What is Government?

All governments are elected for fixed periods. Election is a moment when people can sense their power in a democracy. Regular elections keep check on the power of the government and leaders. Elections make leaders and parties responsible to the public for their work and performance.

The prerequisites of democracy are as follows:-

1. Regular and periodic elections.
2. Elected representatives exercise their constitutional powers.
3. Universal Adult Franchise.
4. Right to contest elections.
5. Citizens are given the fundamental rights.
6. Freedom of speech and expression.

The government works at different levels-

1. Local level – At the local level it covers the village, town or locality. It is named as Gram Panchayat or Municipality or Municipal Council.
2. State level – It covers an entire state like Haryana or Assam etc. A state government governs its own state. It does not interfere with other one.
3. National level – Its decision making covers the entire country

The way our country has to run is been determined by the government. At each and every level, government makes laws that citizens have to comply. Government formulate and implement policies and programmes for the socio-economic development of the nation and those directly or indirectly affects our daily life.

The government affects our daily life in the following ways: -

1. Build roads and school.
2. To reduce the price of things.
3. Supply of electricity.
4. Running of postal services.
5. Railways services

For a successful democracy, the citizen should be educated and vigilant enough to know about their duties and rights. They should know how the Government policies affect them. In order to elect the right representatives to the government, everybody should get chance to cast their vote judiciously

Constitutional Democracy is based on a written constitution or a supreme law that serves to guide legislators and the laws they create. Written constitutions provide as a guarantee to citizens that the government is required to act in a certain way and uphold certain rights. The constitution clearly demarcates the powers and functions of the three organs of the government. For example: - USA and India.

People prefer to live in democratic countries over non-democratic due to the following reasons:

1. Fundamental rights – Democracies guarantee freedom of speech and expression, right to association, right to equality, etc.
2. Sense of Participation- People gain a sense of participation in the process of choosing their own government.
3. Right to criticize the Government- Freedom of speech and expression gives citizens the right to criticize the government for wrong doings

The term women suffrage refers to women’s right to vote by law in national and local elections

The main features of a democratic country are:-

1. People have the power to elect their representative to form and run the government and also to take decision on their behalf.
2. The competitive elections are held at regular intervals.
3. There is a separation of powers between the three organs of the state i.e. legislature, executive and judiciary.
4. Freedom of speech and expression.
5. Fundamental rights are enjoyed by its citizens.
6. Effective participation of the people in the decision making process

Government is a set of institutions that have the power to make, implement and interpret laws so as to ensure an orderly life. Government consists of group of people who are assigned the task of administering and managing the affairs of the nation.

An authoritarian government is one in which political authority is concentrated in a small group of political elite. Mostly those are unelected and possess exclusive, unaccountable and arbitrary powers.

In a federal form of government, the power is divided between the Central and the State governments. Both the government enjoys their powers independently of one another.

In a democratic country, the government get mandate to make decisions and enforce laws from the people through process of election.

Laws are meant for safety and welfare of people. It is important for people to follow laws to avoid chaos and maintain order. In the absence of laws, there will be inequality in society as the rich, influential and powerful would get their way out.

The Panchayati Raj system was introduced in India in order to strengthen grassroots democracy through democratic decentralization.

In a unitary form of government, the central government gives power to states, provinces or other lower level of governments. In a federal form of government, division of powers between the national and the lower levels of government is laid down by the constitution.

A monarchy has either a king or a queen. A monarch is not an elected person but get power hereditarily. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has supreme power. However, in a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, the democratic government limits the monarch's control.

The Parliament of India is the supreme law making institution. The word Parliament is derived from the French word ‘Parliament’ meaning to speak. Every Parliament consists of houses either one or two. The Indian Parliament consists of two houses, namely, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

The division of power between the Central, State and the local government is called decentralisation of power. The basic idea of decentralisation is that at the local level the people are able to directly participate in the decision making process of the government.

In a federal form of government, the power is divided between the Central and the State governments. Both the government enjoys their powers independently of one another.

The Supreme Court of India is highest court of India. The Court comprises of the Chief Justice and not more than 30 other judges.The Supreme Court of independent India was established on 26 January 1950, the day India became Republic.

States are divided into number of districts. Each district in India varies in size and population. At present, there are more than 500 districts in India. Districts are further sub-divided into Tehsils or Taluqs. Each district is looked after by a collector, the district collector is the important official who is heads the district revenue department and coordinates with the other departments like agriculture, irrigation, forestry, public world and public health.

In a democratic government, leaders keep changing which leads to instability of the government. The elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decision. Democracy leads to corruption as it is based on electoral competition. In a democracy, people have to be consulted that leads to delays in the decision making.