Governor

A governor is also a device that regulates the speed of a machine. See Governor (device).

Other modern New World countries

United States

In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state, not subordinate to the federal authorities but the political and ceremonial head of the 'sovereign' state. The governor may also assume additional roles, such as the Commander-in-Chief of the State National Guard forces (when not federalized), and the ability to commute or pardon a criminal sentence. U.S. Governors serve four-year terms except those in New Hampshire and Vermont, who serve two-year terms.

Related Topics:
United States - Chief executive - State - Sovereign - Commander-in-Chief - State National Guard - Commute - Pardon - Criminal - Sentence

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In all states, the governor is directly elected and has considerable practical powers, though this is moderated by the 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 the governor's veto can be overridden by an absolute majority vote making it virtually useless. The Governor of North Carolina had no veto power until a 1996 referendum. Whenever there is a sudden vacancy of one of the state's Senate seats, that state's governor appoints someone to fill the vacancy until a special election is to be held. The governors of Oregon, Massachusetts and Alaska no longer have this power.

Related Topics:
State legislature - Veto - Tennessee - Absolute majority - 1996 - Special election - Oregon - Massachusetts - Alaska

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In colonial America, the governor was the representative of the monarch who exercised executive power, many colonies originally elected their governors, but in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, the king began to to appoint them directly. During the American Revolution, the royal governors were expelled, but the name was retained to denote the new elected official.

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See: List of United States Governors for past and present governors.

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• Lieutenant Governor
• Governors of American Samoa
• Governors of Guam
• Governors of Northern Mariana Islands
• Governors of Puerto Rico
• Governors of U.S. Virgin Islands

Mexico

The elected heads of Mexico's 31 federal states are styled "governors" (gobernadores), closely following the U.S. model. See: List of Mexican state governors.

Related Topics:
Mexico - Federal states - List of Mexican state governors

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South America

Many of the South American republics (such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina) have provinces or states run by elected governors, with offices similar in nature to U.S. state governors.

Related Topics:
South America - Chile - Brazil - Argentina

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