Dormant commission

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A commission which lies dormant or sleeping until it is triggered by a particular event. The Governors of the Australian states, by convention, are given dormant commissions to act as Administrator of the Government in the absence of a Governor-general of Australia. In the same way, the Chief Justice of New Zealand holds a dormant commission to act as Governor-General of New Zealand. Other Commonwealth realms use dormant commissions in similar ways.

Historically, a dormant commission was given in relation to a military command. During the Crimean War Sir George Cathcart, held a dormant commission to take command of the British Army in Crimea if Lord Raglan was killed or disabled.