Question

What is the proper role of the government;

What are its central responsibilities;

What are the limits to governmental power?

Answer 1

The proper role of the government is to ensure law & order within the borders, protect the borders from external invasion, ensure fundamental rights to the citizens, provide basic infrastructure to the citizens and ultimately ensure an environment which ensures that business and commerce thrives in the country.

The central responsibilities of the government are:-

1) To ensure that citizens are provided with basic security and infrastructure

2) Protect the borders from foreign invasion

3) Regulate international trade

4) Ensure a good living standard for all

The limits to governmental power is basically on issues pertaining to

1) Individual privacy and hence government should not have a prying eye on what individual do as long as that do not endanger national security

2) Civil liberties such as rights of minorities should be upheld by all governments

3) The government should not be allowed to terminate life except in the case of most heinous crimes and terrorist activities

4) The government should not start confiscating wealth or belongings from people and start redistribution of income.