Basic State Functions: Difference between revisions
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We assume throughout this documentation that the debate concerning the derivation of state authority is settled and arises from the governed, therefore the following is a very cursory overview from a post-[[wikipedia:Age_of_Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] perspective. | |||
It can be easy to overlook the fundamental purpose of government, but when it fails to carry out the following essential functions, it ceases to truly represent or serve the people it governs: | |||
* '''Establish Internal Order:''' The government’s primary function is to use laws to provide an understood framework for the population to peacefully interact. This population, that interacts peacefully by virtue of these laws, are called citizens. The laws may protect the citizens rights to life and safety, property, and more, depending on the government. | * '''Establish Internal Order:''' The government’s primary function is to use laws to provide an understood framework for the population to peacefully interact. This population, that interacts peacefully by virtue of these laws, are called citizens. The laws may protect the citizens rights to life and safety, property, and more, depending on the government. | ||
* '''Provide Physical Security:''' The government also protects the citizens from outside and internal forces that would harm the citizens. Police protect the citizens from each other and any who may enter the territory controlled by the government. The military protects all citizens from other governments or other hostile actors abroad. | * '''Provide Physical Security:''' The government also protects the citizens from outside and internal forces that would harm the citizens. Police protect the citizens from each other and any who may enter the territory controlled by the government. The military protects all citizens from other governments or other hostile actors abroad. | ||
* '''Infrastructure:''' The government, typically by virtue of taxes collected, pools resources to build out infrastructure that benefits that society collectively, which otherwise may be too expensive or complicated for a local community or the private market (in a capitalist society) to manage independently. This infrastructure may include roads, schools, sewers, water, electricity, and more. | * '''Maintain Infrastructure:''' The government, typically by virtue of taxes collected, pools resources to build out infrastructure that benefits that society collectively, which otherwise may be too expensive or complicated for a local community or the private market (in a capitalist society) to manage independently. This infrastructure may include roads, schools, sewers, water, electricity, and more. | ||
* '''Government Stability:''' The government should provide a framework that defines leadership, succession, structure and more for its preservation and self-continuation. | * '''Government Stability:''' The government should provide a framework that defines leadership, succession, structure and more for its preservation and self-continuation. | ||
These are the most basic requirements for a minimally-functional government, | These are essential to create an environment in which individuals may flourish. Yet while these are the most basic requirements for a minimally-functional government, a modern state ''should'' do so much more. | ||
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[[Main Page| ← Main Page]] | [[Bonus State Functions|Bonus State Functions →]] | [[Main Page| ← Main Page]] | [[Basic State Functions]] | [[Bonus State Functions|Bonus State Functions →]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 21:25, 7 September 2026
We assume throughout this documentation that the debate concerning the derivation of state authority is settled and arises from the governed, therefore the following is a very cursory overview from a post-Enlightenment perspective.
It can be easy to overlook the fundamental purpose of government, but when it fails to carry out the following essential functions, it ceases to truly represent or serve the people it governs:
- Establish Internal Order: The government’s primary function is to use laws to provide an understood framework for the population to peacefully interact. This population, that interacts peacefully by virtue of these laws, are called citizens. The laws may protect the citizens rights to life and safety, property, and more, depending on the government.
- Provide Physical Security: The government also protects the citizens from outside and internal forces that would harm the citizens. Police protect the citizens from each other and any who may enter the territory controlled by the government. The military protects all citizens from other governments or other hostile actors abroad.
- Maintain Infrastructure: The government, typically by virtue of taxes collected, pools resources to build out infrastructure that benefits that society collectively, which otherwise may be too expensive or complicated for a local community or the private market (in a capitalist society) to manage independently. This infrastructure may include roads, schools, sewers, water, electricity, and more.
- Government Stability: The government should provide a framework that defines leadership, succession, structure and more for its preservation and self-continuation.
These are essential to create an environment in which individuals may flourish. Yet while these are the most basic requirements for a minimally-functional government, a modern state should do so much more.
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