Government





A government is a political 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 government 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 (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,
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 or departments 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 politics, political philosophy, political science, cabinet,
executive, legislature, Westminster system, egovernment, anarchism