A governor is the head of a non-sovereign state. Countries all over the world have the role of governor within their government, with differing titles for that role.

Each of the 50 states in the United States has a governor, who is ultimately responsible for how the state is run. State constitutions delegate different duties and requirements for the role of governor, such as the number of terms a candidate may be elected for the office and the age requirement to run. The rules for the line of succession vary, as do the responsibilities of the role. There are some significant similarities however.

In all US states, the governor is the chief executive of the state and runs the executive branch of the government. He is the commander-in-chief of the military and is responsible for managing the state budget. Furthermore, the US constitution states that the governor of a state is allowed to fill vacancies in the state's two Senate seats.

In Georgia, for example, the governor has the power to veto legislation from the Georgia General Assembly. The veto, however, can be overturned by two-thirds of both houses in the Assembly: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In addition, the governor can fill vacancies in both Assembly houses.

While the Georgia General Assembly sets the budget, the budget is at the control of the governor. Therefore, it is possible for the governor to allocate the budget according to his or her political allies and foes. Furthermore, the Georgia governor, unlike the one in Florida, is not equal to leaders of other state departments. Instead, he outranks them.

Governors also have significant involvement in foreign affairs, especially due to the advent of the Homeland Security Bureau. They must be familiar with security procedures, such as raising the terror alert. In 2004, a small group of governors visited soldiers stationed in Iraq to assess the situation there. Meeting with Iraqi citizens, the governors learned about their views on the American soldiers stationed there.

In addition to international politics, governors have influence within national policy decisions. In 2006, Governors George Pataki and Bob Ehrlich threatened legal action if Dubai Portal World was allowed to enforce security in US ports. These legal actions include canceling state lease agreements at the ports in question.

A governor’s responsibilities can expand or contract depending upon the person occupying the office. Having originated from British colonial rule, the US system of governors has changed to suit the needs of each state. It is likely that the office will continue to evolve along with policy issues.