Final answer:
Government is the institution that makes and puts into effect public policies for a nation or territory, providing essential services and organizing society. In the U.S., it is structured as a republic or representative democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term government refers to the institutions and processes through which public policies are made and carried out on behalf of the citizens of a nation or territory. It is instrumental in organizing society and allocating authority to achieve collective goals, such as economic prosperity, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of its citizens. Governments provide crucial services like education, healthcare, transportation infrastructure, and more. In the United States, the government operates as a republic or representative democracy, where political power rests with the people who elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.