Question

What is power? why is understanding power essential to understanding government?

Answer 1

Power is defined as the ability to make people do what you want. Understanding power is essential to understanding government because power is split up into so many ways, or not split up at all. And it is essential in understanding what type of government is in power because of the way power is split up.

Answer 2

Power is the ability to influence the behavior of people in a particular way. It is essential to understand the concept of power to understand government as essentially what governments do is try to manage their population, to act or behave in ways which fit their own direction, aims, belief systems or structure so that the population doesn't get out of their control. When a government acts with power, they maintain calm over their people and can control them.