Colonial charters often guaranteed settlers certain rights that mirrored those of English citizens. These included the right to property, the right to establish a local government, and, in some cases, the right to freedom of religion. Charters would delineate the rights of the colonists to engage in trade, establish a militia for defence, and create a legal system. However, these rights were not absolute and were subject to the interpretations of the charter by colonial leaders and the Crown. The charters were foundational documents that shaped the governance and legal frameworks of the colonies.

French colonies in North America did not have representative government in the same sense as the British colonies. While the British fostered some degree of self-governance through elected assemblies, the French colonial administration was highly centralised. The King of France appointed governors and officials who had significant authority over colonial affairs. Local councils existed but they were advisory rather than legislative and comprised members appointed by the Crown. This system reflected the French absolute monarchy's approach to governance, with no elected representative bodies akin to those in many British colonies.

Proprietary colonies contributed to the diversity of governance by providing a model where individuals or groups were granted significant leeway to establish their own systems of government within the broad framework of allegiance to the Crown. This meant that the proprietors could tailor the governance structures, economic models, and societal norms to their particular visions or the needs of their colonies. Such diversity allowed for a range of governmental experiments, from the quasi-feudal manor system in Maryland to the religious freedom in Pennsylvania. This flexibility resulted in a variety of social and political cultures within the British colonies.

In corporate colonies, the structure of government was designed to facilitate a level of self-governance with elected governors and assemblies. These colonies were established by joint-stock companies and operated with a significant degree of independence from the Crown. Shareholders had influence over colonial decisions and policies. On the other hand, royal colonies were administered by governors appointed directly by the Crown. The governance structure was top-down, with the Crown having the ultimate say in colonial affairs. Royal colonies had advisory councils, but these were also appointed rather than elected, providing less autonomy in decision-making and more control retained by the British monarchy.

In the British system, governors of royal colonies were appointed by the Crown and had considerable powers to enforce imperial policies, oversee colonial defence, manage external relations, and ensure the colony's economic profitability. In proprietary and corporate colonies, governors could be either appointed by the proprietor or elected by the colonists, depending on the specific charter. French colonial governors were appointed by the King and wielded broad powers similar to their British counterparts, including military command, administration of justice, and the execution of royal edicts. However, French governors had even more centralised authority, reflecting the absolute power of the French monarchy, with less local autonomy and no elected assemblies to balance their power.