A governor who has lieutenant or deputy governors under him; as, the governor general of Canada, of India.
The Queen's governmental representative
Appointed by the Queen (on the advice of the Prime Minister) to be her representative as Head of State in Canada. Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament, reads the Speech from the Throne, gives Royal Assent to bills and signs many other state documents. The Governor General receives diplomatic representatives and performs many ceremonial and social duties.
The Queen's representative in Canada. This person is responsible to giving Royal Assent to all federal bills to become federal law.
Canada's symbolic head of state, representing the authority of the Crown.
the Queen's representative in Canada who is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for a period of five years. The Governor General exercises executive powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and the advice and consent of the Queen's Privy Council in Canada, the active part of which is the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Governor General's prerogative powers are now restricted to those necessary to preserve the confidence convention of responsible government.
the person who represents the Crown (that is, the Queen) in a Commonwealth country (for example, in New Zealand)
The representative of the Queen in Australia, appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of the day. Potentially this position suggests enormous powers but usually the Governor General does not exercise these powers. In 1975
the representative of the Queen to the Federal Parliament in Australia.