A government is a body that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws within a civil, corporate, religious, academic, or other organization or group. In its broadest sense, "to govern" means to administer or supervise, whether over a state, a set group of people, or a collection of assets.

The word government is derived from the Greek Κυβερνήτης (kyvernites), which means "steersman", "governor", "pilot" or "rudder".

Typically, "the government" refers to the executive function. In many countries (particularly those having parliamentary systems), the Government refers to the executive branch of government or a specifically named executive, i.e. the Blair Government (compare to the administration as in the Clinton administration in U.S. usage). The Welsh Assembly Government is the name of the executive branch of Wales, and Scottish Government is the unofficial term to describe the Scottish Executive. In countries using the Westminster system, the party in government will also usually control the legislature.

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L.A. Times - Latin America

In Mexico, a police victory against smuggling brings deadly revenge
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Juan Jose Soriano, deputy commander of the Tecate Police Department, helped U.S. authorities find a drug-smuggling tunnel. The next morning, gunmen shot him 45 times in his bedroom. Tecate, Mexico
Bolivia's Morales faces a challenge from fellow Indian
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Indigenous activist Savina Cuellar, governor in the key province of Chuquisaca, has fallen out with the president and become a figurehead for those opposed to his socialist policies. Renowned as the cradle of Bolivian independence, this colonial town in the south-central highlands has become a front line in a new battle that is threatening to rip this South American nation asunder.
Barbadians gripe over snake 'find'
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
They long knew about the world's smallest snake, which just made its scientific debut. A small snake has sparked a big debate in Barbados.
Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival to begin Sept. 12
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A production boom in Colombia will be felt. I N THE film " Para�so Travel,” a young immigrant named Marlon finds himself lost and broke shortly after arriving in New York and being separated from his girlfriend, the cunning and sexy Reina, played by Ang�lica Bland�n. He meets an older man, a fixer for new arrivals, who helps him find shelter and asks the naive illegal what else he might need.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels opens its doors to mariachi camp
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The L.A. cathedral plays host to young musicians learning the upbeat Mexican genre. Joacim Naranjo plays the trumpet pretty well. But the 16-year-old from East Los Angeles found himself flapping his sore lips like a horse as he and a half dozen other boys tried to master the rapidly cascading sounds of a mariachi song.
U.S. national team makes a rare trip to Cuba
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Americans are favored in World Cup qualifier, but Cubans are fired up for the event. Sixty-one years have slipped by since the one and only time the United States played Cuba in a soccer match on Cuban soil.

UN News Centre - Americas

UN rushing aid to Caribbean nations hit hard by severe weather
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations is providing assistance to a number of countries in the Caribbean that have been badly affected by recent severe weather, particularly Haiti which has been the worst hit, the world body's top humanitarian official said today.
Emergency aid expected to reach stranded Haitians, says UN agency
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations food agency expects to be able to send emergency assistance today to Haitians stranded in the flooded northern city of Gona�ves, which was battered by Tropical Storm Hanna on Monday night.
Floating clinic brings vital health care to Ecuador's refugee communities - UN
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Isolated communities living in northern Ecuador are now able to receive urgently-needed health care thanks to a new floating clinic launched with the help of the United Nations refugee agency.

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