The right to vote and be voted for is

Analyze the question: The question asks for the term that describes the right to vote and be voted for (to contest for office).

Explain the concept: In Government, franchise (also called suffrage) is the right to vote in elections. The term is often extended to include the right to be voted for, so it covers both voting and contesting. In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution gives this right to citizens aged 18 and above to vote, with different minimum ages for contesting different offices.

Go through the options:

• A. Fundamental human right: This is too broad. It covers all basic rights such as life, dignity, and liberty, not specifically voting and contesting.
• B. Freedom of expression: This is the right to hold and express opinions. It has nothing to do with voting.
• C. Franchise: This is the right to vote and be voted for. It is the standard textbook term.
• D. Electoral right: This sounds plausible, but it is not the standard term. "Franchise" is the technical word that JAMB textbooks use for this definition.

Option D is the closest distractor, because voting and contesting are electoral in nature. However, the classic definition in Nigerian Government texts is "Franchise: the right to vote and be voted for."

Answer: C. Franchise

Tip: Link the words franchise = suffrage = right to vote and be voted for. If you see "vote" and "be voted for" in a definition, think franchise. Also note that "political rights" is a related category that includes this right.