Government, from the Latin word gubernare (“to steer”), describes an active agency invested with power to manage a political unit or organization, most often a State. There are many types of modern governments, from democratic systems to totalitarian regimes, with a wide range of hybrids that fall somewhere in between.

The primary goal of all governments is to protect citizens from violence and from the worst vicissitudes of life. To do this, governments provide a variety of goods and services, called public goods. Examples include national security, education and health care. It is impossible for private businesses to produce these goods or services in sufficient quantity and low enough cost, so they are primarily provided by government agencies.

To pay for these and other expenditures, governments raise money through taxes on income, property and sales. They also draft budgets that determine how the money they collect will be spent. The budgets are then reviewed and approved by a group of people, usually elected representatives. The resulting laws and programs form the policies of a government.

A government’s rules and regulations are an important component of its policy, but some businesses complain that these rules interfere with their business operations. For example, pharmaceutical companies and other firms may argue that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delays the marketing of new drugs by requiring extensive clinical trials and high costs for their manufacture.

Another way that governments can influence the economy is through their investments in infrastructure such as roads, ports and communications networks. This creates jobs and promotes economic growth by making it easier for people to get around, do business and trade.

Finally, a government can regulate industry through consumer-protection, worker-safety and other laws. This helps protect consumers from being exploited by greedy and dishonest corporations. However, some critics claim that these kinds of regulatory agencies can become corrupted and allow the favored businesses to manipulate them to their own advantage.

It is crucial for politicians to have a clear set of principles about the proper role of government. Those with true statesmanship value principle over popularity, and work to promote the interests of their constituents. These men and women can help us move forward in a time when many of the world’s governments have become unstable and oppressive. Government is a tool that should be used with wisdom and for the good of all. A government is a complex institution, but its basic function remains the same around the world: to protect and provide. What type of government a nation has depends on the values and goals of its people. It is not always possible to have one that is perfect for all, but it is essential for a nation to have a functioning government at all levels of its society.