Government is the institution responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining order, and providing goods and services. Different countries and states have different governments, but all share the same basic responsibilities. The form of government differs as well, including direct democracy, representative democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, and oligarchy.
Governments typically have three sections, or branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch has certain powers, and works together through a system of checks and balances.
The executive branch, headed by the president, oversees a large number of departments and offices that carry out the laws created by Congress. The president also makes policy, recommending things that the government should do and advising the Cabinet. The president can veto legislation, and also nominates heads of the various federal agencies and high court appointees.
In the legislative branch, lawmakers pass bills that change things, such as new taxes or laws to protect endangered species. The legislative branch includes the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as commissions and committees.
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court and lower courts, enforces the laws by hearing legal cases. The judicial branch also interprets and applies the laws, and decides when someone is right or wrong.
Many countries have a Constitution, which establishes the rules and explains how the government is run. The Constitution is the law that the people follow, and it sets up a system of checks and balances. The system of checks and balances helps to ensure that no one branch of the government has too much power.
Most governments are multiparty systems, with multiple political parties competing for control of the government. A person who joins a political party has the chance to win a job in the government, and is able to influence policies and make decisions.
One of the most important duties of government is to provide public services, such as education, police and fire departments, roads, and hospitals. Governments raise money to pay for these services by imposing taxes on citizens. Governments also draft budgets, which set how funds will be spent on specific projects.
While many people argue that the role of government is to promote economic growth and development, some also believe that it has a responsibility to help citizens with social problems. Governments often provide programs such as welfare and national health care, to help people who need assistance.
An individual can do many things to protect the environment, such as using non-toxic chemicals for cleaning, recycling, and reducing their use of energy. By doing these things, they can decrease the amount of raw materials that are being taken from the earth, reduce the amount of water being used for production, and decrease the amount of garbage that is joining landfills and oceans.