While a government is responsible for safeguarding life and property, maintaining law and order and providing basic welfare needs, it cannot realistically provide all the needs of its citizens. This is often beyond the capacity of any government due to resource constraints and the diversity of individual needs.

Other functions of government include: 

1. Law Making
2. Military defense of the country
3. Provision of employment
4. Maintenance of law and order
5. Promotion of economic growth and development
6. Maintaining good relations with other sovereign states or countries (foreign diplomacy)
7. Protection of civil liberties
8. Protection of lives and properties
9. Administration of justice
10. Formulation and implementation of policies
11. Provision of social welfare services