Introduction
A government is very important in any country and the constitution of America is a clear indication of why the government is a necessary institution in the state. The American government is responsible for unifying the different states that are under the United States of America.
The government ensures justice, infrastructure, as well as economic development. The government of America provides its citizens with a common defense against attacks from foreigners. Without the government, Americans would not have a secure territory and probably the country would not be in existence.
Functions of a government that infuse the force and social contract
The academic system and social justice are all established and supported by the government. In the absence of the rule of law, America would be the country full of chaos, and it would be involved in war as it was during the Civil War (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell).
The government is also important because it protects its citizens from invasion and ensures their safety. Without the government, exchange of goods, services and the money system would not function, hence, America would be a failed state like some countries in the Middle East nowadays (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell).
Such services as fire protection, local police security forces, armed forces, and post offices would not be possible to offer citizens without the government. It provides opportunities for its citizens to access knowledge through schools hence promoting development (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell).
Through government policies, social order is maintained, economic systems are kept under surveillance, and security is granted. The government regulates international trade and as such it can protect its citizens against any harmful products.
The social contract and force theory
The social contract theory states that a person’s political obligations are shaped by the agreement between him or her and the society. This theory is influenced by modern, moral and political theories in politics (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell). The social contract as presented by Plato describes justice as the conventional result of the law.
He argues that people have no problem with injustices as long as they are not the victims. People are comfortable while acting unjustly against others but they get angry when others perform injustices against them. For this reason, the law gives us a common ground to access justice (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell).
The force theory, on the other hand, states that other groups or individuals may take control of an area or region forcing the natives to follow their laws and governance. This is a situation where governance is enforced to the locals by the invading foreigners. The government is charged with the responsibility to protect and ensure that its citizens are not subjected to such political misfortunes.
Conclusion
The government as discussed in this paper is inevitable and its functions are fundamental for a harmonious existence. Without governance, a lot of other sectors that make the United States a great state, would collapse (Coleman, Goldstein, and Howell). The government forms a pool of collective responsibilities engaging its citizens in profitable nation building activities.
This helps to build a strong country in terms of military, infrastructure, education, and communication, social and economic activities. This essay, therefore, confirms the importance of a government by citing the different and fundamental functions and roles that a government plays.
Works Cited
Coleman, John, Kenneth Goldstein, and William Howell. Understanding American Politics and Government. New York, NY: Longman, 2008. Amazon. Web.