Final answer:
When government's goals are set into law, with rewards or punishments for compliance, it demonstrates the government's legitimate authority to enforce public laws. This authority can range from taxation to military service, and is historically rooted in early legal codes like Hammurabi's. It is underpinned by constitutions or equivalent documents outlining a government's structure and individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the government's goals are embodied in a law or an order, backed by punishments or rewards, it is often described as a manifestation of the state's authority to enforce public laws. This encompasses a broad range of topics and actions, during which the institutions that represent the government have the legitimate power to create and enforce rules, or to issue orders, with the potential imposition of penalties for those who contravene these laws or orders. Examples of such authority include the ability to levy taxes, mandate military service, and implement civil obligations such as jury duty.
Historically, important legal frameworks like the Code of Hammurabi and The Ten Commandments represent early instances of codified laws that were enforced with specific consequences for non-compliance, often reflecting societal values and norms at that time. In more contemporary terms, comprehensive measures like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act stand as examples of public laws that have significant implications for society as a whole, indicative of the government's capacity to regulate various aspects of life and public policy through legislation.
Constitutions and other fundamental documents often form the basis for such legal authority, even in nations where no single, written constitution exists, outlining the structure of government and the rights of individuals, thereby enshrining the principles upon which laws are built and enforced.