Government works at national, provincial and local levels. (See Spheres of Government)

All spheres of government must:

• Keep the peace and national unity of South Africa
• Look after the well-being of the people of South Africa
• Be effective, transparent and accountable to the republic as a whole
• Be loyal to the constitution and to South Africa
• Respect the status, institutions, powers and functions of government in other areas
• Not take on powers that the Constitution doesn’t give them
• Use their powers and perform their functions in a way that doesn’t interfere with government in another area
• Co-operate with each other by assisting, supporting, and consulting with each other on things of common interest