Final answer:
Government is powerful because it holds legal legitimacy to use coercive power within its territory, established through the evolution of sovereignty from people's need for protection and cooperation. Governments create laws, provide services, and ensure societal stability, reflecting the will of the people in democratic systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of why government is powerful is rooted in its fundamental role and authority within society. Governments possess the unique legal legitimacy to use coercive power to ensure order and compel behavior within a geographical area. This has evolved from the need for protection and cooperation among people, leading to the establishment of sovereignty, the right of a group or country to govern itself without outside interference.
The creation of rules and laws by the government is an exercise of its power, regulating behavior, imposing taxes and, at times, compelling military service or jury duty. Government power also extends to providing stability and services that benefit society, such as public education and infrastructure. People grant power to governments, where ideally, in democratic systems, government actions reflect the will and needs of its citizens through representative democracy.
Throughout history, government's power has been justified by various means, including strength, military ability, religious endorsement, heredity, or the endorsement of influential groups. Yet, whatever the form, the commonality is in the control and authority governments hold over the people.