The Board of Governors acts as a clearinghouse for the Board of Regents on general assigned subjects and on local problems. The Governors represent the Fellows of the College, and are the official communications link between the Fellows and the Board of Regents. Governors are allocated by state, province, or country. The number of Governors within each state, province, or country is determined by the number of Active Fellows within the respective state, province, or country.

The Board of Governors is integral to the administration of the American College of Surgeons.  The College is governed by a 22-member Board of Regents that is elected by the Board of Governors. To provide balanced geographical representation, two-thirds of the Governors are nominated by the membership at large and elected during an annual meeting of Fellows during the Clinical Congress. Certain surgical societies, chapters, and federal medical services are permitted to nominate Governors up to a level of one-third of the Board of Governors.

Revised July 19, 2010