# What Is the Primary Function of Government **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 8, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432 "2010-10-08T00:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/21 "2010-10-08T16:21:43Z")
To collect taxes from the peons I am currently refraining from executing so that they can toil in my vineyards to raise money for taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/22 "2010-10-08T16:23:39Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > 1. Define “evil”. > > 2. Whose order? > > Evil: > > > [@](#): > > > > Evil is intentionally causing harm or destruction, or deliberately violating some moral code. The philosophical question of whether morality is absolute or relative leads to questions about the nature of evil. Evil is usually seen as the opposite of good. > > Order: Order needed to maintain prosperity and the well being of citizens. Whose moral code? ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/23 "2010-10-08T17:18:58Z")
This is a question I’ve thought about from time to time, and I don’t have a complete answer. But at least in a broad sense, I believe the primary function of government (at any level: local, state, federal) is to do for the general population what the population cannot do for itself. To expand, it’s similar to what **Gil-Martin** said upthread: > [@](#): > > …the distribution/redistribution of resources with an eye toward providing citizens with things they cannot reasonably be expected to provide for themselves. I’m thinking about things like the army and the highways. The list can be expanded of course, nearly _ad infinitum_, but other examples I’d add would be food protection/inspection/regulation, etc. I certainly don’t want us to go back to the type of behavior before the Pure Food and Drug Act took effect. And to expand on the highway idea, I believe government is better suited to construct, maintain, regulate etc. our highways and other infrastructure. I’d sure as hell hate for bridges to be privatized, especially those which cross state lines (ex: those states that line the Ohio or Mississippi rivers among others). A mostly-forgotten movie I enjoy is [Head Office](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091183/), starring Judge Rheinhold. In it, Rheinhold’s character utters a truth we’d do well to remember: “Corporations operate in their own best interest.” Of course, that’s not to say governments don’t do the same, because fer cryin’ out loud, it’s human nature, but in certain areas, I’d rather the government run things than the private sector. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/24 "2010-10-09T00:42:54Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Evil: > > > > Order: Order needed to maintain prosperity and the well being of citizens. > > Whose moral code? Since government should not impose a religion or morality on people, things that actually physically hurt people such as murder, theft, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/25 "2010-10-09T00:48:02Z")
To provide the things the Private Sector cannot or should not provide, either due to an inability to do it profitably, or do it without bias or monopoly. Working real well, ain’t it? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/26 "2010-10-09T01:07:02Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Order needed to maintain prosperity and the well being of citizens. Leave out the first to words of this sentence and you have a winner. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/27 "2010-10-09T01:22:54Z")
I don’t think it really has a “primary function” as such; government is a generalist institution, not a specialist one like for example the military. It is there to maintain order, guard against external threats, promote the general welfare and prosperity of its citizens, and act as the implementation of the general collective will of the populace. The latter basically meaning that the purpose of government is in part whatever the people it governs say it is. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/28 "2010-10-09T02:59:19Z")
To provide for and protect the common good. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/29 "2010-10-09T14:15:47Z")
The primary function of government is not to “help” me or “give” me things. The primary function of government is to assist in the protection and defense of my individual freedoms & liberties. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/30 "2010-10-09T15:04:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The primary function of government is not to “help” me or “give” me things. The primary function of government is to assist in the protection and defense of my individual freedoms & liberties. Except for things like, you know, roads. And hurricanes…and education…and the development of things like Nuclear power… Government can’t easily be lumped into one or two things. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/31 "2010-10-09T16:42:00Z")
To protect and defend the lives and rights and well-being of its individual citizens. And yes, I realize how vague that is. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/32 "2010-10-09T17:04:00Z")
To establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. Y’know, like in that song. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/33 "2010-10-09T17:28:22Z")
Ask not what the primary function of your government is, but how goverment primarily functions you. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/34 "2010-10-09T18:10:25Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > The primary function of government is not to “help” me or “give” me things. The primary function of government is to assist in the protection and defense of my individual freedoms & liberties. > > Except for things like, you know, roads. And hurricanes…and education…and the development of things like Nuclear power… > > Government can’t easily be lumped into one or two things. Some people don’t agree that government should be providing hurricanes. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/35 "2010-10-09T22:54:26Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > > > Except for things like, you know, roads. And hurricanes…and education…and the development of things like Nuclear power… > > > > Government can’t easily be lumped into one or two things. > > Some people don’t agree that government should be providing hurricanes. Ha. Or sending assistance to the folks that have suffered under one? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/36 "2010-10-09T23:49:49Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > What is the primary function of government? I don’t mean there can’t be any other functions but what should its main purpose and duty be? First you have to understand that “function” and “purpose” aren’t the same thing. Since you’re really asking “What should be the main purpose of government,”(at least, I assume this is what you’re asking), this should be a Great Debate. Moved. **samclem** Moderator, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/37 "2010-10-10T00:02:45Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > What is the primary function of government? I don’t mean there can’t be any other functions but what should its main purpose and duty be? To prevent Person A from inflicting harm on Person B without their consent, and vice versa. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Establishing the greatest good for the greatest number of its citizens. [_cough_](http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/11/tom-the-dancing-bug-15.html) ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/38 "2010-10-10T01:38:22Z")
The Constitution specifically divided the American Government into three distinct functions, made from three distinct types of ruling principles. Typically in history, you see rule of the masses, the rule of the monarch, and the rule of the intellectual elite. The Founders created a clever role for each kind of governance. The Constitution places the first and foremost authority with the masses in Congress. It’s mentioned first in the Constitution for good reason. This body is the only one allowed to create laws, ratify decisions like treaties, raise & spend money, and approve appointments. It is also the only branch allowed to remove elected officials from office. The Executive Branch, headed by the President, represents the rule of a single person. The Executive is tasked with enforcing the laws passed by Congress, and making those decisions (like defense of the country) that can’t be decided in a timely manner by the Congress. Keep in mind that the Executive Branch is supposed to merely enforce the laws, not interpret them. However, if the President disagrees with Congress in a law, he can veto the bill before it becomes law. The Judicial Branch, which is the rule of the intellectual elite, determine the application of law. The Supreme Court can also strike down laws that violate the Constitution, or – depending on your view of the Court’s role – it can strike down unethical and immoral laws that violate human rights. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/39 "2010-10-10T03:42:16Z")
To reflect the will of the governed. Luckily our system has some hysteresis built into it with the bill of rights and the balance of powers. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432/40 "2010-10-10T03:57:18Z")
To protect the weak from the strong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-primary-function-of-government/556432.md?page=3)