The state as a participant in relations in society carries out its activities through strictly defined methods. The latter are represented by a rather wide range, and therefore it is worthwhile to clearly understand the concept and types of functions of the state.
Functions - the essence of state legal personality
The classical definition of the function of the state says that this is the type of activity that a country carries out to achieve its goals.
The main signs of state functions are:
- They understand the general directions of development.
- Speaking of function, they always talk about the essence of the country. This means that the types of functions are disclosed by all sides of the state.
- Functions are a practical expression of the use of indirect sovereignty.
- Based on the functions, it is possible to judge how effectively the state performs administrative activities.
- Functions must be executed by legitimate methods.
From the presented signs it is clear that the concept and types of functions of the state are directly related to those goals and objectives that are inherent in the idea of creating a country. Therefore, their division is carried out depending on the objects of influence, which will be considered later.
Types of State Functions
There are a significant number of reasons for classifying the functions of a country. However, the most common, determining the most significant types of functions of the country, is the division into external and internal.
As a rule, external ones consist of a block uniting four main types of activity. In fact, they represent a generalized subject of international law, and, therefore, include:
- The country's defense is carried out through the development of army units, association in military alliances, participation in peacekeeping missions, etc.
- Economic cooperation - as in the previous case, can be expressed in active participation in financial and trade organizations, as well as in export-import relations between countries.
- Scientific cooperation - as a rule, is expressed in the exchange of experience in solving problems in the field of ecology, medicine and other socially significant issues.
- Maintaining the level of environmental safety - this function is relatively young and consists in fulfilling obligations on environmental safety.
More familiar are the types of functions of the state, referred to the internal sphere of activity of the state. There are four types of them.
The first and main is the protective function. Moreover, the object of protection is not only the existing public order, but also the environmental situation and cultural heritage. Moreover, the last two subjects have recently come to the fore.
But the above function cannot be carried out without financial support, and therefore it always has an economic function. The state is obliged to carry out at least minimal regulation of the economy, including through tax policy.
In addition to the above two, types of functions include social. Lawyers always present it as the duty of the state to ensure an equal level of well-being for everyone. But this is a utopia, and therefore it should be said that this type includes activities to ensure socially vulnerable sectors of society and their protection, stimulate development by providing free or affordable education.
The fourth type are scientific and cultural functions. The development of both culture and science ultimately helps the state fulfill the first two functions.
This is the main classification and the most complete, the main criterion for the division of which is the object of influence.
Also, the types of functions of the country are divided according to the following criteria:
- by duration - permanent (economic or defense of the country) and temporary (for example, cooperation in technological disasters) ;
- in terms of territory coverage - national (protection of cultural heritage) and local (infrastructure development of a territorial unit).
Classification was previously distinguished because of the occurrence, which was based on the Marxist approach, namely, on the impact of class contradictions on the state.
Therefore, understanding the nature and types of functions of the country, to reveal its focus does not seem difficult.