Difference Between State and Government

The difference between State and Government is that the second is part of the first. That is, the Government is, together with the population and the territory, a part of the State.


In everyday life, the concepts of State and Government often tend to be confused.


The idea of ​​the article, therefore, is to provide the reader with some general ideas about what the State is, as well as about what the Government is. Allowing the differentiation of both concepts, as well as the responsibility that falls on both entities.


Therefore, first of all and before continuing, we must know what is State and what is Government.


What is a State?


A State is understood as the set of public institutions owned by a particular country. These are in charge of regulating all the activities that take place in it, controlling all the activity that is generated in the country. In this sense, it is defined as a political organization. But highlighting fundamental aspects such as its timeless character, remaining regardless of the Government that is in power. The State, it should be said, is an organization that acts independently, following a series of rules and laws.


The State is composed of three fundamental elements: population, territory and Government.


Thus, it enjoys sovereignty, in the hands of the people. As well as the internal autonomy that defines it.


Characteristics of a State


The State presents a series of characteristics that govern the principles that a State must follow to define itself as such:


  • It has a timeless character, regardless of the Government.
  • It has a government that manages and directs it.
  • It has a territory, as well as a population that enjoys sovereignty.
  • It is organized through organizations that regulate the activity.
  • It has a series of rights and obligations in the international arena.
  • It is subject to public international law.
  • It is recognized and maintains relations with other States.

What types of state exist?


The State, like the Government, can present itself in different ways. The main forms in which a State can be presented are:


  • Federal State : Being the power divided between different autonomies throughout the territory.
  • Unitary State : Being the centralized power, in the same political power that has all the power.

What is a Government?


A Government is a set of institutions and individuals who, having come to power by a certain route, are in charge of administering and directing a State. In addition, the Government is one of its constituent elements, together with the population and the territory. Thus, each State must be provided with a Government, which is in charge, in addition to representing it, of managing and directing it.


The Government, following this line, must ensure that sovereignty is guaranteed in the hands of the people, as well as the internal autonomy that it presents.


Characteristics of a Government


The main characteristics to highlight of a Government are:


  • It is temporary.
  • Together with the territory and the population, it is one of the constitutive elements of the State.
  • The Government manifests the sovereignty of the people.
  • It may or may not be recognized by other States.
  • It is in charge of managing and directing the State.
  • It is made up of people and institutions that are in charge of managing the State, as well as representing it.
  • It can be presented in various ways: democratic, dictatorship, monarchy.

What types of government exist?


The main forms in which a Government can present itself are:


  • Monarchy : It is the Monarch who holds power and directs the State, as head of State.
  • Democracy : Sovereignty rests with the people, who are the ones who choose which government they want to represent them.
  • Dictatorship : When power falls on one or more people. With a dictatorial government, the rights of the people are suppressed.
  • Anarchism : Absence or lack of Government.
  • Oligarchy : Governs a group of few.

Main differences between State and Government


Thus, the following table shows the main differences between the Government and the State:


governmentCondition
It is part of the StateIt is made up of Government, territory and people
It is temporaryIt is timeless
May or may not be recognizedIt is recognized by other states
It is the group of people who manage and direct the institutionsThese are the institutions that, together with the Government, make up what is known as the State.