What is power? why is understanding power essential to understanding government?

Power is the ability to influence the behavior of people in a particular way. It is essential to understand the concept of power to understand government as essentially what governments do is try to manage their population, to act or behave in ways which fit their own direction, aims, belief systems or structure so that the population doesn't get out of their control. When a government acts with power, they maintain calm over their people and can control them.