They serve as the North Carolina's chief executive and are tasked by the constitution with faithfully carrying out the laws of the state.

While the state has grown increasingly politically competitive since the mid-20th century, Republicans have had difficulty in winning gubernatorial elections in North Carolina, and the office has usually remained in Democratic hands.

[2] They were aided in the execution of their office by the Governor's Council, an advisory board of appointed officials that also collectively served as the upper house in the North Carolina General Assembly.

[4] During the period of royal control after 1731, North Carolina's governors were issued sets of secret instructions from the Privy Council's Board of Trade.

As they were produced by officials largely ignorant of the political situation in the colony and meant to ensure greater direct control over the territory, the instructions caused tensions between the governor and the General Assembly.

The assembly controlled the colony's finances and used this as leverage by withholding salaries and appropriations, sometimes forcing the governors to compromise and disregard some of the Board of Trade's instructions.

Frequent tensions between Governor Josiah Martin—a firm supporter of the instructions—and the Assembly in the 1770s led the latter to establish a committee of correspondence[5] and accelerated the colony's break with Great Britain.

[6] The state of North Carolina's first constitution in 1776—adopted by the Fifth Provincial Congress[7]—provided for a governor to be elected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly to serve a one-year term.

[14] In 1835, the constitution was amended to allow for the popular election of the governor to a two-year term, thus giving the office more political independence from the legislature.

[24] During the tenure of Governor O. Max Gardner from 1929 to 1933, various reforms led to the centralization of governmental services and the creation of appointive offices, thus increasing the authority and importance of the governorship.

[29][30] In 1977, the North Carolina constitution was amended, allowing governors to pursue re-election to a consecutive four-year term in office.

[10] While institutional enhancements increased the formal power of the governorship over the course of the 20th century, this was counteracted by a corresponding rise in the legislature's growing willingness to assert its separate desires in state policy.

[41][42] They typically receive the Great Seal of the State North Carolina from the outgoing incumbent in a private meeting.

[17] The governor is empowered to request agency heads in state government to report to them in writing on subjects relating to executive duties.

[44] They are empowered to grant pardons and commutations to convicted criminals and serve as the state's chief representative in intergovernmental matters.

[53] The governor is constitutionally obligated to "give the General Assembly information of the affairs of the State and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient".

[60] The body has minimal constitutional duties, with its most significant responsibilities arising from statute, including approving the governor's acquisitions and disposals of state property.

[53] The constitution empowers the governor to permit the state or a local government to incur a debt without a referendum in the event of an emergency threat to public health or safety.

[68] The Council of State has the ability by majority vote to call the General Assembly into an extraordinary session to consider the governor's mental capacity.

[59] The General Assembly can declare the governor mentally incapable with a two-thirds majority vote on a joint resolution.

[68] The assembly is required to give the governor notice of this consideration and allow them to express their own opinion on their capacity before a vote.

[65] Aside from states of mental or physical incapacity, the only other constitutional reason to remove the governor is their commission of an impeachable offense.

[20] A two-thirds affirmative vote of the senators present constitutes a conviction and thus removal and future disqualification from holding office.

[72] Regional offices are located in New Bern and Asheville to reach local governments and residents in the eastern and western portions of the state, respectively.

[77] There are 11 cabinet-level departments: Administration, Adult Correction, Commerce, Environmental Quality, Health and Human Services, Information Technology, Military and Veterans Affairs, Natural and Cultural Resources, Public Safety, Revenue, and Transportation.

The Communications Office employs spokespersons for the governor and prepares press releases, speeches, and public events for them.

They often have the ability to influence the selection of other party leaders, offer endorsements to candidates, and serve as a spokesman for their organization.

[84][85] Between 1877 and 1972 all of North Carolina's governors were Democrats, with the exception of Republican Daniel L. Russell, who won a single term to office in 1896.

[100] They are also prohibited from vetoing joint resolutions of the legislature,[43] local bills, and amendments to the state and federal constitutions.

[59] Increasing two-party competitiveness in North Carolina from the 1970s onward and the occurrence of divided government—when the party which controls the legislature is different from that of the governor's affiliation—have also weakened the chief executive's political effectiveness.