| | <small>''For a free course about government, see [[American Government Lecture One]]''</small> | | <small>''For a free course about government, see [[American Government Lecture One]]''</small> |
| − | A '''government''' is an entity that has the [[authority]] to make and enforce [[laws]], and to rule the actions and affairs of others within a geopolitical boundary. [[God]]'s purpose for government is to protect the [[innocent]] by punishing the [[guilty]], and to protect [[life]] and [[property]]. Governments are established by a set of penultimate norms, also known as [[U.S. Constitution|constitutions]]. In the [[American]] system of [[democracy]], some laws are created by [[representatives]]. Around the world and throughout [[history]] there have been many types of governments, some promoting freedom, some restrictive of freedom, and some repressive to to point where little to no freedom exists. | + | A '''government''' is an entity that has the [[authority]] to make and enforce [[laws]], and to rule the actions and affairs of others within a geopolitical boundary. [[God]]'s purpose for government is to protect the innocent by punishing the guilty, and to protect [[life]] and [[property]]. Governments are established by a set of penultimate norms, also known as [[U.S. Constitution|constitutions]]. In the [[American]] system of [[democracy]], some laws are created by [[representatives]]. Around the world and throughout [[history]] there have been many types of governments, some promoting freedom, some restrictive of freedom, and some repressive to to point where little to no freedom exists. |
| | + | [[Civil disobedience]] is a rejection of an [[immoral]] government, and intentionally flouting its laws. The [[Boston Tea Party]], in which [[Samuel Adams]] is presumed to participate, is a famous example of this. |
| | [[File:Govt placement chart.png|right|150px|thumb|Government placement chart, based on degree of power government wields over the individual.]] | | [[File:Govt placement chart.png|right|150px|thumb|Government placement chart, based on degree of power government wields over the individual.]] |