Editing Governor-general (section)

== Current uses ==
In modern usage, in the context of governors-general and former British colonies, the term ''governor-general'' originated in those British colonies that became self-governing within the [[British Empire]]. Before World War I, the title was used only in federated colonies in which its constituents had had ''governors'' prior to federating, namely [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and the [[Union of South Africa]]. In these cases, the Crown's representative in the federated [[Dominion]] was given the superior title of ''governor-general''. The first exception to this rule was New Zealand, which was granted Dominion status in 1907, but it was not until 28 June 1917 that [[Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool]], was appointed the first [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general of New Zealand]].

Since the 1950s, the title ''governor-general'' has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent non-UK [[Commonwealth realm]]s. In these cases, the former office of colonial governor was altered (sometimes for the same incumbent) to become governor-general upon independence, as the nature of the office became an entirely independent constitutional representative of the monarch rather than a symbol of previous colonial rule. In these countries the governor-general acts as the monarch's representative, performing the ceremonial and constitutional functions of a [[head of state]].

The only other nation which currently uses the governor-general designation is [[Iran]], which has no connection with any monarchy or the Commonwealth. In Iran, the provincial authority is headed by a governor general<ref name="IRNA">{{Cite news |date=21 October 2007 |title=Ambassador: Paris for Further Cultural Cooperation with Iran |work=Islamic Republic News Agency |url=http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-203/0710215516003338.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023184320/http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-203/0710215516003338.htm |archive-date=23 October 2007}}</ref> ([[Persian Language|Persian]]: استاندار ''ostāndār''), who is appointed by the [[Ministry of Interior (Iran)|minister of the interior]].