Governorate (Arab Union)

In the Arab Union, a governorate (Arabic: محافظة muḥāfaẓah; plural محافظات muḥāfaẓāt) is the supreme executive organ of any one of the republics (federated states) which constitute the union. Governorates represent the first tier of government after the federal government, and in fact carry out most domestic responsibilities. Governorates oversee internal affairs affecting their respective republic, with the federal government in charge of domestic affairs with a nation-wide scope as well as foreign affairs. The governorate is led by a governor, who is elected by the respective republic's congress (known generically as a republican congress). Governors are the republican-level equivalent to the Prime Minister of the Arab Union, with governorates thus being equivalent to the federal Council of Ministers (as executive organs).