Governor 56231 225493610 2008-07-14T00:04:18Z JimWae 61906 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Cclawara|Cclawara]] ([[User talk:Cclawara|talk]]) to last version by Squids and Chips {{otheruses}} {{Executive}} A '''governor''' is a governing official, usually the [[Executive (government)|executive]] (at least nominally, to different degrees also politically and administratively) of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the [[Head of state]]. In [[federation]]s, a governor may be the title of each appointed or elected [[politician]] who governs a constitutive [[state]]. In some countries the heads of the constitutive states, provinces, communities and regions may be titled "governor," although this is less common in parliamentary systems such as in some European nations and many of their former colonies, which use titles such as ''President of the Regional Council'' in [[France]] and ''minister-president'' in [[Germany]]. Other countries using different titles for sub-national units include [[Spain]] and [[Switzerland]]. The title also applies, historically, to executive officials acting as representatives of a [[chartered company]] which has been granted exercise of sovereignty in a colonial area, such as the British [[HEIC]] or the Dutch [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]]. These companies operate as a major state within a state with its own armed forces. There can also be non-political governors: high ranking officials in private or similar [[governance]] such as commercial and non-profit management, styled governor(s), who simply ''govern'' an institution, such as a [[corporation]] or a [[bank]]. For example, in the [[United Kingdom]] and other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries there are [[prison]] governors ("warden" in the [[United States]]), [[school governors]] and bank governors. ==Pre-Roman empires== Although the legal and administrative framework of [[province]]s, each administrated by a governor, was created by the [[ancient Rome|Romans]], the term ''governor'' has been a convenient term for historians to use in describing similar systems in [[ancient history|antiquity]]. Indeed, many regions of the pre-Roman antiquity were ultimately replaced by Roman 'standardized' provincial governments after their conquest by Rome. === Egypt === *In Pharaonic times, the governors of each of dozens of provinces in the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt (called [[Nome (Egypt)|"nomes"]] by the Greeks, and whose names often alluded to local patterns of religious worship) are usually known by the Greek word [[Nomarch]].<!--though the authentic Egyptian-language word was ...--> *The whole (or most) of Egypt was repeatedly reduced to the status of province of a larger empire under foreign conquerors, notably under an Achaemenid [[satrap]] (see below).<fact|date=\june 2008> ===Pre- & Hellenistic [[satrap]]s=== * [[Medes|Media]] and Achaemenid [[Persian Empire|Persia]] introduced the satrapy, probably inspired by the Assyrian / Babylonian examples * [[Alexander the Great]] and equally Hellenistic [[diadoch]] kingdoms, mainly [[Seleucids]] (greater Syria) and [[Lagids]] ('Ptolemies' in Hellenistic Egypt) * in later [[Persia]], again under Iranian dynasties: ** [[Parthia]] ** the [[Sassanid]] dynasty dispensed with the office after Shapur I (who had still 7 of them), replacing them with petty vassal rulers, known as ''shahdar''s ==Roman empires and legacy== ===In ancient Rome=== {{main|Roman Governor}} From the creation of the earliest Roman subject provinces a governor was appointed each year to administer each of them. The core function of a Roman governor was as a [[magistrate]] or judge, and the management of taxation and public spending in their area. Under the Republic and the early Empire, however, a governor also commanded military forces in his province. Republican governors were all men who had served in senior magistracies (the [[consul]]ate or [[praetor]]ship) in Rome in the previous year, and carried related titles as governor (''proconsul'' or ''propraetor''). The first Emperor, Octavianus Augustus (who acquired or settled a number of new territories; officially his style was republican: [[Princeps civitatis]]), divided the provinces into two categories; the traditionally prestigious governorships remained as before (in what have become known as "senatorial" provinces), while in a range of others he retained the formal governorships himself, delegating the actual task of administration to appointees (usually with the title ''legatus Augusti'', although some small provinces received governors with other titles such as ''procurator''). The infamous character of [[Pontius Pilate]] in the Christian [[Gospel]]s is a governor of this sort. A special case was Egypt, a rich 'private' domain and vital granary, where the Emperor almost inherited the theocratic status of a Pharaoh. The Emperor was represented there by a governor ''sui generis'' styled ''Praefectus Augustalis'' (the very title evokes the religious cult of the Emperor). Emperors Diocletian (see [[Tetrarchy]]) and Constantine in the third and fourth centuries AD carried out a root and branch reorganisation of the administration with two main features: *Provinces were divided up and became much more numerous (Italy itself, before the 'colonizing homeland', was brought into the system for the first time); they were then grouped into dioceses, and the dioceses in turn into four praetorian prefectures (originally each under a residing co-emperor); *Military responsibilities were removed from governors and given to new officials called ''[[comes]] rei militaris'' (the committal title was also granted to many court and civilian administrative positions) or ''[[dux]]'', later also ''[[Magister militum]]''. The prestige governorships of Africa and Asia remained with the title proconsul, and the special right to refer matters directly to the Emperor; the ''Praefectus Augustalis'' in Alexandria and the ''Comes Orientis'' in Antioch also retained special titles. Otherwise the governors of provinces had various titles without obvious logic, some known as [[consularis]], some as ''[[corrector]]'', some as praeses. Apart from Egypt and the East (''Oriens'' - ''viz'' greater Syria), each diocese was directed by a governor known as a ''vicarius''. The prefectures were directed by ''praefecti praetorio'' (a role transformed from a very different one in the early Empire). ===Byzantium === This system survived with few significant changes until the collapse of the empire in the West, and in the East the breakdown of order with the Persian and Arab invasions of the seventh century. At that stage a new kind of governor emerged, the [[Strategos]] a role leading the [[Thema|themes]] which replaced provinces at this point, and involving a return to the amalgamation of civil and military office which had been the practice under the Republic and the early Empire. ===Legacy=== While the Roman administration in the West was largely destroyed in the barbarian invasions, its model was remembered, and would again be very influential through two particular vehicles: Roman law and the Christian Church. ==Holy Roman/ Habsburg Empires and successor states== *[[Reichskommissar]] ==Turkish rule== In the Ottoman empire, all [[Pasha]]s (generals) administered a province of the Great Sultan's vast empire, with specific titles (such as Mutessaryf; Vali = [[Wali]] was often maintained or even revived in oriental [[successor state]]s; cfr. Beilerbei (rendered as Governor-general, as he is appointed above several provinces under individual governors) and [[Dey]]) ==British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations== [[Image:Heligolandgov.gif|thumb|Flag of the governor of [[Heligoland]] until 1890]] In the [[British Empire]] a governor was originally an official appointed by the British [[monarch]] (or in fact the cabinet) to oversee one of his [[crown colony|colonies]] and was the (sometimes notional) head of the colonial administration. A governor's power could diminish as the colony gained more responsible government vested in such institutions as an [[Executive Council]] to help with the colony's administration, and in a further stage of self-government, a [[Legislative Council]]s and/or [[Legislative Assembly|Assemblies]], in which the Governor often had a role. Today crown colonies of the United Kingdom continue to be administered by a governor, who holds varying degrees of power. Because of the different [[constitution]]al histories of the former colonies of the [[United Kingdom]], the term "Governor" now refers to officials with differing amounts of power. [[Administrator of the Government|Administrator]]s, [[Commissioner]]s and [[High Commissioner]]s exercise similar powers to Governors. (Note: such High Commissioners are not to be confused with the High Commissioners who are the equivalent of [[Ambassador]]s between Commonwealth states). Frequently the name '[[Government House]]' is given to Governors' residences. :The term can also be used in a more generic sense, especially for compound titles which include it: [[Governor-General]] and [[Lieutenant-Governor]]. ===Vice-Regal Governors=== ====United Kingdom overseas territories==== In the United Kingdom's remaining [[crown colony|overseas territories]] the governor is normally a direct appointee of the British Government and plays an active role in governing and lawmaking (though usually with the advice of elected local representatives). The Governor's chief responsibility is for the Defence and External Affairs of the colony. In some minor overseas territories, instead of a Governor, there is an [[Administrator of the Government|Administrator]] or [[Commissioner]], or the job is ex officio done by a [[High Commissioner]]. ====Australia==== {{main|Governors of the Australian states}} In [[Australia]], each state has the governor as its formal representative of the Queen as head of the state government. It is not a political office but a ceremonial office. Each state governor is appointed by the [[Queen of Australia]] on the advice of the [[Premier]] who is the political chief executive of the state government (until 1986, they were appointed by the [[Queen of the United Kingdom]] on the advice of the British Government). State Governors have emergency reserve powers but these are rarely used. The [[States and territories of Australia|Territories]] of Australia other than the ACT have [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrators]] instead of governors, who are appointed formally by the Governor-General. The Governor-General is the representative of and appointed by the [[Queen of Australia]] at a federal level on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia]]. As with the Governors-General of Australia and other Commonwealth Realms, State Governors usually exercise their power only on the advice of a government minister. ====New Zealand==== The [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] is always Governor of the [[Ross Dependency]], an Antarctic sector which is claimed by the [[Realm of New Zealand]]. ====Northern Ireland==== There was a position of [[Governor of Northern Ireland]] from 1922 until the suspension of [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Stormont]] in 1973. ===Elsewhere in the Commonwealth=== ====India==== In [[India]] each state has a ceremonial Governor appointed by the President of India. These Governors are different from the Governors who controlled the British-controlled portions of the Indian Empire (as opposed to the princely states) prior to 1949. See [[Governors of India]] & [[Indian Governors]] for more information. ====Malaysia==== In [[Malaysia]] the four non-monarchical states -[[Penang]], [[Malacca]], and the two on Borneo: [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]]- each have a ceremonial Governor styled ''[[Yang di-Pertua Negeri]]'', appointed by the federal King [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] of Malaysia, with a seat but no vote in the federal ''majlis Raja-raja'' (council of rulers). These states have a separate head of government who is the [[Chief Minister]] or ''Ketua Menteri''. All other states have royalty as head of state, no governor: a [[raja]] in Perlis, a [[Yang di-pertuan besar]] (elected from local rulers) in Negeri Sembilan, or a [[Sultan]] in the states of Selangor, Pahang, Johore, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. ====Nigeria==== In [[Nigeria]] (once a colony governed by a single British Governor before independence), the leaders of the regions, which in 1967 were divided into states, have been known as governors since 1954. Following a military coup in November 1993, President [[Sani Abacha]] suspended all the governors, and appointed administrators. When democracy was restored in 1999, the office of governor was revived and new governors were elected. The president of Nigeria can suspend state governors in a state of emergency and replace them with administrators. They are elected by popular vote. ====Pakistan==== In [[Pakistan]], each of the four provinces has a Governor who is appointed by the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] ====Papua New Guinea==== In [[Papua New Guinea]], the leaders of the provinces have been known as governors since August 1995. Previously they had been known as premiers. ====Sri Lanka==== The provinces of [[Sri Lanka]] (formerly Ceylon, a colony governed by a single British Governor before independence) are led by governors, as representatives of the [[President of Sri Lanka|President]]. These Governors are different from the [[Governor of Ceylon]] who controlled the [[British Ceylon]] prior to 1948. ==Russia and former Soviet Union== A special case was the Chinese Eastern Railroad Zone, which was governed as a [[concession (territory)|concession]] granted by [[Imperial China]] to the Russian 'Chinese Eastern Railroad Society' (in Russian ''Obshchestvo Kitayskoy Vostochnoy Zheleznoy Dorogi''; established in [[17 December]] [[1896]] in [[St. Petersburg]], later moved to [[Vladivostok]]), which built 1,481 km of tracks (Tarskaya - Hilar - Harbin - Nikolsk-Ussuriski; [[3 November]] [[1901]] traffic opened) and established on [[16 May]] [[1898]] the new capital city, [[Harbin]]; in August 1898, the defense for Chinese Eastern Railroad (CER) across [[Manchuria]] was assumed by Russia (first under Priamur governor). On [[1 July]] [[1903]], the Chinese Eastern Railroad was opened and given authority of its own CER Administration (Russian: ''Upravleniye KVZhD''), vested in the Directors of the Chinese Eastern Railroad, with the additional quality of Governors of the Chinese Eastern Railroad Zone (in Harbin; as such being [[12 August]] [[1903]] - [[1 July]] [[1905]] subordinated to the imperial Viceroyalty of the Far East, see [[Lüshunkou]]). The post continued to function despite various political changes until after [[World War II]]. Currently, some of the [[Subdivisions of Russia|administrative divisions of Russia]] are headed by governors, while others are headed by Presidents or heads of administration. From 1991 to 2005 they were elected by popular vote, but since 2005 they have been appointed by the federal president and confirmed by the province's legislature. ==Other Colonial empires== *Other European naval powers than the UK with colonies in Asia, Africa and other areas, which sometimes chartered companies to rule the colonies instead, gave or still give some, but not always all, of the top representatives of (or rather in) their colonies the title of governor. See: *[[Danish overseas colonies]] *[[Dutch Empire]] *[[Empire of Japan]] *[[French colonial empire]] *[[German colonial empire]] *[[Italian Empire|Italian empire]] *[[Overseas expansion of the United States]] *[[Portuguese Empire]] *[[Spanish Empire]] *[[Swedish overseas colonies]] ==Other modern Asian countries== ===Japan=== In [[Japan]],<ref>[http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S22/S22HO067.html ’n•ûީޡ–@<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the title {{nihongo|"Governor"|知事|chiji}} refers to the highest ranking executive of a [[Prefecture#Japanese sense of prefecture|Prefectural]] Government. The Governor is elected by a direct vote from the people and had a fixed term of four years. He / she can be subjected to a recall referendum. In case of death, disability, or resignation, a government official known as Vice Governor would stand in as Governor or acting Governor. See [[List of governors of Japan]] for a list of the current governors. ===People's Republic of China=== In the [[People's Republic of China]], the title "Governor" (省长) refers to the highest ranking executive of a [[Province of China|Provincial]] Government. The Governor is usually placed second in the provincial power hierarchy, below the [[Party secretary|Secretary]] of the provincial [[Communist Party of China]] (CPC) committee (省委书记), who serves as the highest ranking Party official in the Province. A Governor can be also used when referring to a [[County of China|County]] Governor (县长). ===Philippines=== In the [[Republic of the Philippines]], the title "Governor" refers to the highest ranking executive of a [[Philippine province|Provincial]] Government. The Governor is elected by a direct vote from the people and had a fixed term of three years. An incumbent Governor can only serve only up to three consecutive terms. He may however be suspended by either the Ombudsman or President (through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government). He may be removed by the President if he was found guilty of an administrative case or a criminal act during his incumbency. He can be subjected by a recall vote, but unlike a referendum, people would elect the governor of their choice. If in case of death, disability, resignation, forced removal or suspension, a government official known as Vice Governor would replace as Governor or acting Governor. In the [[Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao]], a Regional Governor and Regional Vice Governor is elected by a block vote similar to the United States President. ==Other modern countries in North America== ===United States=== {{seealso|United States Governors}} In the [[United States]], the title ''governor'' refers to the [[chief executive]] of each [[U.S. state|state]], not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state. The [[United States Constitution]] preserves the notion that the country is a federation of sovereign states, and that powers not specifically granted to the federal government are retained by the states - states are therefore not merely provinces or subdivisions of federal administration. State governments in the U.S. are therefore relatively powerful; each state has its own independent criminal and civil law codes, and each state manages its internal government. The governor thus heads the executive branch in each state and, depending on the state, may have considerable control over government budgeting, the power of appointment of many officials (including many judges) and a considerable role in legislation. The governor may also have additional roles, such as that of [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the state's [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] (when not federalized), and in many states the governor has partial or absolute power to [[Commutation of sentence|commute]] or [[pardon]] a [[Criminal law|criminal]] [[Sentence (law)|sentence]]. U.S. Governors serve four-year terms except those in [[New Hampshire]] and [[Vermont]], who serve two-year terms. In all states, the governor is directly elected, and in most cases has considerable practical powers, though this may be moderated by the [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] and in some cases by other elected executive officials. They can [[veto]] state bills. In some cases legislatures can override a gubernatorial veto by a two-thirds vote, in others by three-fifths. In [[Tennessee]] and [[Kentucky]], the governor's veto can be overridden by a [[simple majority]] vote, making it virtually useless, though they both have a [[line-item veto]]. The [[Governor of North Carolina]] had no veto power until a 1996 referendum. In most states, whenever there is a sudden vacancy of one of the state's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] seats, that state's governor appoints someone to fill the vacancy until a [[special election]] is held, although the governors of [[Oregon]], [[Massachusetts]] and [[Alaska]] no longer have this power. A state governor may give an annual [[State of the State Address]] in order to satisfy a constitutional stipulation that a governor must report annually, or in older constitutions described as being "from time to time," on the state or condition of a U.S. state. Governors of states may also perform ceremonial roles, such as greeting dignitaries, conferring state decorations, issuing symbolic proclamations or attending the [[state fair]]. The governor may also have an [[official residence]]. In colonial America, when the governor was the representative of the monarch who exercised executive power, many colonies originally indirectly elected their governors (that is, through assemblies and legislatures), but in the years leading up to the [[American Revolutionary War]], the Crown began to appoint them directly. During the American Revolution, all royal governors were expelled (except one, see [[Jonathan Trumbull]]), but the name was retained to denote the new elected official. Many of the fifty states were, before achieving statehood, [[Territories of the United States|territories]]. Administrated by the federal government, they had governors who were appointed by <!-- Need to be specific - I assume it's by the President, but I'm not certain enough to put it in --> rather than elected by the resident population. ===Mexico=== In the [[United Mexican States]], ''governor'' refers to the elected chief and head of each of the [[Mexico|the nation]]'s thirty one [[States of Mexico|Free and Sovereign States]], and their official title in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] is ''[[List of Mexican state governors|Gobernador]]''. Mexican governors are [[plurality|directly elected]] by the citizens of each state for six-year terms. See: [[List of Mexican state governors]] ==Other modern countries in South America== Many of the [[South America]]n republics (such as [[Chile]] and [[Argentina]]) have provinces or states run by elected governors, with offices similar in nature to U.S. state governors. ===Brazil=== Until the [[History of Brazil (1930-1945)|1930 Revolution]], the heads of the Brazilian [[Provinces]] then [[States of Brazil|States]] were styled Presidents (''presidentes''), later governors (''governadores'') and intervators (''interventores'', appointed by the federal government) and finally in 1945 only governors. ==Other European countries and empires== ===Austria=== A [[Landeshauptmann]] ([[German language|German]] for "state captain", literally 'country headman'; plural ''Landeshauptleute'' or ''Landeshauptmänner'' as in [[Styria]] till 1861; ''Landeshauptfrau'' is the female form) is an official title in German for certain political offices equivalent to a Governor. It has historical uses, both administrative and colonial, and is presently used in federal [[Austria]] and a majority German-speaking province of Italy. ===Benelux monarchies=== *In [[the Netherlands]], the government-appointed heads of the provinces were known as ''Gouverneur'' from 1814 until 1850, when their title was changed to ''King's'' (or ''Queen's'') ''Commissioner''. In the southern province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], however, the commissioner is still informally called Governor. *In the Dutch crown's Caribbean Overseas territories, the style Governor is still used (alongside the political head of government) in the [[Netherlands Antilles]] as well as since 1986 on the neighbouring island of [[Aruba]] (separated from the former) *In [[Belgium]], each of the ten provinces has a Governor, appointed by the regional government. He represents the central and regional governments in the province. He controls the local governments and is responsible for law and order, security and emergency action. The national capital of [[Brussels]], who is not part of a province, also has a governor with nearly the same competences. ===France=== During the [[Ancien Régime in France]], the representative of the king in his [[Provinces of France|provinces]] and cities was the "'''gouverneur'''". Royal officers chosen from the highest [[French nobility|nobility]], provincial and city governors (oversight of provinces and cities was frequently combined) were predominantly military positions in charge of defense and policing. Provincial governors &mdash; also called "lieutenants généraux" &mdash; also had the ability of convoking provincial [[parlement]]s, provincial estates and municipal bodies. The title "gouverneur" first appeared under [[Charles VI of France|Charles VI]]. The ordinance of Blois of 1579 reduced their number to 12, but an ordinance of 1779 increased their number to 39 (18 first-class governors, 21 second-class governors). Although in principle they were the king's representatives and their charges could be revoked at the king's will, some governors had installed themselves and their heirs as a provincial dynasty. The governors were at the height of their power from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th century, but their role in provincial unrest during the civil wars led [[Cardinal Richelieu]] to create the more tractable positions of [[intendant]]s of finance, policing and justice, and in the 18th century the role of provincial governors was greatly curtailed. ===Italy=== *The essentially maritime empire of the Venetian republic, comprising Terra Ferma, other Adriatic (mainly Istria and Dalmatia) and further Mediterranean (mainly Greek) possessions, used different styles, such as ''(castelleno e) [[provveditore]] (generale), baile'' *In today's Italy, the official name of a head of a [[Regione]] (the Italian subnational entity) is ''Presidente della Giunta regionale'' (President of the regional executive council), but since 2000, when a constitutional reform decided the direct election of the president by the people, it has been usual to call him ''governatore'' (governor). ===Papal and Vatican particularity=== *In the various Italian provinces (former principalities and city-states) that became amalgamated as the Papal States, the Holy See exerted temporal power via its [[papal legate|Legate]]s and [[Delegate]]s, including some Cardinals *Also in [[Avignon]] and the surrounding southern French [[Comtat Venaissin]], the home of the Popes during their 'Babylonian exile', and retained centuries after, but never incorporated into the [[Papal States]], [[Papal legate|Legates]] and Vice-legates were appointed. *The sovereign modern remnant of the formerly large Papal States, the tiny Vatican City State, is now a mere enclave in Rome, the capital of [[Italian Republic]]. As it is too small to have further administrative territorial divisions, it is the equivalent of a Prime Minister, Governor and Mayor all roled in to one post, styled the [[Governor of Vatican City]]. ==Other modern African countries== {{Expand|date=October 2007}} ==Modern equivalents== As a generic term, Governor is used for various 'equivalent' officers governing part of a state or empire, rendering other official titles such as: *colonial [[High Commissioner]] (not the Ambassadors exchanged within the Commonwealth) And this also applies to non-western and/or antique cultures ==Other meanings of the word== The word ''governor'' can also refer to an administrator and/or supervisor (individually or collectively, see [[Board]] of Governors) in the '''socio-economic spheres''' of life; the single Governor of a national emission bank often holds ministerial rank. *[[Federal Reserve System|Federal Reserve Board of Governors]] *[[Governor of the Bank of Canada]] *[[Governor of the National Bank of Romania|Governor]] of the [[National Bank of Romania]] *[[List of governors of national banks of Serbia and Yugoslavia]] ==See also== *[[Administrator of the Government]] *[[Bey]] *[[Deputy Governor]] *[[Governor-general]] *[[Governor-in-chief]] *[[Governor-General of Finland]] *[[Governor-General of the Irish Free State]] *[[Governor of Hong Kong]] *[[Governor of Macau]] *[[List of Governors of the Straits Settlements|Governor of the Straits Settlements]] *[[Lieutenant governor]] *[[Minister-president]] *[[Viceroy]] {{Heads of state}} ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Government occupations]] [[Category:Gubernatorial titles]] <!-- interwiki --> [[bg:Губернатор]] [[ca:Governador]] [[da:Guvernør]] [[de:Gouverneur]] [[et:Kuberner]] [[es:Gobernador]] [[eo:Guberniestro]] [[fr:Gouverneur]] [[id:Gubernur]] [[it:Governatore]] [[he:מושל]] [[lt:Gubernatorius]] [[hu:Kormányzó]] [[ms:Gabenor]] [[nl:Gouverneur]] [[ja:知事]] [[no:Guvernør]] [[pl:Gubernator]] [[pt:Governador]] [[ru:Губернатор]] [[simple:Governor]] [[fi:Kuvernööri]] [[sv:Guvernör]] [[tr:Vali]] [[zh:知事]] [[zh:總督]] [[zh:省长]]