NOTES FOR FRIDAY MARCH 20th

Political Parties
-militray rulers banned pol. parties and some politicans
-at least 1 military govt created a pol. party
-in '93 elections Bambita (SP) decreed existance of 2 pol. parties
-very unsettled system
-sometimes no parties allowed
-other times decreed
-not solid party system

1st parties-ethnic groups and second try pol. parties were required to demonstrate nation-wide organization and support. (like Russia)

-9 pol. parties competed in local elections
-most sucessful three allowed to nominate for '99 elections
-Obasonyo (SP) won 62% of the vote
-in '99 two other parties ALl peoples Party and ALliance for Democracy) both nominated same candidate

Tracing them back:
1. PDP is the descent from the NPC
2. ALl Peoples Party descended from Igbo
3. ALliance from Orginial Yubo(sp) dominated Party Action Group

parteis demonstrate nat'l character by recruiting, organizing minority ethnic groups outside their area of majority. (into other states)

Constitution
-has had several written
-adopting a federal demo. was an attempt to build a coherent nation-state of over 250 groups
-but because of colonial/military rule unitary system with a federal disguise

-system with all powerful central govt, surrounded with weak states and is not strong enough to function with authority
-increasing number of states is a way to reduce ethnic-based pol. conflict
-not having state for each ethnic group--creates several states having to compete for resources which weakends ethnicites
-many smaller minority groups would be better able to compete with maj. gorups by establishing dominance in state alone

-const. gurantees percentage to state/local govt but silent on how to be divided

Executive Branch
-b/c of mil. rule haws been overdevloped at all levels
-at the expense of weak leg.
-current const. written by miiliartry-placed tremendous powers with prez. and unchecked power with mil.
-prez. must give accent to bills passed by leg.
-but NO VETO. if refuses accent the bill will become law if both houses pass it with 2/3rds vote
-pres.=4 yr. term elected by direct vote but must win plurality
-appoints cabinet-Federal Execution Comm. which must be approved by upper house
-person in exec. office or civilian have created regime as much as law
-personality shaped it

Legislative Branch
-for 3/4th no legislatures.
-policy decisions made/implemetned by mil.
-members of both houses-4 yr terms
-each state elects 3 senators from single-member districts
-the federal district elects one senator total-109

-House of Rep.360
-candidates run in single-member districts

-upper house must approve appt.s
-COngress can iniate legislation
-the legis. is a follower not a leader in process

Judicary
--at independence had independent judicary
-over time its power restricted by mil. regimes '93-'95 really bad
-No judicial review

-new const. 15 member S.C
-appt. by prez., approved by senate
-court of appeals
-fed and state courts
-has const. court with judicial review
exec. branch controls funding etc.

-courts known as Sharia COurts (norhtern courts)
islamic law based
-more want there to be all sharia courts

Bureacracy
-cultural divisons made worse
-clientism-practice by which group receives greater share of benfefits/favors of patron
-patrons linked to clients by ethnic reliious of other ties--only benefit small elite
-undermine trust and security
-reduces state to struggle over distribtution called "nat'l cake"
-struggle over who gets biggest instead of whole country benefits