Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Self-government \Self`-gov"ern*ment\, n.
   1. The act of governing one's self, or the state of being
      governed by one's self; self-control; self-command.

   2. Hence, government of a community, state, or nation by the
      joint action of the mass of people constituting such a
      civil body; also, the state of being so governed;
      democratic government; democracy.

            It is to self-government, the great principle of
            popular representation and administration, -- the
            system that lets in all to participate in the
            councels that are to assign the good or evil to all,
            -- that we may owe what we are and what we hope to
            be.                                   --D. Webster.

Source : WordNet®

self-government
     n : government of a country by its own people [syn: {self-determination},
          {self-rule}]