Government is the system or group of people that carries out and enforces the policies and laws of an organized community, such as a nation. It provides the rules for daily life and protects citizens from outside interference. Governments also provide benefits to their citizens, such as education and health care. Governments can be as small as a village or as large as a continent. They are found everywhere on Earth except for places where people follow traditions instead of government rules, small border disputed areas and the continent of Antarctica, which almost no one lives on.
The development of government first began when people recognized that protecting themselves would be easier if they formed groups, or nations, and if they agreed that one person in the group should have more power than others. This recognition is called sovereignty, and it is the basis of government. Eventually, the idea developed that the whole nation should be sovereign, and that the people who lived in the entire country should be considered as a unit.
Over time, new ideas and important events have led to the creation of many different types of government. Some are ruled by monarchs, while others are constitutional states or democracies. Still others are republics, communist countries or oligarchies.
A government’s purpose is to ensure the safety of its citizens, maintain economic prosperity and secure its borders. In addition, it must be able to control its currency in order to prevent major economic fluctuations. Those who live in western democracies are generally permitted to express their opinions and make decisions about their government by voting. Governments are also required to provide their citizens with education, health care and an infrastructure for transportation.
In order to be effective, a government must have the support of its citizens. This is why some governments have taken steps to promote a political culture that encourages citizen participation. The United States, for example, is a democracy, and it allows its citizens to vote in national elections.
The form of government a country has will be determined by the beliefs and values of its people. If the government supports a value like egalitarianism, which calls for equal treatment of all citizens, it will probably be a democratic republic. If it supports the idea that property should belong to everyone, it may be a communist or socialist republic.
The type of government a country has will also be determined by the political party that runs it. For example, a country with a multiparty system may be a republic or a democracies, while a country that has a single-party system is probably a dictatorship. Governments also vary in the level of freedom they offer their citizens. Some governments, such as those in communist or socialist countries, limit their citizens’ freedoms. In the United States, for example, the Constitution guarantees the right of freedom of speech and the press. However, this right is not always honored by other governments around the world.