Government is the system of people, laws, and officials that define and control the country you live in. Some governments have more power than others, but they all do essentially the same thing: “govern” or oversee what happens in public life, though many of the laws that a government like ours establishes and enforces can regulate what happens in private life too.
Explain the concept of government using the Levels of Government Ladder (handout).
A nation is a group of people who share certain common goals and values, and they are able to create and govern themselves in ways that best meet those goals and values. They choose which kinds of government they want to use, and these decisions are made by politicians who represent the people in that country.
The government of a nation is made up of three different branches: the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. The executive branch consists of the president and other high-ranking government officials. Its responsibilities include overseeing and controlling important government activities such as the military, economic policy, national security, and foreign affairs.
Congress, also called the Legislative Branch, makes laws that govern the country. It is comprised of two houses, the Senate and House of Representatives, and their members must be elected by the people. The legislature tries to make laws that are good for the country and not just for themselves.
The government provides services that people need in their everyday lives, such as police protection, education, and medical care. It also protects goods that are important to everyone, such as fish in the sea or clean drinking water. These goods are not easily available to most people in a free market and must be protected so that only a small number of people can take them away from the rest.