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Government

A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.

For the executive of parliamentary systems referred to as the government, see Executive (government). For other uses, see Government (disambiguation).

In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a means by which organizational policies are enforced, as well as a mechanism for determining policy. In many countries, the government has a kind of constitution, a statement of its governing principles and philosophy.


While all types of organizations have governance, the term government is often used more specifically to refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments and subsidiary organizations.


The main types of modern political systems recognized are democracies, totalitarian regimes, and, sitting between these two, authoritarian regimes with a variety of hybrid regimes.[1][2] Modern classification system also include monarchies as a standalone entity or as a hybrid system of the main three.[3][4] Historically prevalent forms of government include monarchy, aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, and tyranny. These forms are not always mutually exclusive, and mixed governments are common. The main aspect of any philosophy of government is how political power is obtained, with the two main forms being electoral contest and hereditary succession.

Definitions and etymology

A government is the system to govern a state or community. The Columbia Encyclopedia defines government as "a system of social control under which the right to make laws, and the right to enforce them, is vested in a particular group in society".[5] While all types of organizations have governance, the word government is often used more specifically to refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments on Earth, as well as their subsidiary organizations, such as state and provincial governments as well as local governments.[6]


The word government derives from the Greek verb κυβερνάω [kubernáo] meaning to steer with a gubernaculum (rudder), the metaphorical sense being attested in the literature of classical antiquity, including Plato's Ship of State.[7] In British English, "government" sometimes refers to what's also known as a "ministry" or an "administration", i.e., the policies and government officials of a particular executive or governing coalition. Finally, government is also sometimes used in English as a synonym for rule or governance.[8]


In other languages, cognates may have a narrower scope, such as the government of Portugal, which is actually more similar to the concept of "administration".

Measurement of governing

A quality of a government can be measured by Government effectiveness index, which relates to political efficacy and state capacity.[23]

(rule by law and order, like ideal traditional "benevolent" kingdoms that are not tyrannical)

Aristocracy

(rule by pure liberty and equality, like a free citizen)

Democracy

(rule by wealth and market-based-ethics, like a laissez-faire capitalist state)

Oligarchy

(rule by honor and duty, like a "benevolent" military; Sparta as an example)

Timocracy

(rule by fear, like a despot)

Tyranny

; Smith, Alastair (2012). The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1610390446. OCLC 1026803822.

de Mesquita, Bruce Bueno

; Smith, Alastair; Siverson, Randolph M.; Morrow, James D. (2003). The Logic of Political Survival. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0262025461. OCLC 475265120.

de Mesquita, Bruce Bueno

(2013). The Dictator's Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy. New York: Anchor. ISBN 978-0307477552. OCLC 849820048.

Dobson, William J.

Friedrich, Carl J.; (1966) [1965]. Totalitarian Dictatorship and Autocracy (2nd ed.). New York: Frederick A. Praeger. ISBN 978-0674895652. OCLC 826626632.

Brzezinski, Zbigniew K.

Krader, Lawrence (1968). . Foundations of Modern Anthropology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0133294900. OCLC 266086412.

Formation of the State