Meaning of government and essence of studying it -

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

define government in your own words as an act of governing, as an academic field of study, and as an institution of the state
and the essence of studying government

Definition of government

Government is an institution or a body of persons who take the responsibility of directing and controlling the affairs of a society or state based on established law and rules.

We can also define government as an organized group of individuals who make laws for the state, and ensure the execution of those laws to uphold order in the state.

As a concept, government can be defined majorly from three (3) cardinal aspects, namely:

Government as an institution of the state e.g. legislature, executive, judiciary, etc.
Government as a process or act of governing.
Government as an academic field of study

Let’s explain them one after the other.

Government as an Institution of the State

When we see government from the perspective of an institution of the state, we are saying government is a machinery through which the business and conduct of the state are carried out and established.

It should be noted that as an institution of the state, government is made up of three (3) core organs known as the executive, legislature, and judiciary, they all make up the government.

Government is therefore regarded as an institution of the state that exercises executive, legislative, and judicial functions for the progress of the state.

Government as a process or act of governing

When we look at government from this perspective, we are referring to the step-by-step coordination of activities of a country via the usage of different policy instruments to oversee its smooth running and adequate harnessing of its resources.

This includes the making of laws to guide the affairs of the country; interpreting the laws; as well as the adjudication of laws. The executive arm of government, in carrying out government activities, executes the laws that will be made by the legislature. The legislature sees to it that the potential excesses of the executive are regulated, while the judiciary interprets the law.

Government as a process or act of governing also relates to power as well as its uses in a legitimate territory.

Government as an academic field of study

Government is also studied as an academic field in schools at different levels, not only as a subject in senior secondary schools but also in higher institutions (both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels) as disciplines like Public Administration, International Relations and Diplomacy, etc.

It is possible since government is a system, an institution, and a process that can be studied by learned individuals to attain a better understanding of how it works.

Reasons for studying government

The study of government will help you in the following ways:

1) The study of government allows us to know what is happening around us, particularly in our country, state, and local government area.

2) When we study government, it becomes easy to see the successes and failures of our past leaders, and we can be better informed about what to do differently to enable progress.

3) The study of government enlightens us to know how to differentiate between good and bad government. For instance, when you study the function of government in a state, you will compare this with the reality in your community and see if your leaders are living up to expectations.

4) It helps to equip us to prepare adequately to also take part in the governance of your country.

5) The study of government would make you want you to study what your rights are under the Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended), by this way, you are exposed to your rights, duties, and obligations as a citizen of the country. You are empowered to defend your rights when violated.

6) Studying government also helps to inculcate the spirit of nationalism and patriotism in you as a citizen of your country. For instance the recent change of Nigeria’s national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” would make you want to learn and sing the new national anthem with pride both at home and at international events.

7) You will be able to understand the systems of government in place. For instance, every Nigerian who has attained a voting-age knows that the country is under a democratic rule.

And recently, some Nigerians were proposing that Nigeria should change its system of government from Presidential System to Parliamentary System, the study of government triggered the consciousness in many Nigerians that changing a system of government is enough to change the country for good. They opined that leadership is the issue in Nigeria and not the system of government. That is what the study of government does.

8) It allows us to gain insights into solutions to our political problems/challenges in our immediate societies.

9) Studying government also offers career opportunities for those passionate about the discipline like being political advisers, becoming ambassadors of your country in another country.

10) It can improve the relationship between the ruler and the ruled. This happens when there is up to date valued interaction between those you elect to represent you at the legislative arm and the constituency.

Likely questions:

What is government as an institution of a state?
In what ways has the the study of government in Nigeria helped you?

Dorcas Opeyemi

Dorcas has over five years of experience writing about scholarships, undergraduate studies, and education financing. She provides valuable insights and tips to help students navigate the complexities of funding their education. Her writings have featured on InfomediaNG

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