Minister of state
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Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister. In others countries a "minister of state" is a holder of a more senior position, such as a cabinet minister or even a head of government.
High government ranks
In several national traditions, the title is reserved for government members of cabinet rank, often a formal distintion within it, or even its chief.- France: Minister of State (Ministre d'État in French) is a honorific title bestowed during his nomination on a minister of particular importance. It is not to be mistaken for a Secretary of State (Secrétaire d'État), a junior minister assisting a minister and who may only attend cabinet meeting if the topic discussed touches his responsibilities.
- In Japan, Minister of State is the title borne by all members of the Japanese Cabinet.
- Monaco: The Minister of State of Monaco is the principality's Head of government, subordinate to the Prince of Monaco and responsible for enforcing its laws.
- Portugal: Any member of the Council of Ministers which holds a more distinct position within the cabinet, roughly equivalent to deputy prime minister.
- In Scandinavian states, the equivalent title Statsminister is used for the head of government, and a compound word of which Statsminister is a part may be used for a major portfolio minister.
- Spain: During the time serving Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo as Prime Minister of Spain (1981-1982), Ministers of State were created which held a more distinct position within the government. However, this initiative did not last since his successors did not follow this path.
Minor government ranks
In various other nations, especially in former members of the British Empire, it is a junior rank, often subordinated to a cabinet member.- United Kingdom: A Minister of State is a member of HM's Government, junior only to a Secretary of State but senior to a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. Ministers of State are responsible to their Secretaries of State. This position has only existed since 1945 - previously, each parliamentary under-secretary was directly beneath a secretary of state.
- Canada: A Minister of State is senior to a Secretary of State but junior to a Minister of the Crown (ordinary portfolio minister) - see Ministers of State in Canada.
- Germany: Minister of State (Staatsminister in German) is the title given to a parliamentary secretary of state (a member of parliament serving as a political aide to a cabinet minister) serving in the Foreign Office or the Federal Chancellor's Office. Accordingly, Staatsminister ranks between a normal Secretary of State and a cabinet minister. Historically, the same title was used in certain constituent states of Germany, e.g. in Schaumburg-Lippe, as head of government.
- Republic of Ireland: A Minister of State is junior to a Minister of a Department of State (portfolio minister) and of similar standing to a Parliamentary Secretary - see Ministers of State in the Republic of Ireland.
- India: A Minister of State is a junior Minister in the Federal or Central Government who may assist a cabinet minister or have independent charge of a ministry. A recently passed law restricts the number of ministers of state in the federal government- see a current listing of Indian ministers- Indian Cabinet
Other use
In the Netherlands (Minister van Staat in Dutch) and Belgium (also Ministre d'État in French), Minister of State is a title of honour awarded formally by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the government. It is given on a personal basis, usually for exceptional merits, generally to politicians often former cabinet members or party leaders, after a successful career. Ministers of State advise the Sovereign in delicate situations, with moral authority but without formal competence.
- In Belgium they are entitled to a seat, alongside the members of the government in power, in the crown council; to date the crown council has been convened on only five occasions, the first being in 1870 for the Franco-Prussian War, and the latest in 1960 in connection with the independence of the Belgian Congo. Apart from that, the only priviliges of being a "minister of state" are protocollary precedence on state occasions and a ministerial type car immatriculation. De facto, appointments tend to respect the national obsession of balances between the Flemish and French-speaking communities as well as between the 'ministeriable' political families: mainly Christian-democrats, Socialists, Liberals, also (moderate) Nationalists, occasionally an Ecologist). Other former careers include those of Étienne Davignon (European Commissioner) and Luc Coene (prime-ministerial Kabinetschef, roughly Chief of staff). In January 2006 the membership reached 51 with Johan Vande Lanotte, shortly after he laid down his portfolio and title of Vice-Prime Minister to head the Flemish Socialist SP.A party.
- In the Netherlands the crown council can also be asked for advice by others on constitutional issues.
Sources and references
(incomplete)- De Standaard (leading Flemish newspaper, in Dutch), e.g. January 31, 2006
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