1. Position: The Governor is the constitutional head of the State Government as well as the representative of the President (Union Government) in the State.
→As the Constitutional Head of the State Government, he has a very limited role to play as the administration of the state is conducted by the Council of Ministers in his name. He exercises his powers with the aid and advice of the Chief Minister.
2. Functions: As the constitutional head of the State Government, the Governor performs the following functions:
(1) Appointment of the Chief Minister and the other ministers.
(2) Appointment of the high officials of the State.
(3) Summons and prorogues the sessions of the State Legislature.
(4) Nominates members on the Vidhan Parishad and one Anglo-Indian member to the Vidhan Sabha.
(5) Gives assent to the bills passed by the State Legislature.
(6) Issues ordinances when the State Legislature is not in session.
(7) Gives prior sanctions to the money bills and instructs the Council of Ministers to present annual budget before the State Legislature.
(8) Gives sanction to the expenditure from the Contingency Fund of the state.
(9) Appoints the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities in the state.
→ The Governor has been given a number of discretionary powers to perform his duties as the representative of the President (Union Government). He exercises these powers without consulting the Chief Minister. He is able to play a decisive role in state politics in such vital matters as the appointment of the Chief Minister, reporting breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state, suspension or dissolution of the Vidhan Sabha and looking after administration during the 'President's rule in the state.