Government as an Institution of the State
Government as an institution of the state is defined as an agency or machinery through which the state is formulated, expressed and attained. The formation of government as an institution of the state arose as a result of people coming and living together to form a society. In such a society, people individual differences that will give rise to the display of man’s wicked acts, selfish interest, conflict of interest and opinion will manifest. There is therefore the need for an agency or body that will regulate people’s activities, else the society will degenerate to what Thomas Hobbes called ‘state of nature or primitive society’ where life was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. To prevent conflict in society, people will have to surrender their natural rights to a body or agency of the state called Government. Therefore, government which is an established body of persons is vested with the authority and power to regulate, control and protect the lives and properties of people in the state.
Government as An Art or process of Governing
Government as a process or art of governing is defined as a body vested with the power and authority for maintaining security, peace and stability by making and enforcing laws in a given state or society. Through the formulation and implementation of policies in the state, government regulate the activities of citizens and at the same time steers the affairs of the state.
For the art of governance to be less cumbersome and be more effective and efficient, governmental powers that exist in the state are vested in one body, rather, they are divided into three main organs. These organs perform different, but complementary functions. They are; the legislature, executive and judiciary.
Government as an Academic Field of Study.
Government as an academic field of study is defined as the study of the agencies and political institutions of the state. This study also involves looking into the functions and relationship between these institutions in the steering of the affairs of the state. As am academic field of study, government also studies international organisations of which the state has membership, as well as the relationship between the state and other states in the world. Also, as a subject of study in schools, government is given various names: some called it government, others political science, or political studies or politics.
Characteristics or attributes of government
Government as an institution of the state has the following attributes
1) Political power: The possession of political power is an essential attribute of government. This power enables the government to influence the citizens and execute its policies
2) Law: A government should have fundamental rules and regulations that should regulate the activities and behaviours of its citizens.
3) Personnel: Government also possesses a team of qualified personnel who are responsible for law making, execution, interpretation and punishment of offenders. This personnel is also called civil service.
4) Revenue: For government to perform its functions effectively, it needs enough fund in order to execute its programmes.
5) Public support: All types of government including military rule need public support to legitimize their existence. Such support will guarantee conducive atmosphere for effective functioning of such government.
6) Welfare services: Another outstanding attribute of government is the provision of social services to the citizens that will improve their welfare and standard of living.
Functions of government
i) Law making: government perform the function of law making, law implementation and law adjudication.
ii) Maintenance of Law and Oder: It is also the duty of government to maintain law, peace and order. It does this through the establishment and equipment of police and law court.
iii) Defence of the Country: Government establishes and equips a standing armed forces in order to defend the country from external aggression or internal insurrection, and to protect the territorial integrity of the state.
iv) Protection of lives and properties: Government through the police and law courts also perform the function of protection lives and properties of not only the citizens, but all those living in the country.
v) Provision of social services: It is the duty of government to provide social amenities such as good roads, electricity, hospitals, pipe borne water etc. to the citizens.
vi) Provision of employment: It is the function of government also to provide employment opportunities to its citizens. This is one of the reasons some countries pay unemployment allowance for their citizens for whom government failed to provide employment.
vii) Maintaining External Relations: Government also has the duty to maintain external relations with friendly nations. This is done through the establishment of embassies and high commissions.
Importance of government
a) The study of government prepares us to take active part in the government of our country as administrative or personnel officers.
b) Through the study of government, we know our rights, duties and obligations as citizens
c) The study of government equips those interested in politics to be better politicians.
d) The study of government puts us in a good position to understand the type and system of government adopted in the country and the implication of such system.
e) Citizens with sound knowledge of government will be liberated from political ignorance and make them to understand why government of their country belongs to some international organisations.
f) The knowledge of government by citizens widens their political horizons and political education of their country and the whole world.
g) The study of government stimulates and arouses the interest and curiosity of citizens in the activities of government thereby preventing the emergence of tyranny and dictatorship.
Assignment
Give ten (10) reasons why we study government
Academic Field of study
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