, and arbitrators
in the administrative bureaucracy
who control a state
at a given time, and to the system of government
by which they are organized. Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy
of the state.
The word government is derived from the Latin verb gubernare, an infinitive meaning "to govern" or "to manage".
States
are served by a continuous succession of different governments.
Government, in the last analysis, is organized opinion. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.
"Do you know who is responsible?" "Why of course, it's the government!" "Jill, 'the government' is several million people."
Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty.
People should not be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.
What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.