Government is the system by which people organize themselves to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that are important to the whole society. Governments create and enforce the rules of a society, control defense, foreign affairs, the economy, and public services. There are many different kinds of governments, but most have a legislature, executive, and judiciary. Some types of government are direct democracies, others are representative democracies, and still others are monarchies, oligarchies, or communism. Each type of government has its own rules about how the people elect their leaders and representatives, what kind of power they have, and what kinds of laws they make.
One of the most important things that government does is provide stability in society and basic goods and services like education, health care, and law enforcement. Government also regulates the use of common resources like water and wildlife, so that everyone can benefit from them without depleting their supplies or damaging them. In the United States, local, state, and federal governments all make laws to control how much of these natural resources can be used. Governments also collect taxes to raise money for services, and they draft budgets that show how the funds will be spent.
A big part of the reason why people form governments is to protect themselves from outside threats. As civilization developed, it became harder and harder for a single city or group of people to keep itself safe from barbarian invasions. Instead, it was easier and safer for people to band together in larger groups, and governments emerged to help them control these large groups.
Another important purpose of government is to create rules that people agree on. This includes a rule that no government may rule by arbitrary decrees (Locke, 1689/1821, SS136). It is also important to have independent courts so that citizens can decide the rights and duties of their government and its officials.
Some of the most basic rules that people agree on are that all humans are equal, and that anyone who does harm to another person should be punished. These rules are important for a peaceful and prosperous world. They are also why governments exist, even though they sometimes make mistakes and do not always act in the best interests of their citizens. That is why there is a need for other checks and balances to prevent abuses by government officials, such as competing political parties, independent courts, and limited government with a Bill of Rights.