle - The elective principle in Nigeria was introduced by the Sir Hugh Clifford Constitution of 1922, which allowed for the election of representatives into the Legislative…
- electorate - all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.
- executive - The executive, also referred to as the executive branch or executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces…
f
- Federal character - Federal character is a principle that aims at ensuring fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructure. The Federal character principle…
g
- gerrymandering - Gerrymandering constituencies is the process of dividing or arranging constituencies to favour a particular political party or candidate in the election.
i
- impeachment - Impeachment is the process of bringing charges against a government official for wrongdoing. A trial may be held, and the official may be removed from…
- indigénat policy - This policy stated that West Africans could be arrested and detained for two years without trial by the French administrators. It was an obnoxious policy…
j
- judicial precedent - Judicial precedent is the process whereby judges follow previously decided cases where the facts are of sufficient similarity. It t refers to the legal principle…
- jurisdiction - Jurisdiction is the official power to make legal decisions, and enforce laws and judgements. or A jurisdiction is a state or other area in which…
l
- land tenure - Land tenure means the act of acquiring land either by an individual, family, community or government, temporarily or permanently. It determines who can use land,…
- land use Act of 1978 - The land use Act of 1978 is a reform essentially aimed at encouraging proper, productive and efficient use of land. It abolished the existing land…
- League of Nations - The League of Nations (1920 – 1946) was the first intergovernmental organization established to promote international cooperation and peace. The League of Nations was the…
- legislative - The legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws within a country. Legislatures are made up of people called legislators who, in democracies, are…
- legislature - This refers to a group of people called legislators who are responsible for making laws and are elected by the country’s population. The legislative branch…
m
- mace - The mace is a symbol of the authority of National Assembly. It is carried into the Chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms and announces the arrival of…
- mandamus - A mandamus is an order passed down from a court requiring that an official perform some particular function as an absolute duty.
- multilateralism - Multilateralism is a form of cooperation between at least three countries or states. It is based on the principles of equality, cooperation, and inclusivity. Multilateralism has…
n
- nativism - Nativism is the political policy of promoting or protecting the interests of native-born or Indigenous people over those of immigrants, including the support of anti-immigration…
- neocolonialism - Neocolonialism is the control of less-developed countries by developed countries through indirect means. It is the use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to…
- nepotism - Nepotism is the act of granting an advantage, privilege, or position to relatives or close friends in an occupation or field. These fields may include…
- non-partisan - A person or group that is non-partisan does not support or help a particular political party or group.
- norm - A norm is a rule, standard, or pattern for action. Social norm refers to shared standards of acceptable behaviour by a group of people. The…
o
- ordinance - a law or rule made by a government or authority.
- organs of government - The 3 branches of government are executive, judicial, and legislative. Executive The executive is the organ that implements the laws enacted by the legislature and…
p
- plebiscite - A plebiscite is a direct vote by eligible voters to decide an important public question, such as a change to the constitution, secession, choice of…
- pressure group - Pressure groups are a group of people who work together to persuade a government or other authority to do something, for example, to change a…
- prorogue - to end or discontinue a session of parliament without dissolving it and calling new elections.
- protectorate - A protectorate is a state or country that’s protected by a larger, stronger one. Protectorate is another word for “protected state.” A country defends its…
r
- ratification - the act of voting on a decision or signing a written agreement to make it official.
- revenue allocation - In Nigeria, revenue allocation refers to the practice where the federal government shares a part of the revenue it generates with state and local governments.…
s
- secession - the action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
- self-determination - This is the process by which a group of people form their own state and choose their own government.
- separation of powers - This refers to the division of a democratic government into different arms of government, i.e the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary, each to perform their administrative…
- social amenities - Social amenities, or public amenities, refer to places, buildings or infrastructural facilities which are to be shared and to become convergence spots for the local…
- socio-economic development - The process of improving the social and economic well-being of a society or nation is referred to as socio-economic development. It includes the processes involved…
- sovereign - Sovereign has everything to do with power. It often describes a person who has supreme power or authority, such as a king or queen.
- sovereign state - A sovereign state is a state that has the highest authority over a territory. International law defines sovereign states as having a permanent population, a…
- sovereignty - Sovereignty is a political concept that refers to dominant power or supreme authority. In a monarchy, supreme power resides in the “sovereign”, or king. In…
- subsidy - A subsidy is a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals, usually in the form of a cash payment or tax reduction. If…
- supremacy of the constitution - Supremacy of the constitution simply means the constitution which is the law of the land is above everybody in the country. The doctrine means that…
t
- tyrannical rule - A tyrannical ruler wields absolute power and authority and often wields that power unjustly, cruelly, or oppressively.
u
- ultra vires - Ultra vires translates to ‘beyond the powers’. It is used to describe an act which requires legal authority or power but is then completed outside…
- unicameralism - Unicameralism is a type of legislature consisting of one house or assembly that legislates and votes as one.
- unilateral action - Unilateral action refers to the different types of administrative and policy changes that the President can initiate on his own without any approval. It refers…
v
- veto - A veto is an official power or right to refuse to accept or allow something. It can also be defined as a legal power to…
- vote of no confidence - a vote showing that a majority does not support the policy of a leader or governing body.