The regional governments (GORE) are the public bodies in charge of the higher administration of each of the regions of Chile, and whose objective is social, cultural development and their own heritage. They have their headquarters in the capital city "Capital (political)") of the respective region, without prejudice to the fact that they may exercise their functions temporarily in other locations in the region.

The regional governments are made up of two bodies: the respective regional governor, who is elected by popular vote and lasts four years in office and can be re-elected once, and the regional council, made up of councilors elected by universal suffrage, in direct voting, for four-year periods, and who can be re-elected.

The regional council was created through a constitutional reform carried out in 1991[1]​ and implemented with Law 19175,

Constitutional Organic Law on Regional Government and Administration, 1992.[2]​ The first regional governments were installed in 1993.

It should be noted that the internal government of each region resides solely in the regional presidential delegate, as the natural and immediate representative of the president, in his respective territory.

A constitutional reform in 2017[3] provided for the popular election of the executive body of the regional government, creating the position of regional governor and establishing a regional presidential delegation, headed by a regional presidential delegate to replace the old position of mayor.

To fulfill its tasks and objectives, the Regional Government is guided by the following basic principles:[4]​.

General functions

They are general functions of the regional government:[4]​.

Functions in territorial planning

The functions of the regional government in matters of territorial planning are:[4]​.

Functions in terms of productive development

In terms of promoting productive activities, it is up to the regional government to:[4]​.

Functions in social and cultural development

In matters of social and cultural development, it is the responsibility of the regional government:[4]​.

To fulfill its functions, the regional government has the following powers:[4]​.