As we have seen, the colonies didn't all have the same ideas about religion, and some colonies had different ways of life from others, but they had similar governments. Each colony had a Governor who was appointed by the King and represented him. The Governor usually appointed a council of people to advise him. Each colony also had an elected assembly. Usually only landowners were allowed to vote in these elections. The assembly had the power to make laws concerning local matters and to raise local taxes.