Final answer:
The term for the continuous operation of critical government and business functions is a community lifeline, which includes maintaining essential services that support an economy's functionality and resilience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The continuous operation of critical government and business functions is defined as a community lifeline. Community lifelines are the basic support systems needed to keep an economy functioning, which include essential services such as power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation, and education systems. These lifelines ensure the resilience of a critical national infrastructure and are crucial for implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures, like anti-terrorism legislation. By maintaining these lifelines, we help workers, strengthen industries, protect the environment, and advance national defense.