Rola gubernatora stanowego w australijskim systemie konstytucyjnym

Abstrakt

The role of State Governor in the Australian constitutional system

The office of Governor is the oldest constitutional office in Australia. Each of the six states was founded as a British colony, and a Governor was appointed by the British government to exercise executive authority over the colony, to represent the monarch who was permanently based in London and to perform the same constitutional and representational functions at state level, which the Governor General perform at the federal level. Current position of state governor in the Australian political system is the result of the transformation of the office, taking place from the eighteenth century, when the governors led newly emerging British colonies, as well as political and social changes in Australia and in the British Empire. The article presents the history of that office, requirements for officials and a range of their privileges and powers. The evolution of this position will be undoubtedly associated with the result of discussion on a key constitutional change, which is currently pending between the two environments: Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy and Australian Republican Movement.