 Although each province could assign its own "stadtholder", most "stadtholder"s held appointments from several provinces at the same time.The highest executive power was normally exerted by the sovereign states of each province, but the stadtholder had some prerogatives, like appointing lower officials and sometimes having the ancient right to affirm the appointment (by co-option) of the members of regent councils or choose "burgomasters" from a shortlist of candidates.As these councils themselves appointed most members of the states, the "stadtholder" could very indirectly influence the general policy.