Basis of Government: Why States Need Government
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Lesson overview
Why societies establish government in the first place.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · WAEC WASSCE Paper 1 + Paper 2 Lens
Pacing
Objective speed on Paper 1 + structured step-by-step method marks on Paper 2 Theory/Practical.
How WAEC marks this
Examiners award method marks (M1) for stating the formula/definition and accuracy marks (A1) ONLY when SI units are written.
Watch out for
Writing bare numbers without working or omitting SI units loses up to 50% of Paper 2 marks even when the final value is right.
Lesson content
Overview — Basis of Government: Why States Need Government
Why societies establish government in the first place. This lesson is at the beginner level — by the end, you'll be able to recognise this question type, apply a reliable method, and avoid the traps that cost marks.
Key Concept
The basis of government refers to the reasons societies establish government at all — chiefly to maintain law and order, protect life and property, provide public goods, and resolve disputes that would otherwise be settled by force.
Why It's Tested This Way
This topic is tested because it establishes WHY government exists before the syllabus moves into HOW it is organised — examiners expect you to justify government's necessity, not just describe its structure.
Method
Link each function of government (security, welfare, dispute resolution) to what would happen in its absence — a 'state of nature' argument, as social contract theorists like Hobbes and Locke described it, where life without government is insecure and disordered.
Worked Example
Worked example: Without a government-run police force and courts, a dispute over stolen property could only be settled by whichever party is physically stronger — government exists partly to replace force with law.
Second Worked Example
Second worked example: Without government-provided infrastructure (roads, currency, defence), individuals acting alone could not efficiently provide these public goods for an entire society — government exists to coordinate large-scale collective needs.
Common Traps
Common trap: listing functions of government (as covered in later topics) instead of directly answering WHY government is necessary in the first place.
Lesson Summary
Remember: (1) identify what is being asked, (2) apply the WAEC strategy, (3) check against the traps. Complete the 10-question quiz below to unlock the next lesson — you need at least 60% to pass.
Mastery Check · Lesson Quiz · pass 60%
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