Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction; right &c (title) 924; direction &c 693; government &c 737.1. divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness; absoluteness, absolutism; despotism; jus nocendi [Lat.]; jus divinum [Lat.]. mastery, mastership, masterdom†; dictation, control. hold, grasp; grip, gripe; reach; iron sway &c (severity) 739; fangs, clutches, talons; rod of empire &c (scepter) 747. [Vicarious authority] commission &c 755; deputy &c 759; permission &c 760. V. authorize &c (permit) 760; warrant &c (right) 924; dictate &c (order) 741. be at the head of &c adj.; hold office, be in office, fill an office; hold master, occupy master, a post master, be master &c 745. have the upper hand, get the upper hand, have the whip, get the whip; gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roost; boss [U.S.]; override, overrule, overawe; lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one's little finger, bend to one's will, hold one's own, wear the breeches; have the ball at one's feet, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand, have on the hip, have under one's thumb; be master of the situation; take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion; give the law to; carry with a high hand; lay down the law; ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm [Addison]; rule with a rod of iron &c (severity) 739. Adj. at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential; arbitrary; compulsory &c 744; stringent. at one's command; in one's power, in one's grasp; under control. Adv. in the name of, by the authority of, de par le Roi [Fr.], in virtue of; under the auspices of, in the hands of. at one's pleasure; by a dash if the pen, by a stroke of the pen; ex mero motu [Lat.]; ex cathedra [Lat.], from the chair. Phr. the gray mare the better horse; every inch a king [Lear]. 780, 737a. Government — N. government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority; authority &c 737; master &c 745; direction &c 693. [nations] national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic; kingdom, principality. [subdivisions of nations] state government [Lat.], state; shire [Brit.]; province [Can.]; county [Ire.]; canton [Switz.]; territory [Austral.]; duchy, archduchy, archdukedom†; woiwodshaft; commonwealth; region &c 181; property &c 780. [smaller subdivisions] county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement [Fr.], mofussil†, commune; wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth†, soke†, tithing; ward, precinct, bailiwick. command, empire, sway, rule; dominion, domination; sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty; lordship, headship†; chiefdom†; seigniory, seigniority†. rule, sway, command, control, administer; govern &c (direct) 693; lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne; sway the scepter, wield the scepter; wear the crown. state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus [Lat.]. [person in the governing authority] judicature &c 965; cabinet &c (council) 696; seat of government, seat of authority; headquarters. [Acquisition of authority] accession; installation &c 755; politics &c 737.1. reign, regime, dynasty; directorship, dictatorship; protectorate, protectorship; caliphate, pashalic†, electorate; presidency, presidentship†; administration; proconsul, consulship; prefecture; seneschalship; magistrature†, magistracy. monarchy; kinghood†, kingship; royalty, regality; aristarchy†, aristocracy; oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy; commonwealth; dominion; heteronomy; republic, republicanism; socialism; collectivism; mob law, mobocracy†, ochlocracy†; vox populi, imperium in imperio [Lat.]; bureaucracy; beadledom†, bumbledom†; stratocracy; military power, military government, junta; feodality†, feudal system, feudalism. thearchy†, theocracy, dinarchy†; duarchy†, triarchy, heterarchy†; duumvirate; triumvirate; autocracy, autonomy; limited monarchy; constitutional government, constitutional monarchy; home rule; representative government; monocracy†, pantisocracy†. gynarchy†, gynocracy†, gynaeocracy†; petticoat government. [government functions] legislature, judiciary, administration. [Government agencies and institutions] office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet; senate, house of representatives, parliament; council &c 696; courts, supreme court; [U.S. national government departments], state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury; Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI; Central Intelligence Agency, CIA; National Institutes of Health, NIH; Postal Service, Post Office; Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. [national government officials] president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister; senator, representatative, president pro tem [Lat.], speaker of the house; department head, section head, section chief; federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice; treasurer, secretary of the treasury; director of the FBI. [state government officials] governor, state cabinet member; state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman. V. govern, rule, have authority, hold authority, possess authority, exercise authority, exert authority, wield authority &c n.; reign, be sovereign. [acquire authority] ascend the throne, mount the throne; take the reins, take the reins into one's hand; assume authority &c n., assume the reins of government; take command, assume command. [contend for authority] politics &c 737.1. be governed by, be in the power of, be a subject of, be a citizen of. Adj. regal, sovereign, governing; royal, royalist; monarchical, kingly; imperial, imperiatorial†; princely; feudal; aristocratic, autocratic; oligarchic &c n.; republican, dynastic. ruling &c v.; regnant, gubernatorial; imperious; authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute; hegemonic, hegemonical†; authorized &c (due) 924. [pertaining to property owned by government] government, public; national, federal; his majesty's [Brit.], her majesty's; state, county, city, &c N.. Phr. a dog's obeyed in office [Lear]; cada uno tiene su alguazil [Sp.]; le Roi le veut [Fr.]; regibus esse manus en nescio longas [Lat.]; regnant populi [Lat.]; the demigod Authority [Lat.Tran] [Measure for Measure]; the right divine of kings to govern wrong [Pope]; uneasy lies the head that wears a crown [Henry IV]. 737b. Politics [contention for governmental authority or influence]. — N. politics; political science; candidacy, campaign, campaigning, electioneering; partisanship, ideology, factionalism. election, poll, ballot, vote, referendum, recall, initiative, voice, suffrage, plumper, cumulative vote, plebiscitum [Lat.], plebiscite, vox populi; electioneering; voting &c v.; elective franchise; straight ticket [U.S.]; opinion poll, popularity poll. issue; opinion, stand, position; program, platform; party line. [ideologies] democracy, republicanism; communism, statism, state socialism; socialism; conservatism, toryism; liberalism, whigism; theocracy; constitutional monarchy. [political parties] party &c 712; [U.S: Political parties list], Democratic Party, Republican Party, Socialist Party; Communist Party; [U.S. defunct parties: list], Federalist Party, Bull Moose Party, Abolitionist Party; [Germany: list], Christian Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party; National Socialist Worker's Party; [Germany, 1930- 1945], Nazi Party; [Great Britain:list], Liberal Party, Labor Party, Conservative Party. ticket, slate. [person active in politics] politician activist; [specific politicians: list], candidate, aspirant, hopeful, office-seeker, front- runner, dark horse, long shot, shoo-in; supporter, backer, political worker, campaign worker; lobbyist, contributor; party hack, ward heeler; regional candidate, favorite son; running mate, stalking horse; perpetual candidate, political animal. political contribution, campaign contribution; political action committee, PAC. political district, electoral division, electoral district, bailiwick. electorate, constituents. get-out-the-vote campaign, political education. negative campaigning, dirty politics, smear campaign. [unsuccessful candidate] also-ran, loser; has-been. [successful candidate] office holder, official, occupant of a position; public servant, incumbent; winner. V. run for office, stand for office; campaign, stump; throw one's hat in the ring; announce one's candidacy. Adj. political, partisan. Phr. Money is the mother's milk of politics [Tip O'Neill].