As when studying any topic, when one studies government, he must find the reason government exists, making history essential. However, because of history's weakness in prehistory, modern man must assume certain events occurred. Science, archeology and anthropology combine to paint a blurry history of prehistoric man.

At the dawn of man's illustrious story, bands of people joined together in order to gain advantage for hunting. During this age of hunting and gathering, man used simple tools to hunt animals and gather vegetation. Few occupations existed, hunter and gatherer with both working for food. With everyone having similar jobs, leadership seemed worthless as everyone contributed to the survival of the anarchy-led clan.

Eventually, man transformed from nomadic to sedentary. As permanent settlements grew, some began to learn basic farming techniques. Using hand tools to raise crops, man added farmers to the work force. At about the same time, man began to domesticate animals.

With food no longer man's foremost concern, more types of occupations joined the traditional food-raising jobs. Since not everyone contributed to the food effort and everyone needs food to live, the barter system developed, so that food could be traded for services and luxuries.

As society grew, developed and flourished, man's life became complicated. While a barter system developed, capitalism was born. Some became wealthy, others not. Problems arose in communities, as citizens offended other citizens. Foreign tribes would raid towns. Domestic disputes began. Eventually anarchy failed because the people of society were not protected. Because intellect, science and economics raped Nature's Utopia, anarchy collapsed; man now had no choice but to erect governments for protection.

The sole postulate of government is to protect the people.
Since the first codes of conduct, man has tried to improve government. Using different political policies and theories, creative tactics and colorful forms of government, man's unquenchable thirst for perfect government goes drier.

In the modern era, government has five distinct functions: protect the people from foreign threats, protect the people from each other domestically, protect the people's economy, protect the people from government and protect the people from themselves.

Governments enact and enforce laws to fulfill these goals. In order for these laws to actually work, they must be needed, problem solving, enforceable, reasonable, and fair. Punishment for breaking these laws must suit the offense, deter future offenses, punish the offender, allow the offender rehabilitation and protect the people from future offenses.

When government ignores its sole postulate for existence, it becomes corrupt, inefficient and damned. Eventually, any government failing to adequately protect the people will collapse into anarchy.

In the modern democratic-republic, the people are responsible for protecting the government from such flaws. The people of such a state must help the government to help the people.

Compiled June 20, 2002... Last updated: July 24, 2002
(c) 2002 Uncle Sam... may be used freely with acknowledgment of source