Government is a system of rules and laws that provides citizens with the benefits they need. These benefits may include education, healthcare, and infrastructure for transportation. Governments also create regulations that protect citizens from harm and ensure that people are treated fairly. Governments are found throughout the world and vary in their functions and styles, but the most common goal is to help citizens live happy and secure lives.
A Government is the body, entity or organization invested with the power to manage a political unit, oftentimes a State. Governments can be organized in many different ways, ranging from one person controlling everything (a monarchy), to a select group of people controlling everything (an aristocracy), to the people as a whole (a democracy). Governments are usually classified according to how they are structured, and these types include the following:
The Federal Government consists of three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. In the United States, elections are held every two years to elect members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These members are the representatives of the people to the Federal Government, and they make laws that govern all citizens of the nation. The President nominates Supreme Court justices and other judges to the judicial branch, and Congress approves these nominations by a vote in the Senate. The judicial branch interprets laws and upholds the Constitution.
In most Western democracies, citizens are allowed to speak freely and express their opinions through the media and in public. In addition, they are able to vote for who will lead their Government, and they can participate in policymaking by encouraging or preventing certain legislation from being passed. This process is known as separation of powers and checks and balances, and it allows citizens to have a voice in their own governments. For example, if a citizen disagrees with a law that has been passed by Congress, they can try to persuade the President to veto that bill, or they can work to encourage other legislators to override that veto.
Governments also provide security for their citizens and regulate access to resources that are in limited supply. Examples of these include public lands, wildlife, and natural resources. Governments regulate the amount that people can take from these resources in order to preserve them for future generations. Governments can also regulate access to these resources through zoning laws and licensing requirements.
In general, working for the Government is considered to have more job security than working for private businesses. This is because the Government can be less likely to downsize or close entirely than a private company, and in some cases, employees who have worked for the Government for a long period of time are eligible for retirement. Additionally, most Government jobs pay better than private sector jobs, and the jobs are usually more rewarding in terms of personal fulfillment. In addition, many people find that working for the Government helps them to feel more connected to their community and society as a whole.