I. Executive Powers of the Governor:
(i) All the executive functions of the State are carried on in the name of the Governor.
(ii) He not only appoints the Chief Minister but on his advice appoints the members of the Council of Ministers.
(iii) According to a well-established convention he calls the leader of the majority party or an alliance of parties (if no single party in the Legislative Assembly gets majority) to form the Ministry.
(iv) On the advice of the Chief Minister he allocates portfolios among the ministers.
(a) He appoints the Advocate- General and Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission.
(b) He has the power to appoint judges of the courts, other than the High Court.
(c) He, however,is consulted when the Judges of the State High Court are appointed by the President of India.
(d) While discharging all his functions as Head of the Executive in the state, the Governor, like the President, is aided and advised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
II. Legislative Powers:
1. To summon and prorogue the State Legislative. He can dissolve the State Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
2. He can address and read messages to the state legislative.
3. He can nominate one member of the Anglo-Indian community to the State Legislative Assembly if he is satisfied that the said community is not adequately represented in the Assembly.
4. He nominates the one-sixth members of the total strength of the legislative council if it is existing in that state. These members have the special knowledge or practical experience in the field of Art, Literature, Science and Social Services.
5. The assent of the Governor is necessary for a bill to become a law. In this regard:
(i) He may give his assent.
(ii) He may with-hold the assent.
(iii) He may return the bill with his message if the state legislative passes the bill in original or in the modified form he has to give the assent to the bills.
(iv) He may reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
6. The Governor has the powers to issue ordinance during the period when the state legislative is not in session.
III. Financial Powers:
1. No money bill can be introduced in State Legislative Assembly without the prior permission of the Governor.
2. The Annual Budget is introduced in the Assembly in the name of the Governor.
3. The Governor has the control over the State Contingency Fund.
IV. Power of Pardon: The Governor has the power to grant pardon to a person committed by the High Court. He may reduce or commute or postpone the sentence of a criminal.
V. Discretionary Powers: The Governor acts on the advice of the State Council of Ministers. But in some special circumstances, he may act even without the advice of ministers. These discretionary powers of the Governor mainly are:
1. The Governor may report to the President for imposition of the President's Rule
2. A situation may arise when the Governor may reserve a bill for the consent of the President.
3. Certain discretionary powers are given to the Governor in case of Sikkim, Nagaland, Tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura to safeguard the tribal way of life of the people.
VI. Position of the Governor: When a Governor acts as the Constitutional head of the state he has only nominal powers. In this position he or she exercises all powers with the aid and advice of the State Council of Ministers, his powers are, if they are actually powers) limited to the right to be informed, to encourage and to warn. In such a case, he exercises his influence. To that extent, his office is like that of President of India, the office of honour.
