Secretary of state facts for kids

For other uses, see Secretary of state (disambiguation).

A secretary of state is an important job in many governments around the world. The exact role can be different from one country to another. Sometimes, a country might even have several secretaries of state!

Often, a secretary of state is a high-level position. It's usually a political appointment, meaning someone is chosen for the job because of their connection to the ruling political party. In some places, like Germany, a civil servant (someone who works for the government but isn't elected) can also be appointed to this role. In the Holy See (the government of the Catholic Church), the cardinal secretary of state acts a lot like a prime minister, managing many important departments.

In the United States, the United States secretary of state is like the country's main diplomat, handling foreign affairs. But in most individual U.S. states, the secretary of state is an officer who manages things like elections. The idea of a "secretary of state" first started in England in the early 1600s.

Secretaries of State Around the World

Africa

Orange Free State

In the Orange Free State (1854–1902), a historical state in Southern Africa, the Secretary of State was the main administrative officer. This person worked closely with the President and the parliament. The title was later changed to "Government Secretary."

Portuguese-speaking African Countries

In countries like Angola and Mozambique, a Secretary of State (called secretário de Estado) is a junior minister. They work under a main cabinet minister. These secretaries usually don't attend the main meetings of the council of ministers.

South African Republic

In the South African Republic, the Secretary of State was the chief administrative officer. They worked closely with the President and the parliament.

Liberia

From 1847 to 1972, Liberia had a Secretary of State. This person was in charge of foreign policy and diplomacy. After 1972, the job title changed to Minister of Foreign Affairs. Many people who held this job later became president.

The Americas

Argentina

In Argentina, a Secretary of State (Secretario de Estado) is a high-ranking official. They have the same level as a minister and report directly to the President. This job is different from a "Secretary," which is a lower position. The person in charge of foreign policy in Argentina is called the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Brazil

In Brazil, a Secretary of State (secretário de Estado) works for each of the Brazilian states. They are similar to federal ministers but work for the state governor. At the federal level, the person handling foreign affairs is called the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Canada

Canada used to have a Secretary of State for External Affairs, who was the country's Foreign Minister. This job was changed in 1993 to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. There was also a Secretary of State for Canada who handled various duties. Since 1993, some junior ministers are called Secretary of State. They help Cabinet ministers but are not part of the Cabinet themselves.

Mexico

In Mexico, a secretary of state is a member of the President's Cabinet. They report to the President of the Republic.

United States

Federal Government

The United States Secretary of State is the top official for foreign policy. This person is like the foreign minister in other countries. The U.S. Secretary of State leads the United States Department of State. They are in charge of U.S. embassies around the world.

The Secretary of State can ask any foreign diplomat to leave the U.S. if needed. Many Secretaries of State have become presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Several have also won Nobel Peace Prizes. This job is considered one of the most important in the President's Cabinet.

State Government

In most individual states in the United States, the Secretary of State is an administrative officer. Their duties vary by state. Often, they are responsible for overseeing elections. In some states, like Oregon, the secretary of state is an elected official with many duties, similar to a lieutenant governor. In three states (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), the position is called "Secretary of the Commonwealth." Some states, like Alaska, do not have this position.

Asia

Brunei

The State Secretary (Setiausaha Kerajaan) in Brunei helps the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) manage the country's administration. This role is for Malay Muslims and is chosen by the Sultan. The State Secretary handles internal affairs and works with other officials to carry out the Sultan's decisions.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the Minister-Secretary of State (Menteri Sekretaris Negara) is a government official with ministerial rank. This person leads the Ministry of State Secretariat. They provide technical and administrative help to the President and Vice President. This includes helping the President as Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, coordinating official matters, and helping to draft new laws.

Kuwait

In Kuwait, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in charge of international relations. This minister is part of the cabinet and reports directly to the Emir. They also oversee all foreign diplomats in Kuwait.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the Chief Secretary to the Government is the main secretary of state. Also, each state in Malaysia has its own State Secretary. This person is a member of the State Executive Council. They are appointed by the Governor or Sultan and lead the public service in their state.

Timor-Leste

Following the Portuguese system, Timor-Leste has Secretaries of State (Sekretáriu Estadu). These are junior ministers who work under a cabinet minister. They are part of the Government but usually don't vote in Council of Ministers meetings unless specifically invited.

Europe

Belgium

In Belgium, a secretary of state is a junior minister. They report to a main minister or the prime minister. This role was created because the Belgian constitution limits the number of ministers. Appointing secretaries of state allows the government to have more people in important roles.

Estonia

The Secretary of State (Riigisekretär) in Estonia leads the Government Office. This office supports the Government of Estonia and the Prime Minister of Estonia in creating and carrying out policies. The first Secretary of State was Karl Terras.

Finland

In Finland, a State Secretary (valtiosihteeri) is the highest official below each minister. Ministers lead government departments. Each state secretary is chosen for the same time period as their minister and reports to them.

France

In France, a Secretary of State (Secrétaire d'État) is a junior minister. They work under a minister or the Prime Minister. This is different from a "Minister of State," which is a higher title for very important cabinet ministers. Historically, under the "Ancien Régime," Secretaries of State were like today's government ministers.

Germany

In Germany, a Staatssekretär is a civil servant, second in rank to the minister in a government department. This role is similar to a Permanent Secretary in the United Kingdom. While not officially a political job, these positions are often filled based on political connections. They act as the administrative heads of ministries. A special type is the Parliamentary State Secretary, who is a member of parliament appointed to a ministry.

Greece

In Greece, the title "Secretary of State" (Γραμματεύς της Επικρατείας) was used only sometimes in the early days of the modern Greek state. It was first used for the head of the cabinet.

Holy See

The Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope leads the Secretariat of State. This is the most important department of the Roman Curia. It organizes and directs the activities of other departments. The secretariat also handles the Holy See's foreign relations.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, Secretaries of State (secrétaire d'Etat) are members of the cabinet, but they rank below ministers. They are given specific tasks and help their ministers. They often assist more than one minister or handle several areas of responsibility.

Netherlands

Like in France and Belgium, a State Secretary in the Netherlands is a junior minister. They report to a Cabinet Minister or the Prime Minister. They have specific areas of responsibility to help share the workload. The top civil servant in a government department is called the Secretary-General.

Norway

In Norway, a statssekretær is similar to the French or Swedish equivalent. Secretaries of State are linked to a specific ministry and act as a vice minister. However, they cannot attend the Council of State, and the minister is responsible for all their decisions.

Poland

In Poland, ministries have secretaries of state and undersecretaries of state. These are often called deputy ministers. Their job is to help the Minister and fill in for them if needed.

Portugal

In Portugal, a Secretary of State (secretário de Estado) is a junior minister. They rank between a cabinet minister and an under-secretary of State. They are part of the Government but usually don't vote in the Council of Ministers. They act as deputies to ministers. Historically, "secretary of State" was the main title for heads of government departments in Portugal until the 19th century.

Russia

The position of State Secretary (Stats-sekretar) has existed in Russia at different times. In the Russian Empire, State secretaries worked in the State Chancellery from 1810 to 1917. In the Russian Federation, the post was brought back in 1991.

San Marino

In the Republic of San Marino, a Secretary of State is a senior Cabinet Minister. They are in charge of a State Department and are members of the Council of Ministers.

Spain

In the current Spanish Government, a Secretario de Estado is a junior minister. Each ministry can have one or more Secretaries of State. For example, the Secretary of State for Latin America works for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 1715 to 1834, the Secretarios de Estado y del Despacho were the heads of different government departments.

Sweden

In Sweden, a State Secretary (Statssekreterare) is a political appointee. They are second in rank to the Minister in charge of the ministry. Unlike ministers, state secretaries are not members of the cabinet. Usually, there is one State Secretary for each minister, and two for the Prime Minister.

Switzerland

In the Swiss federal administration, secretaries of state are the most senior career officials. They are heads of federal offices whose jobs involve working independently with high-level foreign authorities. Their role is similar to that in France.

United Kingdom

Historical Origin

In the Kingdom of England, the job of Secretary of State started around the late 1500s. Before that, the title was often "King's Secretary." From 1660, there were always two secretaries of state. They divided foreign affairs by region and shared domestic duties. Over time, more secretaries of state were added for different areas like Scotland or the Colonies. By the 1960s, most British cabinet ministers became secretaries of state.

Modern Role

In the United Kingdom, a secretary of state is a senior minister. They are usually in charge of a government department. The Monarch appoints them based on the Prime Minister's advice. They are responsible, along with other Cabinet members, for governing the United Kingdom. Each is formally called "His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for ...".