The 4 differences between State and government

In order for the different people who are part of the same group to be able to organize their activity, the human being has created and elaborated several mechanisms and organizations that allow a correct management of the conduct and activity of its components. These mechanisms act to direct and set the limits of behavior and try to ensure that the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of each member of society are fulfilled.

The figure of the State is formed, which will be directed by the Government. Both concepts have become confused on many occasions, so in this article we are going to try to establish the main differences between state and government.

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Defining State and government

When we talk about the State, we are using a concept of a political and legal nature that refers to the set of elements that are part of a society. The State includes both the group of individuals that make it up and the way it is organized, as well as, to a lesser extent, the territory they occupy and their borders.

The State is sovereign and the different powers (legislative, executive and judicial) emanate from it., and allows limits, rules, responsibilities, rights and freedoms to be established so that coexistence can be regulated.

But to get the state to function properly it needs to be administered in some way. The government takes care of it. It is understood as such the group of individuals and institutions that administer the State, exercising for this purpose the different functions of the executive branch. The government assumes the leadership of society and the authority to ensure that the different laws are followed and implemented, being an important part of the State, although not the only one.

Thus we can perceive that the government is a part of the state, not being both synonymous concepts nor referring to the same thing.

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Main differences between government and State

Next we are going to observe some of the main differences between both concepts: State and Government.

1. Level of inclusion between concepts

One of the main differences between State and government is that one is only a part of the other. The State includes the government, who holds political power (specifically it takes charge of the executive power), as part of it.

But the State is much more, since this concept refers to the set of components of the same society, its territory and its way of organizing itself.

2. abstraction level

Another of the aspects in which they differ is found in the level of abstraction that both concepts imply. The government as an institution it is perceptible and it is possible to recognize those who are part of it, being able to identify the natural persons that comprise it.

However, the term State is rather an abstract concept in which citizenship, territory and its organization are integrated, not being something clearly perceptible.

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3. duration and stability

State and government are also different in another aspect: their duration. While the State remains unchanged over time Unless the unity between its components is dissolved or it is integrated into a new State that includes it, the Government has a determined duration, either agreed in advance (as in our country, where every four years we have elections) or before the deposition with even the death of their rulers (as in dictatorships, or in countries with forms of government such as the monarchy absolute).

4. Can

The level of power held by the government and the state is also different, although there are clear differences depending on the type of government a region has.

As a general rule in democratic countries The role of the government is to exercise executive power or the application of laws, being the laws themselves elaborated and approved by other structures (in countries with absolute monarchy it would also be in charge of the other powers as well as in dictatorships the dictator tries to exercise the legislative and judicial power) and having powers limited.

The State, however, is the source of all power (both executive and legislative and judicial), being sovereign and the one who decides who is given the power to govern and organize it.

Bibliographic references:

• Rodriguez Suarez, M.; Garcia Dominguez, C. and Justafré García, Y. (2012). The technical-legal difference between state and government. Contributions to the Social Sciences. Malaga University.