Government is a form of administration that directs and controls the affairs of a state, community, or society. It is essential for the operation of a civilized society because it enforces laws, provides security and safety systems, builds infrastructure, and manages key expenditures. Governments are usually organised into institutions, or branches, with distinct functions and powers that may be separated or merged. They are usually controlled by members of a particular political party who compete in elections to win a specific number of seats in the government.
Governments evolved when people discovered that it was easier to protect themselves in groups. This is why governments typically represent the collective interests of a nation rather than individual citizens. Governments are also responsible for providing services that are deemed to be in the public interest such as healthcare and education. The role of governments has changed over time as societies develop and the needs of individuals change but they will always be necessary for a functional society.
Traditionally, governments have been seen as the protectors of the common good. This is because the market cannot provide everything that a population requires, either because there are not enough resources to go around or the costs of production would be too high. The two most important examples of common goods are national defense and public education. Governments are also responsible for protecting the environment and preventing businesses from engaging in activities that would damage it or putting their workers at risk. In addition, the government is responsible for creating and enforcing consumer protection, worker-safety, and other laws that protect citizens and businesses from unfair competition.
The modern world of business has created a new conflict between the role of government and that of business. On the one hand, business advocates believe that government should be a neutral referee to adjudicate rules by which other forces in the economy compete and on the other hand, they argue that some regulations are needed to protect consumers, workers, and the environment. Historically, this has created a tension between business and government that will probably never be resolved completely.
In the United States, Congress legislates mandatory spending programs like Social Security and Medicare. These are not limited by money set aside or spent in a year so they can more quickly respond to unexpected circumstances such as recessions or pandemics. Mandatory spending is also a vehicle for addressing unsustainable deficits.
Some critics of mandatory spending point to the fact that a government’s discretionary budget can be abused in a process called “regulatory capture,” whereby the agencies regulating an industry become so infiltrated with employees from the industries they are supposed to regulate that they begin to make decisions that benefit those companies. Regulatory capture undermines the ability of government to protect the interests of the public.
It is generally considered to be the right of every citizen to know how his or her government is operating and making decisions. This right is protected in many constitutions around the world, including the United States.