Misplaced Pages

Government: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 16:55, 11 September 2003 view sourceDtgm (talk | contribs)411 editsm ext link← Previous edit Revision as of 09:25, 21 September 2003 view source Madelinefelkins (talk | contribs)210 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 4: Line 4:
] ]


A '''government''' is a ] and ] ] that attempts to maintain control of a ]. The modern standard unit of territory comprises a ]. "State" may also be used to refer to the government of the state itself. A '''government''' is a ] and ] ] that attempts to maintain control of a ]. The modern standard unit of territory comprises a ]. "State" may also be used to refer to the governing body of the state itself.


Within a state, ] may have ]s Within a state, ] may have ]s
Line 11: Line 11:


Governments use a variety of methods to maintain control, such as Governments use a variety of methods to maintain control, such as
] and ] (particular under ], see also ] and ], (particularly under ], see also
]), making agreements with other states and maintaining ]), making agreements with other states, and maintaining
support within the state. Typical methods of maintaining support include support within the state, ]. Typical methods of maintaining support include infrastructure
providing ], ] and ], claiming support of providing ], ] and ], claiming support of
], providing benefits to influential groups, holding ]s ], providing benefits to influential groups, holding ]s
Line 21: Line 21:


Various ] have been implemented or proposed. A government in a developed state is likely to have various Various ] have been implemented or proposed. A government in a developed state is likely to have various
sub-organisations known as offices or departments which are headed by politically appointed officials, often called ] or secretaries. sub-organisations known as offices, departments, or agencies, which are headed by politically appointed officials, often called ] or secretaries.
Ministers may in theory act as advisors to the ], but in practice have a certain amount of direct power in specific areas. In most modern ], the elected ] has the power to dismiss the government, though the ] generally has great latitude in appointing a new one. Ministers may in theory act as advisors to the ], but in practice have a certain amount of direct power in specific areas. In most modern ], the elected ] has the power to dismiss the government, though the ] generally has great latitude in appointing a new one.


Revision as of 09:25, 21 September 2003


A government is a political and economic organization that attempts to maintain control of a territory. The modern standard unit of territory comprises a state. "State" may also be used to refer to the governing body of the state itself.

Within a state, subnational entities may have local governments which do not have the full power of a national government. "Control" involves activities such as collecting taxes, controlling entry and exit to the state, preventing encroachment of territory by neighbouring states and preventing the establishment of alternative governments within the state.

Governments use a variety of methods to maintain control, such as police and military forces, (particularly under despotism, see also police state), making agreements with other states, and maintaining support within the state, infrastructure. Typical methods of maintaining support include infrastructure providing justice, administration and social welfare, claiming support of deities, providing benefits to influential groups, holding elections for important posts within the state, limiting the power of the state through laws and constitutions and appealing to nationalism. Groups opposed to government control include libertarians and anarchists.

Various forms of government have been implemented or proposed. A government in a developed state is likely to have various sub-organisations known as offices, departments, or agencies, which are headed by politically appointed officials, often called ministers or secretaries. Ministers may in theory act as advisors to the head of state, but in practice have a certain amount of direct power in specific areas. In most modern democracies, the elected legislative assembly has the power to dismiss the government, though the head of state generally has great latitude in appointing a new one.

See also

External Links