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Governor

A Governoran official who headsgovernment ofcolony, state or other sub-national state unit.

Tablecontents
1 British EmpireCommonwealth
2 United States
3 Other countries

British EmpireCommonwealth

A governor was originally an official appointed byEnglish monarchoversee onehis colonies. Because ofdifferent constitutional histories ofvarious former colonies ofUnited Kingdom,name now refersofficialsdiffering amountspower.

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Australia

In Australia, each state hasGovernor as its formal head. In theory state Governorsappointed byQueenact as her representative. In practice theyalways appointed onadvice ofstate Premierplaypurely ceremonial role. State Governors have emergency reserve powers but theserarely used. The TerritoriesAustralia have Administrators

The differenceterminology betweenAustralian state Governors andCanadian provincial Lieutenant Governorssignificant. InAustralian case,Governor nominally derives power directly frommonarchispractice nominated byPremier ofstate. InCanadian case,Lieutenant Governor nominallyappointed byGovernor-Generalin practicenamed byfederal Prime Minister.

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India

In India each state hasceremonial Governor appointed byPresidentIndia.

Malaysia

In MalaysiastatesPenang, Malacca, SabahSarawak each haveceremonial Governor or Yang di-Pertua Negeri appointed byKing or Yang di-Pertuan AgongMalaysia.

United Kingdom Overseas Territories

InUnited Kingdom's remaining overseas territoriesgovernornormallydirect appointee ofBritish Governmentplays an active rolegoverninglawmaking (though usually withadviceelected local representatives). In some minor overseas territories thereinstead ofGovernor an Administrator or Commissioner

United States

InUnited States,title Governor refers tochief executiveeach state. In all states,individualdirectly electedhas considerable practical powers, though thismoderated bystate legislaturein some cases by other elected executive officials. In colonial America, governor wasrepresentative ofmonarch who exercised executive power. DuringAmerican Revolutionary War,royal governors were all expelled, butname was retaineddenotenew elected official.

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Other countries

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A governoralsoclassdevice. See Governor (device).


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