• Corporate governance is a system that defines the division of duties, rights, and responsibilities among the various members of a corporation, such as the board of directors, various committees within the board of directors, operational managers, and shareholders. Corporate governance lists the rules, guidelines, and procedures for making decisions that affect corporate affairs. The term has gained particular attention in recent years due to massive lawsuits against directors and officers of a number of well-known corporations that have filed for bankruptcy. Many business and insurance industry observers believe that the cause of such failures is largely a violation of corporate governance, especially in the area of financial and accounting controls.