Government plays many roles in a society. The main functions of a government include taxing people to pay for services, disbursing money to businesses, and providing social programs that help the people it serves. Federal, state, and local governments raise funds through taxes and fees as well as borrowing through bonds and other securities. Governments disperse their money through contracts with businesses and through social programs that benefit the public, including food assistance, healthcare, housing subsidies, and energy and utilities subsidies.
In modern times, government regulation has become a central issue in all societies. Some believe that there is no such thing as a free market, and that governments must regulate all aspects of economic activity to ensure fair competition. Others believe that governments are necessary to protect life and property, and to secure those ends of human existence that are fundamentally non-economic, such as religious freedom or freedom to pursue happiness.
The massive government spending during World War II ended the Great Depression, and accustomed a generation to the idea that the government can manipulate macroeconomic factors such as interest rates, unemployment, and inflation to prevent or mitigate recessions. Governments manage these factors using two basic tools: fiscal policy and monetary policy.
There are many forces that can generate clashes between nations, from the desire to dominate strategic land or sea areas to religious or ideological conflict. All nations develop organizations and policies to meet these challenges, which often require some level of governmental intervention. Nations also have foreign ministries for conducting diplomatic relations with other countries, negotiating treaties, and promoting goodwill abroad.
When disaster strikes, governments must be able to respond quickly and efficiently. This can create pressure for increased intervention in areas such as emergency relief, disaster planning, and public procurement. This may mean temporarily suspending standard procurement procedures in favor of fast delivery for household and business subsidies, food aid, and other essential goods and services.
A federal government agency based in New York City, NY needs an experienced government affairs coordinator who is familiar with developing and implementing public engagement strategies, analyzing and interpreting data, developing communication plans and protocols, and developing partnerships and coalitions to achieve goals. The ideal candidate has the ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, has strong leadership skills, and is highly adaptable.
Government business regulations are made through a process of consultation with affected parties, including business leaders, consumer groups, and other stakeholders. The final rules must address the needs of all stakeholders and provide clear and reasonable explanations of how the rule will be implemented. During the comment period, stakeholders have the opportunity to share their views about the proposed rule and its impacts. These comments are incorporated into a draft that is reviewed and revised as needed, including an assessment of whether it is achieving the desired objectives. The draft is then published for public review and comment. Finally, the final rules must be approved by the legislative branch of the government.