GOVERNMENT. 67 



Nomorogy (Gr. nomas, law, and lof^os, a discourse). — The 

 science or knowledge of law, legislation, and government. 



Ochloc'racy.— A form of government in which the multitude 

 or common people rule. 



Oc'tarchy.— A government by eight persons. 



Origarchy. — A form of government in which the supreme 

 power is placed in a few hands ; a species of aristocracy. 



Ordinance. — A rule established by authority; a permanent 

 rule of action ; a statute, law, edict, decree, rescript. 



Pen'sion. — A yearly stipend paid by government to retired pub- 

 lic officers, disabled soldiers, the families of soldiers killed, 

 meritorious and needy authors, artists, etc., or the like. 



Pen'tarchy. — A government in the hands of five persons. 



Plenipotentiary. — An ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, 

 furnished with full power to negotiate a treaty or to trans- 

 act other business. 



Pol'icy. — The settled method by which the government and 

 athiirs of a nation are, or may be, administered ; a system 

 of public or official administration, as designed to promote 

 the external or internal prosperity of a state. 



Pol'ity. — The form or constitution of civil government by which 

 a nation or state is organized ; the framework or organiza- 

 tion by which the various departments of a civil govern- 

 ment are combined into a systematic whole. 



Pol'ygarchy. — Government by several persons. 



Primary Assembly. — A meeting of the people or legal voters 

 in a town, city, or other district, who appear and act on 

 public business in person, and a majority of whose votes 

 originate the supreaie power in a state. 



Pro'tocol. — The original copy of any writing, as a treaty, 

 despatch, or other instrument. 



Reciproc'ity. — A treaty between nations which confers equal 

 privileges as respecting customs, charges on imports, etc. 



Re'gency.— The office of one who governs a kingdom in the 

 minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign. 



Republic. — A state in which the exercise of the sovereign 

 power is lodged in the people. If it is an aristocracy 

 such as the republic of Venice was, the authority is vested 

 in a few privileged individuals ; if a democraci/, it is vested 

 in rulers chosen by and from the whole population, or in 

 representatives selected by it. Sometimes, as in Switzer- 

 land, aristocracy and democracy are combined. 



