The term GOVT. RULES can be broken down into two words: GOVT, which is an abbreviation for government, and RULES, which refers to regulations or laws. The crossword solution for this term is REGS, which is an abbreviation for regulations. Regulations are RULES that are put in place by a governing body, such as a government, to ensure that certain standards are met and that the public is protected. Regulations are often enforced through fines or other penalties if they are not followed.