Legal Definitions - vicegerent

A vicegerent is an individual appointed to act on behalf of a superior, exercising the authority and responsibilities of that superior in their absence or at their direction. They essentially serve as a representative or deputy, holding delegated power to perform the duties of the person they represent.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a multinational corporation where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) needs to focus on a major acquisition. The CEO might appoint a highly trusted senior executive as a vicegerent for the company's European operations. This executive would then have the full authority to make strategic decisions, manage budgets, and oversee all daily activities in Europe, acting in the CEO's place for that specific region and period.

  This illustrates the term because the senior executive is empowered to act with the CEO's authority and responsibility within a defined scope, effectively standing in for the CEO.

• Consider a state governor who must travel internationally for an extended period to represent the state on a trade mission. Before leaving, the governor might formally designate the lieutenant governor as a vicegerent to manage all routine state affairs, sign necessary legislation, and respond to minor emergencies, ensuring the continuity of governance without interruption.

  Here, the lieutenant governor functions as a vicegerent by temporarily assuming the governor's executive powers and duties, acting as the governor's direct representative during their absence.

• In a large university system, the President might appoint a specific campus Provost as a vicegerent to oversee the implementation of a new system-wide academic policy across all campuses. This Provost would be given the authority to make final decisions on how the policy is adapted and applied locally, ensuring consistency while allowing for campus-specific nuances, all under the President's ultimate authority.

  This example shows the Provost acting as a vicegerent by exercising the President's authority to implement a broad policy, making decisions on behalf of the President within the delegated scope.