governs

Governs is the third-person singular present tense of the verb govern. It denotes the act of exercising authority, control, or direction over a person, group, organization, or domain, or of regulating its operations by rules or laws.

It is commonly used in political, legal, and organizational contexts. Examples include "The constitution governs the powers of the presidency," "Market rules govern how traders operate," and "The committee governs its own procedures." The verb typically takes a direct object such as laws, regulations, or policies, and can be used in active or passive constructions ("Laws are governed by the constitution").

Etymology and related forms: govern derives from Old French govern, from Latin gubernare, itself from Greek kybernāein "to steer, pilot," with cognates such as gubernator (governor). The third-person singular form adds -s.

See also: govern, government, governance, governing.