self-government Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun government of a political unit by its own people
    self-rule; self-determination.

WordNet

Self`-gov"ern*ment noun
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913