Governador

Governador is the Portuguese term for governor, used to describe the person who heads the executive branch of a state, province, or region in Portuguese-speaking countries. The word also appeared historically in colonial administrations to denote officials who represented the central government in a territory. The term derives from Latin gubernator and entered Portuguese through historical routes such as French gouverneur.

In Brazil, the governador is the elected head of a state government. The governor enforces state laws, proposes the state budget, and oversees public administration, security forces, and public services. Governors are chosen by direct popular vote for a fixed term, commonly four years, with rules on re-election defined by the federal and state constitutions. The office operates within a federative system that distributes powers between the state and federal levels, and governors may be subject to impeachment if crimes are alleged.

Historically, in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking territories, the governador was a colonial or provincial administrator appointed by the crown or central government to oversee territory, civil and military affairs, tax collection, and local governance. In modern times, the term persists in some administrative contexts as a historical or ceremonial title, or in reference to heads of districts, autonomous regions, or former colonies.

See also: Governor, Governor-general, Civil governor.