What is the ruling authority for a community or society?

What is the ruling authority for a community or society?

government. the ruling authority for a community.

What is a course of government action to achieve community goals?

Without government fighting would be common and survival would depend on strength and cunning. They set public policy, a course of government action to achieve community goals and make this when they pass laws to reach a public policy goal. They also create a budget as part of policy decision.

What is a government called where citizens make the political decisions?

Democracy, meaning "rule of the people". Therefore, a Democracy is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament. Democracy is sometimes referred to as "rule of the majority".