Governor-General : Governor general
Governor-General (Pl: governors-general) is the title for the representative of a monarch who serves as de facto head of state for a number of members of the Commonwealth known as Commonwealth Realms. While the Governor-General in theory retains a large amount of powers, in practice the Governor-General usually exercises those powers with the advice of the Prime Minister. This convention can be broken, most notably in the Australian constitutional crisis of 1975. The Governor-General is in theory appointed by the monarch but in practice the monarch acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.Historically the office of Governor-General began as the colonial governor appointed by the United Kingdom to oversee its colonies. As such, early Governors-General were executive rulers in fact as well as in theory. Over time, as dominions acquired responsible government, the actual power of the Governors-General decreased.
Until 1927, the Governor-General filled a two-fold existence;
- representative of the monarch;
- representative of the British Government in each dominion.
As such he could be instructed by London on the exercise of some of his functions and duties, for example, the use or withholding of the Royal Assent for legislation. In 1927, implementing a decision of a Commonwealth Conference, this role was removed. As a result, the Governor General became the exclusive representative of the monarch, who from 1928 appointed the person selected by the native government, not London.
- Governor-General of Australia
- Governor-General of Canada
- Governor-General of the Irish Free State (1922-1936/7)1
- Governor-General of New Zealand
Note
1 The Irish governor-generalship was abolished by two enactments of the Irish parliament, passed in December 1936 and May 1937 respectively. The latter Act retrospectively dated the implementation of the abolition back to the date of the first Act, in 1936. There remains however a dispute in the archives from the time as to whether the abolition can be dated back to December 1936 or whether it could be said to have taken place only in mid 1937.
Other countries have appointed governors-general:
an avocat, a man famed for his integrity, and that very evening
a house at the seaside, and receiving an affirmative answer, he
naturally enough was agreed to with pleasure. The next day at the
country.html">country house where M. Marouin's wife and daughter were staying.
ordinary greetings, Bonafoux stepped to the window.html">window, beckoning to
mine--I will come back.html">back for you."
Marouin went out. Bonafoux remained at the window, absorbed in his
meal, did not observe, or did not appear to observe, his
start. The avocat and his friend mounted their horses and rode
pace, and riding.html">riding along the shore for about half an hour, he seemed to
followed without inquiring into his investigations, which seemed
saying that he must go/go.html">go back to Toulon immediately after lunch.
of his hosts. Marouin, called back to town by his work, mounted his
riding along for ten minutes, Bonafoux went close to his companion
so discreet as a notary, and after a notary an avocat."
"You can quite understand that I did not come to your country house
serious responsibility, preoccupied me; I have chosen you out of all
a great service.html">service."
"You did well, captain."
"Let us go straight to the point, as men who respect and trust each
refuge with me; but he cannot remain there, for I am the first person
consequently we could not find a better retreat for him. You must
decision."
"It is at your service," said Marouin.
"Right. My uncle shall sleep there to-night."
"But at least give me time to make some preparations worthy of my
making a vexatious delay for us: King Joachim is no longer accustomed
.
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