Government Vs A Governor/boss

[ck1]

How would you describe the difference between the 2?

[Tuvok]

A Governor is an employee.

[Buenchico]

'Government' is a collective noun, representing a number of people. (e.g. 'the British Government').

'Governor' is a singular noun, referring to just one person. (e.g. 'The former Governor of Hong Kong')

[ck1]

Good point, so in that context, what is government?

[Tuvok]

Government - elected people.

[ck1]

Buenchico, thanks for that - how would you describe them as opposed to define them?

[Buenchico]

>>> Government - elected people

Not exclusively, Toorak. One could, for example, refer to 'the Chinese government', which I can't recall being elected (in any meaningful way).

Ck1: While you're apparently struggling with the difference between 'government' and 'governor', I'm struggling with the difference between 'define' and 'describe'. I'm not really sure exactly what it is that you're seeking here.

[ck1]

Buenchico - I'm thinking a definition is what the word actually means (ie, a collective noun) but what does it actually mean. If somebody said to you, can you tell me the difference between a government and a boss, without offering any definition as to what the actual words mean, what would you say (or write in this scenario!).
This stems from a question from my daughter. Although I know what the government is, and I know what a governor is, I'm struggling to give a child-friendly answer to separate the 2 in political terms - it might be easier in the morning when the effects of the fizzy stuff have worn off!

[albaqwerty]

a government is a big group of people gathered together to ''rule'' over a large number of people, but governors are subordinates of the government who rule over a smaller number of people.
each governor then reports back to the government what's what.
(err, hopefully worded in child-friendly speak)
I know the governors aren't subordinates but hey-ho, it's late :-)

[ck1]

Does the government as a whole rule over people, or are they just subordinate to the PM who has the freedom to appoint/fire people as she/he sees fit? The health secretary doesn't have power as such, only facilitates strategy and recommendations which then need to be approved?

[Buenchico]

Unlike the US President, the British PM has no direct power at all (other than to appoint the ministers who, together with him/her, make up the Government).

Even the Government can't directly make laws. They can propose them but it's only Parliament that can pass legislation.