What Is Government? Government makes and enforces public policies. Government is the institution of offices, personnel, and processes by which a state is ruled, by which its public policies are made and enforced. Public policies of a government are all those things a government decides to do EX: imposing an income and property taxes; minimum wages; maintaining an armed force Government consists of legislature--lawmakers (who create), executive? (who implement) and judicial?judges (who interpret and apply) Constitution outlines these powers of government The State and Its Characteristics A state is a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (under a government) and having the power to make and enforce laws without the consent of higher authority Population