A government is the body or entity invested with power to manage a political unit, organization or more often a State. Its primary role is to make laws, protect people and property, ensure the smooth operation of an economy and public services and administer justice. There are many different forms of governments. These can include monarchy, oligarchy, democracy (direct and indirect), socialism and communism, autocracy and more. Governments also vary in the way they make policies and allocate power to accomplish collective goals and provide benefits that society as a whole needs.
The most common functions of a government are law enforcement, national defense and the provision of healthcare and education. A government must also manage public goods such as natural resources and the environment. These are items that cannot be easily manipulated or produced by a private firm. In order to maintain a sustainable supply, they need to be controlled by the government, which can impose taxes and regulations on them to keep their use under control.
Another important function of a government is providing a safety net for citizens. Governments often have programs that assist with unemployment, poverty and health care. In addition, they are responsible for managing the environment and maintaining infrastructure, such as roads and railways. Governments may also be tasked with helping their citizens get out of debt and ensuring the safety of their borders.
A study by Pew Research found that Americans are more positive than negative about how the federal government does its jobs. They give high marks to the government for its work fighting terrorism, responding to natural disasters, keeping food and medicine safe, protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. But the public gives the government low marks for its efforts in dealing with immigration, addressing racial issues, helping poor families and reducing the amount of people living below the poverty line.
When it comes to governing, the framers of the Constitution put forth the idea that a government must have checks and balances so that one branch is not too powerful. This has resulted in a structure that gives the citizenry many opportunities to influence the direction of policy from initial concept to final implementation. Citizens can lobby for or against laws, vote in elections, contact lawmakers and participate in the policymaking process.
Another key role of a government is determining how to distribute money. This includes establishing taxation systems that affect the economy, social equality and more. It also means deciding how much to spend on topics like education, infrastructure and more. Lastly, governments must plan and negotiate budgets every legislative period.