UpdateBot at 08:16, 25 March 2022

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{{short description|Government officer}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}

An '''administrator''' ('''administrator of the government''' or '''officer administering the government''') in the constitutional practice of some countries in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a governor or a [[governor-general]].

==Temporary administrators==
Usually the office of administrator is a temporary appointment, for periods during which the governor is incapacitated, outside the territory, or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties. The process for selecting administrators varies from country to country.

===Australia===
{{main|Administrator (Australia)}}
In the [[Commonwealth of Australia]], the administrator is usually called the ''administrator of the Commonwealth''. [[Governors of the Australian states|State governors]] hold a [[dormant commission]] and by [[Convention (norm)|convention]] the longest-serving state governor becomes administrator.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030702143824/http://www.gg.gov.au/html/role_administrator.html Role of the Administrator at the Governor-General of Australia site]</ref>

In the [[States and territories of Australia|states of Australia]], the administrator is usually the chief justice of the state's supreme court or the next most senior justice. In 2001, the [[Constitution of Queensland]] was amended to restore the office of [[lieutenant-governor]] in that state.

===Canada===
{{main|Administrator of the Government of Canada}}
An "administrator of the government" in Canada is a constitutional practice where an individual is empowered to perform the functions of the office of the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]] if the governor general is incapable of rendering their constitutional duties, or if the position of Governor General is vacant following a resignation or death.<ref name="canada">{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/marleaumontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Sec=Ch01&Seq=3&Language=E|title=Canadian Parliamentary Institutions|accessdate=22 January 2021|website=www.ourcommons.ca}}</ref> The provisions to select the administrator of the government in Canada is outlined in Article VIII of the ''[[Letters Patent, 1947]]''; which identifies that the [[Chief Justice of Canada]] assumes the role as administrator should the need arise. In the absence of the chief justice, the senior [[Puisne judge|Puisne Justice]] of the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] is designated as the administrator of the government.<ref name="canada" /> Prior to the signage of the ''Letters Patent, 1947'', the administrator of the government was directly appointed by the monarch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/marleaumontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Sec=Ch01&Seq=5&Language=E#fn94|title=Parliamentary Institutions Notes 51–100|accessdate=23 January 2021|website=www.ourcommons.ca}}</ref> An administrator of the government is not required if a governor general is absent for less than 30 days, with the governor general empowered to designate a "[[Deputy of the Governor General of Canada|deputy governor general]]" to act on their behalf.<ref name="canada" /> [[Richard Wagner (judge)|Richard Wagner]] is the most recent in Canada designated as the "administrator of the government," having been sworn in to the position on 23 January 2021 after the [[resignation of Julie Payette]],<ref name="Burke1">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Ashley |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Payette stepping down as governor general after blistering report on Rideau Hall work environment |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-payette-step-down-1.5882675 |access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> and serving until the role of governor general was assumed by [[Mary Simon]] on 26 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aiello|first=Rachel|date=2021-07-26|title=Mary Simon installed as Canada's 30th Governor General|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mary-simon-installed-as-canada-s-30th-governor-general-1.5523074|access-date=2021-09-04|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref>

The constitutional practice of an "administrator of the government" is also found within the [[province|provinces of Canada]], with provincial administrators of the government assuming the functions of the office of the [[Lieutenant Governor (Canada)|lieutenant governor]] if office is vacant or its holder is incapable of rendering their duties. A justice of a provincial [[superior court]] is designated as a provincial administrator of government. The term "administrator" is also used in the Canadian territory of [[Yukon]], although the position of administrator in Yukon is analogous to a "deputy [[commissioner of Yukon]]".<ref>[http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/choice-of-next-commissioner-praised "Choice of Next Commissioner Praised."] Chuck Tobin, the Whitehorse Star, 1 December 2010. Accessed 1 March 2011.</ref>

===Ceylon===
In Ceylon, the officer administering the government in the absence of the [[Governor General of Ceylon|governor-general of Ceylon]] was the [[Chief Justice of Ceylon|chief justice of Ceylon]]. In the absence of the chief justice the acting chief justice would serve in this place. Ceylon had two acting governors-general.

===Hong Kong===
When Hong Kong was a British [[Crown colony]] the [[Chief Secretary (Hong Kong)|chief secretary]] (colonial secretary before 1976) would be the ''acting governor'', followed by the [[Financial Secretary (Hong Kong)|financial secretary]] and the [[Attorney General (Hong Kong)|attorney general]]. The practice has remained after the [[transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong|transfer of sovereignty to China]]. Rotation takes place between the [[Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong|chief secretary for administration]] (formerly chief secretary), the financial secretary and the [[secretary for justice]] (formerly attorney general) as the acting [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|chief executive]].

===New Zealand===
{{see also|Governor-General of New Zealand#Administrator of the Government|List of governors-general of New Zealand}}

Under the [[Governor-General Act 2010]], there are certain times where the [[Chief Justice of New Zealand|chief justice]], currently [[Helen Winkelmann]], will fulfil the role of administrator of the government (acting governor-general). These times may be when the governor-general is outside New Zealand, or is incapacitated or otherwise unable to carry out their duties, or more prominently when the position is vacant .<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2010/0122/latest/whole.html#DLM2999133 | title=Governor-General Act 2010 | publisher=Parliamentary Council Office | access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/conditions-appointment/administrator-government | title=Administrator of the Government | publisher=Office of the Governor-General| access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref> If the chief justice is unable to become administrator of the government for similar reasons as above then the title follows the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand#List of judges of the Supreme Court|order of seniority in the judicial system]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1983/0225/latest/DLM90805.html?src=qs | title=Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand | publisher=Parliamentary Council Office | access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

===Papua New Guinea===
As a former external territory of Australia, the head of the territory's administration was called the administrator of Papua-New Guinea before independence in 1975. The appointment was by the governor-general of Australia on the advice of the Australian minister of external territories. The minister for external territories consulted with the territory's chief minister as part of the appointment process.

===Rhodesia===

On 11 November 1965, the self-governing [[British colony]] of [[Southern Rhodesia]] made a [[Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)|unilateral declaration of independence]] (UDI) although it continued to recognise the [[British monarch]], [[Queen Elizabeth II]], as [[head of state]], with [[oaths of allegiance]] to "Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Rhodesia, her heirs and successors".<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NBCIlWg_xaUC&lpg=PA53&dq=%22queen%20of%20rhodesia%22&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q&f=false ''International Law Reports''], Volume 52, E. Lauterpacht, Cambridge University Press, 1979, page 53</ref> However, the [[Rhodesian Front]] government of [[Ian Smith]] ceased to recognise the authority of her ''de jure'' representative, [[Governor of Southern Rhodesia|Governor]] [[Sir Humphrey Gibbs]].<ref name="Gibbs">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vzNIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qgANAAAAIBAJ&pg=782%2C2383897 Ian Smith Strips Gibbs Of All Official Privilege], Associated Press, ''[[The Morning Record]]'', 18 November 1965</ref>

Instead, on 17 November, it appointed the former deputy prime minister, [[Clifford Dupont]], to the post of "acting officer administering the government".<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UaoqAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&dq=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJkabetK_WAhUrDsAKHR9KB58Q6AEIWzAM ''East Africa and Rhodesia''], Volume 42, Africana, 1965, page 339</ref> Opponents of UDI who considered it an illegal move, such as the independent member of the legislative assembly, [[Ahrn Palley]], refused to recognise Dupont's office, and walked out of the opening of the [[Parliament of Rhodesia]] when Dupont came to deliver the [[Speech from the Throne]].<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Jw0cAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Ahrn+Palley%22+%22Dupont%22&dq=%22Ahrn+Palley%22+%22Dupont%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic1YPlnq7WAhVkDcAKHTqyBwoQ6AEITzAI ''Africa Report''], Volumes 11-12, African-American Institute, 1966, page 44</ref>

On 2 December, Smith wrote a personal letter to the Queen, asking her to accept Dupont as the new [[governor-general]].<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Z8kwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22personal+letter+to+the+Queen,+asking+her+to+accept+Mr+Clifford+Dupont+as+the+new+Governor-General%22&dq=%22personal+letter+to+the+Queen,+asking+her+to+accept+Mr+Clifford+Dupont+as+the+new+Governor-General%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiw87yMrK_WAhUqL8AKHXYYAEsQ6AEIKDAA ''The New Law Journal''], Volume 127, Butterworth, 1978, page 529</ref> In response, he was told that "Her Majesty is not able to entertain purported advice of this kind, and has therefore been pleased to direct that no action shall be taken upon it".<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eewqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Her+Majesty+is+not+able+to+entertain+purported+advice+of+this+kind%22&dq=%22Her+Majesty+is+not+able+to+entertain+purported+advice+of+this+kind%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlq_bfrq_WAhUWOsAKHQaCCK0Q6AEILDAB ''The International and Comparative Law Quarterly''], Volume 20, page 659, 1971</ref>

Under the 1965 draft constitution, if the Queen did not appoint a governor-general within fourteen days of advice being tendered by the prime minister, a [[Regent]] was to be appointed.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?redir_esc=y&id=HWINAQAAIAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=regent ''The Constitution of Rhodesia, 1965''], Government Printer, 1965, page 7</ref> In deference to the Royal Family, however, on 16 December, Smith amended his original plan to appoint a Regent and Dupont was appointed as "officer administering the government".<ref name="Mezerik">[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sucsAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&dq=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJkabetK_WAhUrDsAKHR9KB58Q6AEIPTAF ''Rhodesia and the United Nations: UN Imposition of Mandatory Sanctions 1966''], Avrahm G. Mezerik, International Review Service, 1966, pages 39-40</ref>

Consequently, legislation passed after UDI was "enacted by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, as the representative of the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Rhodesia".<ref name="ASAL1969">[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6Fl_BAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA171&dq=senate%20rhodesia%20chiefs&pg=PA171#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Annual Survey of African Law Cb: Volume Three : 1969''], editors E. Cotran, N.N. Rubin, Routledge, 1973, page 171</ref> Dupont would continue to use the title until 1970.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=llQvAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&dq=%22Officer+Administering+the+Government%22+Dupont&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJkabetK_WAhUrDsAKHR9KB58Q6AEINTAD ''Rhodesian Commentary''], Volumes 3-5, 1970, page 72</ref> When Rhodesia adopted a republican constitution that year, he became the first [[President of Rhodesia]], a position that was internationally unrecognised, given the fact that Rhodesia was de-jure a British colony.

The country was renamed [[Zimbabwe Rhodesia]] in 1979, before it returned to colonial status following the [[Lancaster House Agreement]] later that year. In 1980, it achieved internationally recognised independence as [[Zimbabwe]], becoming a [[republic in the Commonwealth of Nations]].

==Permanent administrators==
The term ''administrator'' is also used for a permanent officer representing the head of state where the appointment of a governor would be inappropriate; it is also used for the representative of a governor.

===Australia===
{{main|Administrator (Australia)}}
* In the Internal [[Northern Territory]], the office of [[Administrator of the Northern Territory|Administrator]] is a permanent appointment, and since the territory was granted self-government in 1978, the office of administrator has become a largely ceremonial appointment, like that of the [[Governors of the Australian states|governor]] in each state. Unlike the governors, who are appointed by [[Monarchy of Australia|the sovereign]] on advice of the [[Premiers of the Australian states|premier]], the administrator is appointed by the governor-general on advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]] after consultation with the [[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory|chief minister]].
* External territories such as [[Norfolk Island]] and [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories|Indian Ocean Territories]] (including [[Christmas Island]] and Cocos (Keeling) Islands)
* Historically also on [[Lord Howe Island]]

There is no administrator in the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and the [[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory|chief minister]] is elected by the [[Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory|legislative assembly]].

===India===
In the [[Union territory|Union territories of India]], which are ruled directly by the [[Government of India|Union government]], the [[President of India]] appoints an administrator.<ref name="UT">[http://india.gov.in/knowindia/profile.php?id=21 Union Territories. Know India: National Portal of India] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126234503/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/profile.php?id=21 |date=26 November 2012 }}</ref> Administrators differ from the [[List of current Indian governors|governors of the states of India]] in that they are an agent of the president and not a head of state.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Polity|author=M Laxmikanth|edition=3rd|date=2004}}</ref>

The president may also appoint the governor of a neighbouring state to be the administrator of a union territory. Since 1985 the [[List of Governors of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]] has acted as the Administrator of [[Chandigarh]]. And [[List of administrators of Lakshadweep|Administrator of Lakshadweep]] also [[List of administrators of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu|rules Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]. In five union territories: [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Delhi]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]; the administrator uses the title "[[List of current Indian governors|lieutenant governor]]".

===New Zealand===
*[[Tokelau]] has been governed by an administrator since 1949, when it was attached to New Zealand (previously it was part of the British colony of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]])
*Historically in [[Samoa]] as a League of Nations and United Nations mandate (see [[List of colonial governors of Samoa]]).

===United Kingdom overseas possessions===
*The civil Administrator of the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] Sovereign Base Areas in [[Cyprus]] is traditionally the military commander of British forces in the areas.
*The Administrator of the [[British Indian Ocean Territory]] is the junior to a commissioner ([[Chagos Archipelago]], notably [[Diego Garcia]]. He mandates the commander of British naval forces on Diego Garcia as his representative and justice of the peace.
*The two dependencies of [[Saint Helena]], both sparsely populated Atlantic islands, are responsible in the first instance to the Governor of St Helena:
**[[Ascension Island]] (since June 1964; )
**[[Tristan da Cunha]] (since 31 Jan 1950; )

==Other==

===United States===

In the United States, the rank of ''administrator'' denotes a high-level civilian official within the [[United States federal government]]. Generally an official of [[United States Cabinet|sub-cabinet rank]], an administrator is appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the [[United States Senate]] and assigned to run a specific [[List of federal agencies in the United States|US government agency]]. Administrators often manage major agencies housed within specific cabinet departments (e.g., [[Research and Innovative Technology Administration]] within the [[United States Department of Transportation]]) while others are stand-alone agencies (e.g., the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]).{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Israel===
During [[Mandatory Palestine|mandatory times]], the [[High Commissioner of Palestine|high commissioner]] was deputized by an administrator in case of high commissarial vacancy, and a deputy to the high commissioner when the high commissioner remained in office but temporarily could not fulfill his duties. Both posts were held ''ex-officio'' by the chief secretary. The rules for deputizing the analogous office in modern-day Israel, the [[President of Israel|president]], are similar, with an [[Interim and Acting President of Israel|interim president]] analogous to the administrator and an [[Acting (law)|acting president]] analogous to the deputy to the high commissioner. However, these posts are held not by the [[Prime Minister of Israel|prime minister]], whose office is analogous to that of the chief secretary, but by the [[Speaker of the Knesset]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Sources and references==
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/ WorldStatesmen] the present state

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Governance of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Gubernatorial titles]]
[[Category:Government of Australia]]
[[Category:Government of New Zealand]]

Administrator of the government - Revision history

UpdateBot at 08:16, 25 March 2022