governance

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe process, or the power, of governing; government or administration.

   But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

   2012 March 28, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87

   Synonyms: administration, government, management, statism

2. countableuncountableThe specific system by which a political system is ruled.
3. countableuncountableThe group of people who make up an administrative body.

In a sentence

But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

2012 March 28, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87

Where it comes from

1. Old Frenchgouvernance
2. Middle Englishgovernaunce
3. Englishgovernance

From Middle English governaunce, from Old French gouvernance, governance, equivalent to govern + -ance.