What is the relation between State and Government?

It has been stated earlier that government is an essential element of state. But the terms, state and government, are often used as identical terms.

The following are differences between state and government.

1. The Government is only an Element of State:

Government is an important element of state. The collective will of state is expressed and put into practice through government. The government has the main role in achieving the goal of the state. Therefore, the government is described as the ‘brain of state’.

2. The Government is an Agency of State:

Like other organisations, the government is an agency of state. All people living in a state come under its jurisdiction, but only some people constitute the government. Only a small number of people make laws, implement laws and exercise executive and judicial powers.

3. State is Natural, Government is not natural:

The state is a natural institution. From the beginning of social life, there has been state in different forms. The state is omnipresent, but history is silent about how exactly it came into existence. On the other hand, government is man-made, and the rise and fall of governments has been part of history.

4. State is Invisible and Abstract, but Government is visible and concrete:

The State is abstract and vague while the government is concrete arid visible. We know that there is state in existence, but we cannot see it. The Government is a definite group of persons who run the affairs of state.

5. Original Powers vs Delegated Powers:

The power of state is absolute and original while that of government is limited and delegated. State is the Principal; government is only its agent. The state is sovereign while government enjoys those powers which are delegated to it by state.

The government symbolises the power of state, but it is always subordinate and loyal to state. As MacIver has said, “Government is the agent which cannot be sovereign; the state is the principal, its master to which the agent most ultimately bow. The powers of state are absolute and original; those of government are limited and delegated.

6. Form and Nature:

All states, big or small, have common elements and properties. A state has mainly four elements, namely, population, territory, government and sovereignty. But the form of government and the mode of its formation may differ from state to state.

There are monarchies, aristocracies, democracies and dictatorship. Democracies are either presidential or parliamentary.

7. Stability:

The state is more or less permanent; government is temporary. States cease to exist through conquest or annexation. But they are far more durable than governments which may change through periodical elections or through revolutions.

Changes in the personnel and even in the form of government do not affect the existence of the state. The people or party who control the governmental machinery may be changed quite often without affecting the stability of the state.

People may revolt against an inefficient or dishonest government, but they would not revolt against the state.

8. Membership:

All people living in a state accept its membership. Their children also accept its membership. But it is not obligatory for people to accept the membership of government.

The state is more or less permanent; government is temporary. States cease to exist through conquest or annexation. But they are far more durable than governments which may change through periodical elections or through revolutions.

Changes in the personnel and even in the form of government do not affect the existence of the state. The people or party who control the governmental machinery may be changed quite often without affecting the stability of the state.

Government is an agency to carry out the will of the state and fulfill its purposes. People have the right to revolt against or criticize the government but they have no rights against the state. If they go against the state, it will amount to going against them. Government may commit mistakes or blunders and for its lapses people may criticize it.