Government

(güvürn-ment.) [Fr. gouvernement.] 27 3C (Pol.) The particular form of political representation a umed by the executive power of a state; thus, when the governing power is vested in the hands of one individual po e ing irresponsible powers, it is an autocracy or despotism, as that of Ru ia; if invested in one person whose executive functions are administered by means of a cabinet of ministers responsible to the legislative a embly, or parliament, it is a constitutional monarchy, as England, for instance; if in the hands of the nobility, an aristocracy or oligarchy, such as the former so-called republics of Venice and Genoa; an dif in the hands of the people or their immediate representatives, it constitutes a democracy or republic, as in the case of the U. S. of America. The executive G. is the functional dept. of administering public affairs; the legislative G., that of enacting the laws; the judicial G., that of the administration of the laws for the furtherance of public justice and security.-(Gram.) The influence of a word with regard to instruction; as when established usage demands that one word should nece itate another to be in a particular case or mood.(Geog.) A political subdivision of a country or a colony ruled by an officer deputed by the sovereign; as, the government of Hong Kong. [s. 417]