Government’s functions and need for different Ministries

Rajiva Wijesinha

This simplified version of the second chapter of Political Principles and their Practice in Sri Lanka, published by Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, in 2005, may be interesting in view of concerns throughout the period from 1980 until this year about the size of the Cabinet

In countries like Sri Lanka which were under British rule, there is a sense that the powers of government are unlimited. This also applies to the functions of government, that is the things that a government should do.

Under the colonial system, absolute power belonged to a foreign country, and the representatives of that country who governed were not accountable to the people of the country that was governed. The idea that the people are superior to the government, and that the functions of government should be limited to those people want, was not part of the colonial system.

Such a view of government, that it is superior to the people, has been reinforced in modern times by the manner in which communist governments developed. These emerged in the 20th century as the main opponents of capitalist systems. These words really refer to economic ideas rather than political ones.

However, since communism emerged first in countries where there had been absolute monarchies previously, it also developed as a political system that gave absolute power to the Government. Karl Marx, who had initially developed communism as a social and economic theory, had believed that the state would wither away. But communist governments, having emerged first in almost feudal agricultural societies, reinforced the old model, also dominant in colonized countries, that the powers and functions of government were total.

Different types of government function

Earlier we saw how, as modern societies emerged with greater stress on the ownership of government by the people, measures were taken to limit the powers of a government that has authority at any particular period. Here we should consider what the functions of government are, in terms of what governments alone can do, what they can do in collaboration with other elements in society, and what they should not try to do at all.

Security

The most important function of a government is to ensure the security of the people. Government in fact emerged for this purpose. Primitive societies chose as leaders those best capable of ensuring their safety.

People accepted the domination of others within their own community to make sure that they were kept safe from threats from outside that community. In time, as concepts of property developed, people needed security from others within the community as well. Greater stress was laid on laws to govern relations internally, as well as measures to ensure defence against attacks from outside.

Thus amongst the most essential functions of government are those of external and internal security and those of justice. Most countries therefore have, as

amongst the most senior members of the Cabinet, Defence and of Justice Ministers. The former will look after the Armed Forces and sometimes the Police as well, though in some countries there is a separate Interior or Home Ministry for this purpose.

The Justice Ministry looks after the courts and ensures that those who break the law are brought before the courts. Exceptionally, as in the United States, where the doctrine of Separation of Powers is implemented thoroughly, the courts are independent of the Cabinet, and come under an independent Chief Justice. However, there too, there is in the Cabinet an Attorney General to ensure that the laws are implemented and prosecutions conducted in the courts against those suspected of criminal acts.

As societies developed however, it became clear that physical security alone was not enough. We use the term ‘security’ together with many other words,i.e. in phrases such as ‘financial security’, ‘food security’ etc. Though the actual role of government in all these areas can be debated, clearly there are emergency situations when everyone would agree that government should act.

For instance, people have certain essential needs. While in general they may be expected to fulfil those needs themselves, when this proves impossible, Government clearly needs to step in. With regard to food security for instance, while debates may be conducted about the actual role of the Government in ensuring food needs are met, everyone would agree that, in a time of famine, government has to step in. Similarly, health is an area where government intervention can contribute to security that is necessary for society as a whole.

These are areas however where government may only have to play a facilitatory or helping role, with other elements in society contributing to greater or lesser extents. We should look at these later then, in terms of the facilitatory role of government. However there is another important area in which people require security that can only be provided by government and where government has to be wholly responsible.

This is the area of financial security, which is why amongst the most important members of any Cabinet is the Finance Minister. He is responsible for the currency of a country, both its production and its value.

This means that he has to ensure that the currency of a country remains stable, or depreciate in value so rapidly that people lose confidence in it. He also has to make sure that government raises enough money to fulfil its essential functions. So productivity and trade must be promoted so that income continues to be generated to meet people’s requirements. Increasingly, in the modern world, such needs are also met by borrowing, but the Finance Minister has to ensure that such borrowings are within limits and do not contribute to massive currency depreciation or bankruptcy.

Finally, there is another Ministry which is important because it contributes to both the security aspects noted above. Every country has a Foreign Minister, responsible for ensuring good relations with other countries so as to avoid physical threats. He must also develop ties that will promote economic cooperation.

This involves a multiplicity of areas, such as goods and services and labour, that may involve other ministries, but the overall responsibility for good international relations generally belongs to one Minister, and that is why this portfolio is usually entrusted to someone very capable.

To sum up, then, the Security functions of government are amongst its most important, and require in any cabinet the following portfolios - Defence Minister, Justice Minister (or Attorney General in addition to Courts), Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister.

Services

Before the modern period, the above functions were seen as the essential duties of government. Of course government performed other functions too, but these were largely as a matter of personal commitment by particular rulers, or in times of emergency. They were not seen as central to the duties of a ruler.

With the development of modern society however, the role of government had to change. This can be seen most clearly with regard to healthcare, which is now seen as one of the most important functions of government.

In early days, while some kings distinguished themselves by building hospitals, the management of these was often handed over to independent institutions, often religious bodies, and the responsibility was not usually considered that of the Government.

To be continued