government
noun OPAL W
/ˈɡʌvənmənt/
/ˈɡʌvərnmənt/
- [countable + singular or plural verb](often the Government)(abbreviation govt)the group of people who are responsible for controlling a country or a state
- to lead/form a government
- She has resigned from the Government.
- The Government has/have been considering further tax cuts.
- The government announced further austerity measures.
- This legislation was passed under the last Conservative government.
- EU national governments
- the Nebraska state government
- Ontario's new provincial government
- The country still has an interim government.
- the governments of many European countries
- This was a decision taken by the government of the day.
- the three branches of the US government
- Foreign governments have been consulted about this decision.
- government officials/ministers/employees
- a government spokesman
- a government department/agency
- government policies/regulations
- government spending/funding
Collocations PoliticsPoliticsPower- create/form/be the leader of a political party
- gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
- start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
- be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
- lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
- seize/take control of the government/power
- bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
- abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
- establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
- be forced/removed/driven from office/power
- resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister
- enter/retire from/return to political life
- spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
- engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over something)
- get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
- launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
- join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
- criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
- lobby/put pressure on the government (to do something)
- come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
- call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
- formulate/implement domestic economic policy
- change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
- be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
- reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
- privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
- invest (heavily) in/spend something on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
- nationalize the banks/the oil industry
- promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
- a/the budget is approved/ (especially North American English) passed by parliament/congress
- have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate
- propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution
- introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures
- amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
- veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
- get/require/be decided by a majority vote
Culture departments of governmentdepartments of governmentThe government of the United Kingdom, called Her/His Majesty's Government (HMG), consists of a group of ministers led by the prime minister. Ministers are attached to specialist departments which carry out government policy. Ministers of the Crown, the most senior ministers, are appointed by the queen or king on the recommendation of the prime minister. Other ministers are appointed directly by the prime minister. All ministers sit in Parliament, most of them in the House of Commons.The senior minister in each department is generally called the Secretary of State, for example the Secretary of State for Health. The minister in charge of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is called the Foreign Secretary. The Home Secretary is in charge of the Home Office. The finance minister is known as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and is head of the Treasury. Ministers in charge of departments are usually members of the Cabinet. The prime minister may also appoint a Minister without Portfolio (= not in charge of a particular department) to take on special duties.A Secretary of State is usually supported by several Ministers of State, who each have a specific area of responsibility, and parliamentary undersecretaries, often called junior ministers.Departments are run by civil servants who are not allowed to show favour to any political party. Unlike ministers, they do not have to leave their jobs when the government changes. Many departments are assisted by special groups that give advice and do research. A change of government does not necessarily affect the number and general organization of departments. A new government may, however, create new departments or change the structure of existing ones.Some departments, for example the Ministry of Defence, have responsibility for the whole of the United Kingdom. Others cover only part, and the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly have responsibility for the relevant areas in Scotland and Wales. (note at devolution)The leader of the main opposition party chooses a Shadow Cabinet of shadow ministers. Each is responsible for speaking about an area of government.In the US the federal government has 15 departments. These, together with the president and various government agencies, make up the executive branch of the government and are responsible for its day-to-day operation.The people in charge of government departments are called secretaries. For example, the Department of Agriculture is led by the Secretary of Agriculture. The head of the State Department, the department that deals with US foreign policy, is called the Secretary of State. The President decides who will be the head of each department but they must be approved by the Senate. Not all secretaries are well known: many people know the name of the Secretary of State, but few know the Secretary of Agriculture.Most of the people working in US government departments are civil servants whose jobs do not depend on political influence. In this way each department has a base of employees with a lot of knowledge and experience, whose careers may last longer than a single political administration. The organization of departments may be changed according to what issues seem important at a particular time but this kind of change does not happen very often.The heads of departments form a group called the Cabinet, which meets regularly with the President. The President is not required to accept their advice, but may choose to do so.Wordfinder- abdicate
- accede
- crown
- king
- government
- monarch
- throne
- reign
- royal
- succession
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsa2- A new government was formed in September of that year.
- A puppet government was installed as the occupying forces withdrew.
- According to government sources, two people died in the incident.
- On May 23 a coalition government took office.
- The former minister was relieved of his post in last month's extensive government reshuffle.
- The government announced the cancellation of the dam project.
- The group aims to overthrow the military government.
- The hospital has been hit by government cuts.
- The present government was elected last year.
- The president dissolved the assembly and swore in an interim government.
- The president has been meeting members of the French government.
- The report on world poverty calls for urgent action from Western governments.
- The socialists won 42% of the seats and formed a minority government.
- This crisis could bring down the British government.
- a national emergency that could cause the government to fall
- a new government headed by a former military leader
- calls for government intervention in the dispute
- measures that were introduced under the last government
- the country's new Communist government
- Similar measures are being considered by the governments of El Salvador and Panama.
- The Prime Minister was keen to emphasize his government's commitment to the agreement.
- The government has been considering further tax cuts.
- The interests of the state should not be confused with the interests of the government of the day.
- There are bound to be cuts in government expenditure.
- It is time we had a change of government.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- central
- federal
- local
- …
- elect
- establish
- form
- …
- come to power
- take office
- fall
- …
- agency
- body
- department
- …
- in government
- under a/the government
- a change in government
- a change of government
- the government of the day
- …
- [uncountable] a particular system or method of controlling a country
- Democratic government has now replaced military rule.
- communist/totalitarian government
- a federal system of government
Extra Examples- The law empowers federal government to set standards which apply to all states.
- We believe in low taxation and small government.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- central
- federal
- local
- …
- elect
- establish
- form
- …
- come to power
- take office
- fall
- …
- agency
- body
- department
- …
- in government
- under a/the government
- a change in government
- a change of government
- the government of the day
- …
- [uncountable] the activity or the manner of controlling a country
- We need strong government to take the country through this crisis.
- The army retained a strong role in the government of the country.
- in government At that time the Democrats were in government.
Wordfinder- cabinet
- checks and balances
- constitution
- federal
- government
- minister
- the Opposition
- parliament
- politics
- system
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsb1- The two men got into a heated debate about the government of the disputed province.
- a problem facing whichever party is in government
- The Nationalists had been in government for most of the 1980s.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- democratic
- representative
- firm
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French governement, from governer, from Latin gubernare ‘to steer, rule’, from Greek kubernan ‘to steer’.