Power, authority, legitimacy and sovereignty are described in the study of government as what?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what category power, authority, legitimacy and sovereignty belong to in the study of Government.

Step 2: Explain the concept In Government (the Nigerian syllabus), the opening topic is usually "Basic Concepts in Government." It covers the key ideas that every other topic builds on:

• Power: the ability to make others do what you want, with or without their consent.
• Authority: the legal or recognised right to exercise power.
• Legitimacy: the people's acceptance of a government's right to rule.
• Sovereignty: the supreme, final authority of a state over its territory and people.

Other basic concepts in the same group include the state, nation, society, democracy and rule of law.

Step 3: Eliminate the options

• B. Constitutionalism and Meanings: constitutionalism is a separate topic about limited government and the rule of law. It is not the heading for these terms.
• C. Principles and Structures and D. Structure of Governance: these refer to how government is organised (the executive, legislature, judiciary and so on). Power, authority, legitimacy and sovereignty are ideas, not structures.
• A. Basic Concepts and Principles: this fits. These terms are the foundational concepts and principles used in studying government.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is **A.

Exam tip: Remember PALS: Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty. When you see these four together, think "basic concepts of government." Questions on structures (arms of government) will usually mention things like the legislature, executive or federalism.