Government is a system of people and institutions that enforces the laws, manages public affairs, provides civic amenities and infrastructure, and offers other social benefits. The central purpose of any Government is to protect the people and achieve the common goals of society. Governments vary widely in form and function. They may be democratic, authoritarian, or some combination of both, and many have existed for thousands of years.
The word Government is derived from the Greek words gove
In a democracy, the government is formed by a political party that wins a majority of seats in elections and then appoints officials to run each department of the Government. Each member of a Government is called a minister and is accountable to Parliament, the lower house of the parliamentary system. Government ministers are largely responsible for forming and implementing policy and for drafting laws. Government departments and their agencies are responsible for putting those policies into practice.
A government may be a part of the national, state, or local level. In the United States, the Federal Government is based on a constitutional republic and has three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The Constitution stipulates that any powers not specifically granted to the Federal Government are reserved for the states and the people. The Federal Government consists of the President, Congress, and a variety of independent Federal agencies, such as the CIA, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Postal Service.
Governments are required to maintain order and ensure the fair operation of a free market. They do so by making laws that regulate activities like banking, and they create laws to protect citizens from rogue companies. They also provide goods and services that the private market cannot, such as national defense and education. In exchange for these services, governments collect taxes from their citizens and require that all members of a society adhere to certain laws.
In most democracies, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of Government are given constitutional authority to check each other. These checks prevent any branch from abusing its power or becoming despotic. In addition, a democracy typically protects citizens’ freedoms of speech and press and allows them to vote. Governments in the United States, Britain, France, and other western nations also allow their citizens to freely express opinions and participate in political debate. They also have the right to organize and join political parties, which coordinate the activities of their associated politicians and candidates for office.