gov·ern /'gə-vərn/ vt
1: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; esp: to control and direct the administration of policy in
2: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over
the testator's assets are govern ed by will substitutes — W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
3: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for
the law govern ing bills of lading
United States v. Leon govern s the case at bar
gov·er·na·ble /'gə-vər-nə-bəl/ adj
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.