Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Governance \Gov"ern*ance\, n. [F. gouvernance.]
   Exercise of authority; control; government; arrangement.
   --Chaucer. --J. H. Newman.

Source : WordNet®

governance
     n 1: the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up
          a body for the purpose of administering something; "he
          claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the
          governance of an association is responsible to its
          members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of
          the establishment" [syn: {administration}, {governing
          body}, {establishment}, {brass}, {organization}, {organisation}]
     2: the act of governing; exercising authority; "regulations for
        the governing of state prisons"; "he had considerable
        experience of government" [syn: {government}, {governing},
         {government activity}]