govern
Direct a nation
To govern is to exercise authority over a political unit—a country, state, or city.
A governing body makes and enforces rules: The council governs the township.
Beyond politics, govern means to control or regulate: Supply and demand govern prices.
What governs your decisions influences or determines them.
A governor controls speed in machinery, preventing runaway acceleration.
Manner of conducting oneself
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- restraintControl over impulses
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
moderation · composure · ethics · principles · propriety · decorum · accountability · regulate
Supreme independent authority
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- dominionAuthority to rule
autonomy · power · control · command · supremacy · prerogative · authorization · sanction
Organizational oversight and control
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- directionWay something faces
supervision · coordination · executive · cabinet · ministry · chancellor · premier · mayor
Rule by the people
- republicState with elected leaders
- autocracyRule by one
- oligarchyRule by few
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
parliament · senate · legislature · elections · referendum · constituency · campaign · ballot
Official enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- bylawInternal governing rule
- complianceAdhering to requirements
enforcement · standards · protocols · guidelines · licensing · permits · zoning · certification
behavior
Manner of conducting oneself
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- restraintControl over impulses
temperance · moderation · composure · ethics · principles · propriety · decorum · accountability · regulate · curb
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
dominion · autonomy · power · control · command · supremacy · prerogative · authorization · sanction · delegation
administration
Organizational oversight and control
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
direction · supervision · coordination · executive · cabinet · ministry · chancellor · premier · mayor · chief
democracy
Rule by the people
federalism · parliament · senate · legislature · elections · referendum · constituency · campaign · ballot · diplomacy
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
compliance · enforcement · standards · protocols · guidelines · licensing · permits · zoning · certification · accreditation
agreement
Shared position between parties
person · tense · aspect · voice · mood · conjugation · declension · syntax · subject · verb
- authorityleaders, ruler, rulers, monarch, bosses
- governance verbsrule, reign, legislate, regulate, administer
- hard G wordsgag, game, gap, gas, gate
- leadership verbslead, command, direct, manage, supervise
- Norman loanwordsbaron, court, manor, feast, noble
- lord it overboss around, bully, intimidate, dominate, oppress
governliberate
Set free from captivity
free · unleash · deregulate · vent · lose control
- close enough for government workSarcastically acceptable quality
- government shutdownsCessation of federal operations
- government jobsCareers within state agencies
- government payrollState employees' compensation roster
- federal governmentCentralized national ruling body
- transitional governmentTemporary authority between regimes
government, governor, governing, governed, governance, governs, governors, governments, governess