Government

government	the people and organizations that rule over a country.
monarchy	a kingdom ruled by a king or queen.
dictatorship	a form of government in which one person or a small group rules with almost unlimited power.

As societies grew larger, government became necessary to provide an orderly way to make decisions, to maintain public order through police and courts, and to supply services that were not provided by merchants. In the hot Egyptian desert, for example, lack of water could mean starvation and death. Only government could ensure that all farmers received their fair share of water and that all farmers maintained their ditches so irrigation systems did not break down.

Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

Today, governments still maintain public water systems, and they perform other functions not provided by business such as national defense and education. Major types of governments in history have included monarchies (kings and queens) based on rule by a royal family or dynasty, democracies based on rule by the people, and dictatorships in which one person takes control of a nation, usually with help from the military.

Instructions for the Quiz

Answer the questions.

Quiz