Chapter 1
United States History, Government, and Citizenship
Course: Elementary Education Multiple Subjects 7001
Subject: Elementary Education Social Studies Subtest 7004
Chapter: United States History Government And Citizenship
1. The Nature and Purpose of Government
Government is the organized system through which authority is exercised and public policy is formulated and enforced within a political unit such as a nation, state, or community. At its core, the purpose of government is to provide order, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, defend the nation, and secure the rights and liberties of individuals.
Governments exist to manage resources, establish and enforce laws, protect citizens from internal and external threats, and provide essential services that individuals cannot efficiently manage alone (such as infrastructure, education, and defense). In democratic societies, governments are also accountable to the people and derive their authority from the consent of the governed.
Historically, governments have taken various forms—from monarchies and dictatorships to constitutional democracies—based on differing beliefs about who should hold power and how decisions should be made.