Maintaining Order
In nearly any group, people will disagree and some may take advantage of others. Two neighbors may argue about property lines. Parents may argue over a terrible call by a referee at their child’s soccer game. Conflict is an inescapable part of life.
Governments try to control and contain conflict between people by placing limits on what individuals are permitted to do. Governments provide some sort of domestic security force—police or a national guard—to enforce laws and to keep peace. Governments provide courts and other ways for people to resolve their conflicts. They also punish people who break laws.

Providing Public Services
Governments create schools, build sewer systems, pave roads, and provide other services that individuals cannot or would not do on their own. Many other government services promote public health and safety. For example, most fire departments are funded (at least in part) by governments. In the United States, government officials enforce housing codes and inspect meat that is sold in markets. State governments pass laws that require drivers to pass a driving test before a license is issued.

Providing National Security
Another task of government is to protect the people against attack by another country or by terrorists. In today’s world of nuclear weapons, spy satellites, international terrorists, and huge armies, it is a complex and demanding task to provide for the safety of a nation’s citizens. The U.S. federal government is primarily responsible for this task. Some state governments have informal relations with other nations to increase their trade or cultural exchange, but the national government can place limitations on these relations.

Providing Economic Security and Economic Assistance
Governments protect the economic security of their people, just like they protect national security. Governments negotiate trade deals with other countries and they try to protect businesses that are important to their own economies.

Governments might intervene in the economic affairs of another nation to promote their own national security. For example, after World War II, the United States funded the Marshall Plan to help European nations rebuild their economies because of concern that high unemployment, food shortages, and economic depression could lead to communist revolutions.

Within their own countries, governments can also set policies to protect people’s economic security. Governments usually try to stimulate economic growth and stability by encouraging trade and regulating the development of natural resources. They can enforce contracts between businesses or regulate the conditions under which banks can take control of homes when their owners fail to pay the mortgage.

Even in a wealthy country like the United States, many people lack enough food, necessary clothing, and adequate housing. The problem of scarcity is far greater in many other nations. Governments can provide assistance to people in need. This assistance might be in the form of food stamps or controls on how much rent landlords can charge in certain buildings. Governments vary greatly in their ability and determination to provide economic assistance to their citizens, and no country provides its citizens with everything they need or desire.