rule

Governing power or its possession or use; authority.

The duration of such power.

An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.

The body of regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for governing the conduct of its members.

A usual, customary, or generalized course of action or behavior.

A generalized statement that describes what is true in most or all cases.

A standard method or procedure for solving a class of problems.