Final answer:
The query concerns the British Colonial Governments' practice of administering certain territories through a governor-general appointed by the Crown, demonstrating a direct British rule. These governor-generals held significant executive authority, with the Dominion of New England serving as a key example of local assemblies being replaced by centralized British control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question relates to Colonial Governments, specifically the administrative practices of the British government during the colonization of various territories, such as India and certain American colonies. The British oversight referenced in the question meant that, in instances such as the Dominion of New England, the Crown directly controlled the colonies through an appointed governor-general, who assumed executive powers akin to those of the king in Britain. These governor-generals had significant authority, including the power to make decisions on legislative meetings, approve or veto legislation, appoint judges and magistrates, and were the chief royal officials in the colonies.
The Dominion of New England serves as an example where a governor-general was appointed after the Charter of Massachusetts Bay was revoked. Overseeing the combination of New England colonies, New York and East and West Jersey, this appointment marked a significant shift from localized governance to a more centralized British authority. Although other figures such as colonial agents and local legislatures had roles in the administration of the colonies, the creation of the Dominion highlighted the extent of the British monarchy's control and the suppression of local assemblies such as town meetings.
Governors in other colonies served at the pleasure of the king or the proprietor, further entrenching the British mercantilist system. They contributed to the British colonial administration through the governor's council which advised on executive decisions, served as the upper house of the legislature, and functioned alongside the governor as the highest appeals court in the colony.