Government is the group of people who control an organized community, whether a city, state, country or other political entity. Government is the means by which a society establishes and enforces its policies, allocates resources, and provides benefits to all members of the community. It also protects its citizens by providing police, fire, health care and education services.
The world’s governments come in many forms and are shaped by the unique environments, historical circumstances, intellectual and philosophical influences, and economic organization of each nation. As new ideas and important events occur, governments evolve to address these challenges. The result is a multitude of different types of governments throughout the world, each reflecting its own unique set of political ideals.
For example, some countries have kings or queens and are called monarchies; others have constitutions that limit the powers of the monarch and allow a legislative branch, or parliament, to determine policy. Still, others have dictators and are considered to be dictatorships; they lack a formal legislature and are instead ruled by a single individual who has the power to make all decisions for the people.
Another important function of government is to protect the public from private interests that would otherwise thwart a society’s efforts to achieve common goals and provide the community with needed resources. A prime example is the need to protect natural resources such as fish in the sea and clean water, which are available to all but are limited in supply. Governments are responsible for protecting these “public goods,” which can only be protected by the force of law and the collective will of the population.
The final important function of government is to provide its citizens with essential services. While this may vary by the type of government, most governments provide a wide range of valuable services at the local, state, and federal level. Examples include police and fire departments, schools, post offices, water treatment plants and utilities, and health care and food assistance for the poor. Some of these services are provided free of charge while others are toll goods that are charged for through taxes.
Governments are frequently criticized for creating rules and regulations that are either too burdensome on businesses or insufficiently stringent, leading to problems such as environmental damage and consumer abuse. Some companies have complained that government regulation stifles innovation, while other groups such as consumers and the general public have raised concerns about a lack of consumer protection laws.
Governments must balance these competing needs, and there is much debate about what role they should play in a society. For instance, some people argue that it is a government’s responsibility to provide social programs to alleviate poverty and help those in need; others oppose this view and believe that governments should only protect the environment, maintain national defense, and provide necessary services to its citizens. Regardless of the role that a government plays, its decision-making process should be transparent and accessible to all.