This paper examines how governments are translating international principles for the use of AI into practice across public institutions. By reviewing global experiences, seven practice areas were identified. These demonstrate how governments have taken concrete steps to operationalize principles and highlight several key takeaways as well as providing some cautionary tales from early adopters. Each practice area is linked to relevant principles and evidence of good practice, showcased through diverse country examples. To support implementation, the paper outlines a set of suggested activities, presented in annexed tables, which offer practical techniques governments may consider to operationalize responsible AI, reduce fragmentation, and build institutional capacity across the AI lifecycle.