The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.

For a major opposition party, this is something to be released in enough time for it to be analysed, but not enough time for how stupid it actually is to sink into the public consciousness. Minor parties are spared this balancing act because their policies are not required to make sense or, indeed, exist. For a current government, policy is something with which you have been annoying the public for the last term.

Services which set boundaries for actions concerning human interaction with the environment and environmental processes. Examples include international agreements, production of consultation papers and strategy documents by government departments, and the preparation of plans by government agencies, regional development agencies and local authorities.

A deliberate act of government that in some way alters or influences the society or economy outside the government. Includes, but is not limited to, taxation, regulation, expenditures, and legal requirements and prohibitions, including in each case those which affect international transactions.

The Government sets out its policy on a wide range of issues, for example through manifesto pledges and in response to events or changes in society. In a lot of cases, after consultation, they will then look to make this policy law by placing a Bill before Parliament.