A government is the system by which a state or community is controlled.In the Commonwealth of Nations, the word government is also used more narrowly to refer to the collective group of people that exercises executive authority in a state.This usage is analogous to what is called an "administration" in American English. Furthermore, especially in American English, the concepts of the state and the government may be used synonymously to refer to the person or group of people exercising authority over a politically organized territory. Finally, government is also sometimes used in English as a synonym for governance.In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislators, administrators, and arbitrators. Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. A form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political systems and institutions that make up the organisation of a specific government.
Government of any kind currently affects every human activity in many important ways. For this reason, political scientists generally argue that government should not be studied by itself; but should be studied along with anthropology, economics, environmentalism, history, philosophy, science, and sociology.
Dictionaries
and scholars define government in different ways. Let's build a word map
to help us sort out these definitions. We'll begin by writing the word
'government' and circling it. Then we'll draw lines connecting each
definition to our central term. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers three definitions of government:
1. 'the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc.'
2. 'a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc.'
3. 'the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc.'
Notice here that government can be defined by the people involved, the system in place, or the process in use.
Dr. Harold Damerow, a professor of government and history, gets a bit more specific with his definition. He says that government is 'responsible primarily for making public policy for an entire society.' He also mentions that government is 'the steering mechanism for a given society.' It forms the policies that keep a particular society heading in the right direction.
Finally, Black's Law Dictionary mentions that the institutions of the government 'regulate the relationships among members of a society and between the society and outsiders' and that they 'have the authority to make decisions for the society' to meet goals and maintain order.
While all of these definitions help us grasp the meaning of the word 'government,' they provide a lot to remember, so let's summarize. Government, whether we refer to the system or institutions in operation, the group of people in charge, or the process in use, is the authority that sets rules for a society, helps its members relate to one another and to others, and keeps it running smoothly, securely, and peacefully.
Role of Government
Looking
at the above functions, you might be wondering what they mean for you
and for other citizens on a daily basis. Let's examine a few of the
governmental responsibilities that fall under each Constitutional
function. 1. 'To form a more perfect Union' - The government keeps the country united and helps to form a sense of community, patriotism, and national pride. It does this in part by maintaining national monuments and hosting celebrations on Independence Day and other national holidays.
2. 'To establish Justice' - Justice means making sure that all people receive what is due to them. To maintain justice, the government helps distribute resources through social programs that assist those in need. For instance, families who are struggling to make ends meet can apply for government aid, and senior citizens often receive social security and Medicare benefits.
3. 'To insure domestic Tranquility' - The government makes laws to discourage wrongdoing and keep society safe. It also enforces these laws, maintains order, resolves disputes, and punishes those who break the law, thereby allowing citizens to peacefully pursue their daily lives and hold onto their money and private property.
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