Karen Sims, age 16, of Indianapolis, Ind., for her question:
WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
Some type of government has been a vital part of every society since man's earliest times. Government is needed for a village, state, province or country. And it is also needed for a family, school, church, social club, baseball team or corporation. Government of some kind affects every single human activity. We couldn't live without government.
Government is the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens or inhabitants of communities, societies and groups.
Every group has rules of conduct to govern the lives of its members. In a family, for example, there may be a rule that the members be on time for dinner. Such a rule makes it possible for all members of the family to eat together and then be able to go about their own business for the evening. Like most rules, one such as this is meant to keep life running smoothly for the group.
Rules made by a group are actually decisions about matters that affect the group as a whole. The decisions are designed to encourage or require certain kinds of behavior, or to forbid other kinds, by individual members.
The rules won't have much effect unless people obey them. If members of a group were permitted to ignore or disobey its rules, a society could not operate. Soon there would be no law and order. Can you imagine what it would be like at a busy intersection in your town if motorists ignore the rules and signals that govern traffic?
Most people obey the decisions of their group willingly. In some cases, and in some groups, it is necessary to educate the members or force them to obey by the threat to punishment. Football teams have referees who enforce the rules of the games. Cities and states and provinces have policemen, judges and soldiers who enforce the laws.
Government can actually be defined as the process within a group for making and enforcing decisions that affect human behavior.
Private and public governments have much in common and many differences. Both make and enforce rules of conduct. A private group, such as a family, rules only its own members. A public government rules all of the individuals and groups within a certain geographical area.
All governments belong to one of three main groups: monarchy, which is rule by one person; aristocracy, which is rule by a few persons, and democracy or polity, which is rule by many persons.
If a government ruled only for the benefit of a few in authority, it would be called corrupt. All members of a group should benefit from the way it is governed.