In each of the departments there shall be a Governor who shall be the head of the sectional administration and legal representative of the department; the governor shall be an agent of the President of the Republic for the maintenance of public order and for the execution of general economic policy, as well as for those matters that the Nation agrees with the department through agreements.

Governors shall be popularly elected for institutional periods of four (4) years and may not be reelected for the following period.

The law shall establish the qualifications, requirements, disqualifications, and incompatibilities of governors; shall regulate their election; shall determine their absolute and temporary absences; and the manner of filling the latter and shall issue other provisions necessary for the normal performance of their duties.

Whenever an absolute absence occurs more than eighteen (18) months before the end of the term, a governor shall be elected for the remaining time. In case there are less than eighteen (18) months remaining, the President of the Republic shall appoint a Governor for the remainder of the term, respecting the party, political group, or coalition under which the elected governor was registered.