The institutions which constitute the main organs of the government of a nation are the___________

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the main organs of government in a nation. These are the basic institutions through which state power is exercised.

2. Explain the concept Most modern governments, including Nigeria's, are built on the principle of separation of powers, popularized by Baron de Montesquieu. Government power is divided among three organs:

• Legislature: makes laws (in Nigeria, the National Assembly: Senate and House of Representatives).
• Executive: implements and enforces laws (the President, Governors, Ministers and Commissioners).
• Judiciary: interprets laws and settles disputes (the courts, such as the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal).

3. Solution: check each option

• A. Trustee and the presidium: Not organs of government. A presidium is a collective leadership body found in some communist states, and a trustee manages property or assets for others.
• B. Judiciary and the civil service: The judiciary is a main organ, but the civil service is not. It is an administrative arm that helps the executive carry out policies.
• C. Legislature, the executive and the judiciary: This is the complete set of the three main organs.
• D. Civil service and the senate: The civil service is not a main organ, and the Senate is only one chamber of the legislature.

4. Answer The correct option is C. legislature, the executive and the judiciary.

5. Exam tip Remember "L-E-J": Law-making, Executing, Judging. If an option lists all three organs, it is almost always the right answer. Watch out for the civil service, which often appears as a distractor. It is a support institution, not a main organ.