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Chapter 18 goverNmeNt

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.
branches of government

The government has to make laws for the governance of the country. Then the government
has to execute or implement these laws. Besides, the government also has to settle disputes

and conflicts in the country. The government has three specific branches to perform the
above said three kinds of functions. These branches are:
(1) Legislative (2) Executive (3) Judiciary

Legislative is that branch of a government which has power to make and change laws of a
country. In India, the parliament at the centre and the Legislate in the states are law making
bodies. Executive is that branch of a government that is concerned with
putting decisions, laws etc into effect. The Union Executive is composed
of the President, the Prime Minister, his council of Minister’s and Civil
servants. The state Executive consists of the Governor, a council of

Minister’s headed by a Chief Minister and Civil Servants at the state
level. Judiciary is that branch of a government that settles conflicts,
disputes and delivers justice to the people. The Supreme court is the
highest court of the country. The High court is the highest court in a
state. The administration of justice is conducted by two types of courts
at the district level—civil courts and criminal courts.
functions of the government

• To protect the life and property of the people.
• To enact and enforce rules and regulations.
• To run postal, roadways, airways and railway services.
• To control market prices.
• To maintain law and order in the country.
• To protect the country from any sort of internal and external attacks.
• To provide relief to the people in case of famine, drought, earthquake, cyclone or
other natural calamities.

• To provide necessary infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals, dams, etc.
• To maintain good, friendly and peaceful relations with neighbouring countries.
• To provide adequate electricity and water to the people.
• To remove poverty, unemployment, discrimination and inequality from the country.

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