A principle governing affairs within or among political units

• rule

  1. Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
  2. The duration of such power.
  3. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.

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  1. Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
  2. The duration of such power.
  3. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.

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• regulation

  1. The act of regulating or the state of being regulated.
  2. A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct.
  3. A governmental order having the force of law.

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  1. The act of regulating or the state of being regulated.
  2. A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct.
  3. A governmental order having the force of law.

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• prescription

  1. The action of establishing a rule, law, or direction.
  2. Something that is prescribed; a rule, law, or direction:
  3. A written order, especially by a physician, for the preparation and administration of a medicine or other treatment.

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  1. The action of establishing a rule, law, or direction.
  2. Something that is prescribed; a rule, law, or direction:
  3. A written order, especially by a physician, for the preparation and administration of a medicine or other treatment.

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• precept

  1. A rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct.
  2. A direction or order issued by an authority; a writ, command, or process.

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  1. A rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct.
  2. A direction or order issued by an authority; a writ, command, or process.

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• ordinance

  1. An authoritative command or order.
  2. A custom or practice established by long usage.
  3. A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist.

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  1. An authoritative command or order.
  2. A custom or practice established by long usage.
  3. A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist.

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• law

  1. A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
  2. The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system:
  3. The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system:

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  1. A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
  2. The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system:
  3. The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system:

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• institute

  1. To establish, organize, or introduce:
  2. To initiate; begin:
  3. To establish or invest (someone) in an office or position.

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  1. To establish, organize, or introduce:
  2. To initiate; begin:
  3. To establish or invest (someone) in an office or position.

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• edict

  1. A decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law.
  2. A formal pronouncement or command.

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  1. A decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law.
  2. A formal pronouncement or command.

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• canon

  1. An ecclesiastical law or code of laws established by a church council.
  2. A secular law, rule, or code of law.
  3. An established principle:

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  1. An ecclesiastical law or code of laws established by a church council.
  2. A secular law, rule, or code of law.
  3. An established principle:

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An authoritative or official decision, especially one made by a court

• ruling

  1. Exercising control or authority:
  2. Predominant:
  3. The act of governing or controlling.

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  1. Exercising control or authority:
  2. Predominant:
  3. The act of governing or controlling.

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• pronouncement

  1. A formal expression of opinion; a judgment.
  2. An authoritative statement.

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  1. A formal expression of opinion; a judgment.
  2. An authoritative statement.

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• judgment

  1. The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation.
  2. An opinion or estimate formed after consideration or deliberation, especially a formal or authoritative decision:
  3. The mental ability to perceive and distinguish relationships; discernment:

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  1. The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation.
  2. An opinion or estimate formed after consideration or deliberation, especially a formal or authoritative decision:
  3. The mental ability to perceive and distinguish relationships; discernment:

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• edict

  1. A decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law.
  2. A formal pronouncement or command.

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  1. A decree or proclamation issued by an authority and having the force of law.
  2. A formal pronouncement or command.

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• determination

  1. Firmness of purpose; resolve:
  2. A fixed intention or resolution:
  3. The ascertaining or fixing of the quantity, quality, position, or character of something:

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  1. Firmness of purpose; resolve:
  2. A fixed intention or resolution:
  3. The ascertaining or fixing of the quantity, quality, position, or character of something:

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To set forth expressly and authoritatively

• prescribe

  1. To set down as a rule, law, or direction:
  2. To order the use of (a medicine or other treatment).
  3. To establish rules, laws, or directions.

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  1. To set down as a rule, law, or direction:
  2. To order the use of (a medicine or other treatment).
  3. To establish rules, laws, or directions.

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• ordain

  1. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on:
  2. To authorize as a rabbi.
  3. To order or decree by virtue of superior authority:

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  1. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on:
  2. To authorize as a rabbi.
  3. To order or decree by virtue of superior authority:

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• lay down

  1. To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually by placing it on the ground.
  2. To intentionally take a fall while riding a motorcycle, in order to prevent a more serious collision.
  3. To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate (rules or policies).

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  1. To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually by placing it on the ground.
  2. To intentionally take a fall while riding a motorcycle, in order to prevent a more serious collision.
  3. To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate (rules or policies).

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• impose

  1. To establish or apply as compulsory; levy:
  2. To bring about by authority or force; force to prevail:
  3. To obtrude or force (oneself, for example) on another or others.

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  1. To establish or apply as compulsory; levy:
  2. To bring about by authority or force; force to prevail:
  3. To obtrude or force (oneself, for example) on another or others.

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• fix

  1. To correct or set right; adjust:
  2. To restore to proper condition or working order; repair:
  3. To make ready for a specific purpose, as by altering or combining elements; prepare:

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  1. To correct or set right; adjust:
  2. To restore to proper condition or working order; repair:
  3. To make ready for a specific purpose, as by altering or combining elements; prepare:

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• dictate

  1. To say or read aloud to be recorded or written by another:
  2. To prescribe with authority; impose:
  3. To control or command:

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  1. To say or read aloud to be recorded or written by another:
  2. To prescribe with authority; impose:
  3. To control or command:

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To make a decision about (a controversy or dispute, for example) after deliberation, as in a court of law

• umpire

  1. A person appointed to rule on plays, especially in baseball.
  2. A person appointed to settle a dispute that mediators have been unable to resolve; an arbitrator.
  3. To act as referee for; rule or judge.

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  1. A person appointed to rule on plays, especially in baseball.
  2. A person appointed to settle a dispute that mediators have been unable to resolve; an arbitrator.
  3. To act as referee for; rule or judge.

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• rule

  1. Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
  2. The duration of such power.
  3. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.

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  1. Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
  2. The duration of such power.
  3. An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.

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• referee

  1. One to whom something is referred, especially for settlement, decision, or an opinion as to the thing's quality.
  2. An official supervising the play; an umpire.
  3. A person appointed by a court to assist a judge in the trying of a case or to hear certain types of cases.

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  1. One to whom something is referred, especially for settlement, decision, or an opinion as to the thing's quality.
  2. An official supervising the play; an umpire.
  3. A person appointed by a court to assist a judge in the trying of a case or to hear certain types of cases.

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• judge

  1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration:
  2. To hear and decide on in a court of law:
  3. To pass sentence on; condemn.

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  1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration:
  2. To hear and decide on in a court of law:
  3. To pass sentence on; condemn.

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• determine

  1. To establish or ascertain definitely, as after consideration, investigation, or calculation:
  2. To give direction to by making decisions; devise or control:
  3. To decide or settle (a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively.

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  1. To establish or ascertain definitely, as after consideration, investigation, or calculation:
  2. To give direction to by making decisions; devise or control:
  3. To decide or settle (a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively.

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• decide

  1. To reach a conclusion or form a judgment or opinion about (something) by reasoning or consideration:
  2. To cause to make or reach a decision:
  3. To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about:

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  1. To reach a conclusion or form a judgment or opinion about (something) by reasoning or consideration:
  2. To cause to make or reach a decision:
  3. To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about:

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• arbitrate

  1. To judge or decide in or as in the manner of an arbitrator:
  2. To submit to settlement or judgment by arbitration:
  3. To serve as an arbitrator or arbiter.

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  1. To judge or decide in or as in the manner of an arbitrator:
  2. To submit to settlement or judgment by arbitration:
  3. To serve as an arbitrator or arbiter.

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• adjudicate

  1. To make a decision (in a legal case or proceeding), as where a judge or arbitrator rules on some disputed issue or claim between the parties.
  2. To study and settle (a dispute or conflict):
  3. To act as a judge of (a contest or an aspect of a contest).

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  1. To make a decision (in a legal case or proceeding), as where a judge or arbitrator rules on some disputed issue or claim between the parties.
  2. To study and settle (a dispute or conflict):
  3. To act as a judge of (a contest or an aspect of a contest).

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• adjudge

  1. To determine or decide by judicial procedure; adjudicate.
  2. To order judicially; rule.
  3. To award (damages, for example) by law.

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  1. To determine or decide by judicial procedure; adjudicate.
  2. To order judicially; rule.
  3. To award (damages, for example) by law.

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