1[only before noun]CONTROL having the power and authority to control an organization, country etc 统治的,执政的,管理的SYN ruling
FIFA is the governing body of world soccer (=the group of people who control it).
国际足联是世界足球运动的主管机构。
The Democrats are now the governing party (=the party in power) in the country.
民主党现在是该国的执政党。
the governing class of ancient Rome
古罗马的统治阶级
2governing principleMAINa principle that has the most important influence on something 指导原则
Freedom of speech is one of the governing principles in a democracy.
言论自由是民主国家的宗旨之一。
Examples from the Corpus
governing principle• Complexprotocoldemanded that Court dress conform to a set of governing principles.• Just as a ship needs a captain, so too does the individual need a governing principle.• Freedom of speech for all is one of the governing principles in a democracy.• But the same three macro-functions are the governing principles of stylisticchoice in both literary and non-literary language.