Functions of The United States Government

Even the most patriotic of American citizens have their criticisms of the United States government, especially during election years. However, most citizens don’t realize just how important government is to American civilization. Without the government, chaos would ensue and many individual services and securities that most citizens take for granted would disappear.

Keeping Order

When groups of people live together in community, there is bound to be disagreements and conflict on a variety of different levels. Some people may disagree about who is the best fit to lead the nation. Others may disagree on values, property, and how to live together in a civilized society. In order to help minimize and settle disagreements that may lead to conflict, the United States government creates laws for the citizens to abide by.

Providing Security

In addition to creating laws, the United States government has the power to enforce the laws of the land. Police officers are sworn in to help serve and protect within the local community. They help keep the peace among citizens having disagreements and help bring criminals to justice.

Another way the United States government provides security when it comes to enforcing the laws is through the court systems. Whether it is a civil disagreement to a criminal proceeding, the court systems use laws created by the government to keep the peace and punish those who refuse to abide by the laws.

The military is another way the United States provides security for the American people. The military defends the country and its citizens from potential threats and enemies. The military has also been known to step in and help a community after a natural disaster.

Providing Services

Many American citizens also take for granted the services the United States government provides. Take transportation, for example. Each day millions of people go to work, go shopping, and travel to recreational destinations. Without the roads to travel on, daily life and routine wouldn’t be as easy as it is today. Each day the government employs workers to build roads and maintain any repairs needed.

The government also creates and maintains schools to educate the public, hospitals, libraries, public transportation, and recreational parks. The government also allows people to send letters and packages through the US Postal Service. Municipal governments also organize and manage emergencies services such as fire departments and ambulance service.

The United States government also creates agencies to monitor the safety issues, such as dangerous drugs, food contamination, and environmental issues just to name a few. The government also provides aid to citizens in need. Some of these include affordable housing programs, food stamps, health care, job training, and programs for people who have disabilities.

Guiding the Community

Another function of the United States government is to create public policies that will help achieve the goals of the community. This could be anything from managing the economy to conducting foreign relations.

When it comes to managing the economy, the United States government creates a budget and decides how to allocate funds to help the citizens. They also discuss and find ways to protect consumers.

The United States government is also responsible for maintaining foreign relations and strengthens national security. They discuss and delegate negotiations with regards to international trade, travel, and other foreign policies.

The functions of the United States government are complex but without the government the daily life of American citizens would be drastically different. Americans are more dependent on the United States government than they realize or are willing to admit.