Governments issue bonds to raise money and they are considered to be a risk-free investment. In Britain government bonds are known as gilt-edged stock or just gilts. In the US they are called Treasury notes, which have a maturity of 2-10 years, and Treasury bonds ,which have a maturity of 10-30 years. (There are also short-term Treasury bills which have a different func: see Units 25 and 27.)