Define: Secretary Of State

The Secretary of State is a high-ranking government official responsible for overseeing various administrative and diplomatic functions within a government. The specific duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of State can vary depending on the country and the structure of its government. In many countries, including the United States, the Secretary of State is primarily responsible for managing foreign affairs, including diplomacy, international relations, and negotiation of treaties and agreements. Additionally, the Secretary of State may oversee election administration, maintain official records and archives, and handle matters related to citizenship and immigration. The Secretary of State is typically appointed by the head of state or elected by the people and serves as a key advisor on matters of national importance.

A general term for a Minister with responsibility for a Governmental department. In days gone by there was such a role as ‘Secretary of State’, a sort of executive officer to the Crown. Over the last few hundred years, the responsibilities of the Secretary have been split up into departments, and there is no single ‘Secretary of State’ any more. Because ministerial responsibilities are reorganised so frequently, it is inadvisable for a statute to identify a particular minister when allocating authority for certain actions. Instead, it is common to use the term Secretary of State for ‘the minister having responsibility for this area of policy for the time being.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.