self-governing people
noun phraseUK /ˌself ˈɡʌvənɪŋ ˈpiːpəl/
US /ˌself ˈɡʌvərnɪŋ ˈpiːpəl/
A self-governing people is a group of people who make their own rules and decisions.
The island became a self-governing people after years of asking for independence.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A community that runs its own local affairs without outside control.
The village is a self-governing people when it comes to schools and roads.
3. A group of citizens who vote on their own laws and leaders.
As a self-governing people, they elect their council every spring.
4. A nation that controls its own government and future.
The treaty recognized them as a self-governing people with their own parliament.