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| refer to the government itself.) "Control" may involve actions | refer to the government itself.) "Control" may involve actions | ||
| such as collecting ]es, controlling entry and exit to the state, preventing encroachment of territory by neighbouring states and preventing the establishment of alternative governments within the state. It can be noted that a government can be seperated from other institutions becuase a government always maintains the sole use of violence to maintain and enforce its view. | |||
| such as collecting ]es, controlling entry and exit to the state, | |||
| preventing encroachment of territory by neighbouring states and | |||
| preventing the establishment of alternative governments within the | |||
| state. | |||
Revision as of 13:47, 13 January 2002
A government is an organization that attempts to maintain control
of a territory, known as a state. ("State" may also be used to
refer to the government itself.) "Control" may involve actions
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. It can be noted that a government can be seperated from other institutions becuase a government always maintains the sole use of violence to maintain and enforce its view.
Governments use a variety of methods to maintain control, such as
military and police forces (particular under despotism, see also
police state), making agreements with other states and maintaining
support within the state. Typical methods of maintaining support include
providing justice and social welfare, claming 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
See also politics, Political_philosophy.
A previous definition, with useful links:
The governing body of a country or subnational entity; generally a group of politically appointed officials (often called ministers or secretaries) who in theory act as advisors to the head of state, though they are generally themselves the heads of various offices or departments which give them 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. A government is sometimes also called a cabinet.