A government is simply the governing body or agency of a country, usually a nation. The political system in the United States consists of three branches – Federal, State and Local. Each branches works separately for the nation as a whole, but they usually coordinate on important decisions. For example, when making laws or implementing policies related to health care, immigration, taxes, tobacco and banking, all three branches cooperate. In other words, a government is comprised of many different people with different roles.
A form of government ruled by the masses for the benefit of the masses is referred to as a democracy. Examples of such countries are Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The term “democrat” comes from Greek words meaning “of the people” or “of the people.” A form of government ruled by a social club for the benefit of its members, such as the Club for Growth, is called a welfare state. Examples of such clubs are Club for Spain, Club for the acquisition of wealth and the Club for International Trade.
Monarchy is a form of government ruled by a hereditary monarch, most commonly the king or queen. In most cases, the ceremonial crown is used for ceremonial purposes only. Monarchy exists in most of Europe and in the United States, it is still considered a viable option for electing political parties and governing through popular votes.
A centralized form of government exists in most developed countries, similar to a monarchy. Examples include Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States. A central government makes all decisions by the elected legislature, rather than the selection of each by a monarch. In a highly centralized form of government, citizens elect leaders through votes, and participate in a form of representative democracy. In the most developed countries of the world, the term ” democracy” is often used to describe representative democracy.
A representative democracy provides a right to an effective level of public participation, and citizens can make their voices heard in major policy issues. Because a central government must have popular support to remain in power, majority rule is essential. As the saying goes, “the people must have a voice in government,” so that social welfare programs can be enacted and major projects such as education, health care, infrastructure development, and unemployment programs can be implemented.
However, an autocratic form of government has no requirements other than those of being a formal government. There is no need for citizens to participate in a legislative assembly, and representatives are not elected through popular vote. There is no requirement for an informed citizenry, and there are no mechanisms by which a change of government can occur. Therefore, the concept of democracy is limited to a governmental system where a minority of citizens have influence over policy. A social welfare state is inherently undemocratic since an entire society is not involved in the formulation of social welfare policies.