Government includes the people and resources—as well as departments, agencies, programs, processes, laws, rules, and regulations—that define the relationship between federal, state, and local governments and their citizens. Some legal principles have a unique application when private citizens or entities interact with their governments.

In Nevada, as in other states, the government is structured into three levels: federal, state, and local. Each level has its own departments, agencies, programs, processes, laws, rules, and regulations that govern the interactions between the government and its citizens. Federal law applies nationwide and supersedes state law when there is a conflict, as established by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Nevada state law, codified in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), governs state-specific matters and includes provisions that regulate the state government's operations and its relationship with local governments and private citizens. Local governments in Nevada, such as county and city governments, have their own ordinances and regulations that apply within their jurisdictions. Legal principles such as sovereign immunity may limit how and when a private citizen or entity can sue the government. However, statutes like the Nevada Tort Claims Act provide exceptions to this immunity, allowing for certain legal actions against the government under specified circumstances. It's important for citizens and entities in Nevada to understand the hierarchy of laws and the unique legal principles that apply when interacting with government entities at different levels.