A government is an institution that has power to manage a society, nation or state. It is responsible for making rules, ensuring safety and security, running an economy and providing services to citizens. There are many different types of governments around the world. The most common are parliamentary, presidential and unitary. Governments make laws, collect taxes, print money and have a police force to enforce them. They also have a system of justice that lists what is against the law and describes punishments for breaking those laws.

In addition to the traditional roles of government, some have other responsibilities that can include protecting the environment, managing international affairs and promoting economic prosperity. Governments are a necessary part of our lives. In the United States, six in seven households receive some form of government assistance.

The word “government” comes from the Latin gubernare, meaning “steer the ship.” It describes an active agency invested with executive authority that controls the affairs of a country or State. Governments can take a variety of forms, but the most important factors for categorizing them are how they acquire power and how they distribute it among their members.

There are several ways for people to become involved in a government, including voting, serving as a volunteer and being appointed by a higher authority. The type of government a society has depends on the needs and resources of its members. The most commonly recognized types of governments are democracies, totalitarian regimes and authoritarian regimes, but there are other systems as well.

In a democracy, the legislative branch of government, whose job is to write laws, must make sure that those laws are not unconstitutional or against the interests of the population. The executive branch, which executes the laws, and the judicial branch, which interprets the law, have their own specific powers as well. The President nominates Supreme Court justices and federal judges, while Congress must give its advice and consent to cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and department heads.

Aside from creating and enforcing the laws, the other main functions of government are raising funds and allocating those funds to the appropriate agencies at the local, county, state, national or international level. Funds are raised by levying taxes and tariffs, borrowing or through legislatively directed spending (earmarks) that specify funding for a specific project.

While the role of government varies, most governments are concerned about maintaining social stability, securing borders and protecting citizens’ health and welfare. They also provide a safety net for those in need, which includes helping people pay their bills, providing education and healthcare, and maintaining infrastructure like roads and highways. Governments are also active in the economy, influencing decisions about what goods and services to produce. They can also help redistribute income by collecting taxes and distributing them to those who need it most. This can be seen in programs such as food stamps and unemployment benefits.