Chap 2) What Are The Roles Of The Government?

Question 1

What are the roles of the government?

Answer 1

To govern the country by;
- maintaining law & order
- ensuring the economic & social well-being of citizens
- promoting & protecting a country’s national interests

Question 2

Why does the government need to maintain law & order?

Answer 2

• without order, a complex society cannot run
• have to make laws that meets the needs of people & solve problems
• have to keep the people safe

Question 3

Why does the government need to ensue the economic & social well-being of citizens?

Answer 3

• the people need jobs & therefore the government needs to ensure a healthy economy
• aim to provide a good quality of life for the citizens (healthcare/education/housing/leisure/etc)

Question 4

How & Why does the government need to promote & protect a country’s national interests?

Answer 4

• national interests are the things we need so that we can live the life we want
• “fighting for yourself”
• government protects our national interests through diplomacy (talking to other counties) in a bid for cooperation
• should diplomacy fail, we need to fall back on deterrence (military response)