The title secretary of state or state's secretary is commonly used for senior or mid-level posts in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple secretaries of state in the country's system of governing the country.
In many countries, a secretary of state is a senior or mid-level post. It is usually a politically appointed position, although in some countries, such as Germany and Sweden, it can be filled by a member of the executive bureaucracy (civil service) as a political appointment (equivalent to permanent secretary).
In the Holy See, the administrative body of the Catholic Church, the secretary of state coordinates all the departments of the Roman Curia and is, in that respect, equivalent to a prime minister.
The United States secretary of state is the foreign minister of the federal government of the United States, while in most of the individual U.S. states the secretary of state is an administrative officer responsible for certain governmental functions, often including overseeing elections, tasks which would be exercised by interior ministers or secretaries in most other nations.
The term "secretary of state" originated in early 17th century England.
Africa
Orange Free State In the Orange Free State (1854–1902) the secretary of state was the original title of the main administrative officer of the state, who worked closely with both the state president as head of state and head of government, and his cabinet, and with the Volksraad, the parliament of the Orange Free State. The title of state secretary was replaced by that of government secretary soon after the formation of the state apparatus and was thereafter never used again.
Portuguese-speaking African countries The organization of the governments of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tome and Príncipe closely mirrors the Portuguese government model. Thus, in these countries, a secretary of state () is a junior minister, subordinate to a cabinet minister. Usually, the secretaries of State do not participate in the council of ministers.
In Mozambique, the role of vice-minister () exists as an intermediate government rank between those of minister and secretary of state. The role of vice-minister also exists in the Government of Angola, but it is junior to that of secretary of state.
South African Republic In the South African Republic the secretary of state was the main administrative officer of the State, working closely with both the State President as head of state and head of government, and the parliament of the South African Republic.
Liberia In Liberia, from 1847 until 1972, the secretary of state was the head of the Department of State and the chief foreign policy officer of the republic, responsible for conducting diplomacy and implementing the nation's foreign affairs. The title was abolished in 1972 and replaced with the new nomenclature, minister of foreign affairs. Throughout most of Liberia's history, holders of that office usually went on to become president.
The Americas
Argentina The secretary of state (secretario de estado) in Argentina's federal government is a high official with the same rank as a minister, who is responsible directly to the president. The position must be distinguished from a "secretary," a lower position, responsible to a minister.
The official responsible for foreign policy is called minister of foreign affairs (Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores) or "Chancellor" (Canciller).
Brazil In Brazil, a secretary of state ( or )—commonly referred simply as "secretary" ()—is one of the government members of each of the Brazilian states, subordinate to the respective state governor. At state level, the Brazilian secretaries of state have functions similar to those of the ministers of the federal government.
At federal level, the officer responsible for foreign affairs, a position equivalent to that of the United States secretary of state, is the minister of foreign affairs.
Canada The Canadian Cabinet used to have a secretary of state for external Affairs who acted as the country's foreign minister, but this position was abolished in 1993 and a new position of minister of foreign affairs was created. From 1867 to 1993, there was also a secretary of state for Canada who was a Cabinet minister whose duties varied over time but who was responsible for the Department of secretary of state until the position was abolished. Since 1993, some junior ministers have been styled secretary of state, and assigned in specific policy areas to assist Cabinet ministers. However, these junior ministers are not themselves members of Cabinet. A similar role is played by ministers of state, however ministers are members of the cabinet.
Mexico In Mexico a secretary of state is a member of the Mexican Executive Cabinet who responds to the president of the Republic.
United States
Federal government
In the United States federal government, the secretary of state is the official responsible for executing the non-military and non-homeland security aspects of foreign policy—the analogue of the foreign secretary or foreign minister of a country that has one or the other. The U.S. secretary of state is head of the United States Department of State. The secretary of state is responsible for the administration of United States embassies and their subsidiary units throughout the world. The U.S. secretary of state has the power to remove any foreign diplomat from U.S. soil for any reason.
Six secretaries of state became presidents (Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren and James Buchanan) and five won Nobel Peace Prizes (Frank Kellogg, Cordell Hull, George Marshall, Elihu Root, and Henry Kissinger).
The now long-established terms "Department ..." and "secretary of state" were preceded (for two months following the effective date of the Constitution) by the narrower title secretary of foreign affairs and the corresponding departmental name; the change reflected the addition of some miscellaneous domestic responsibilities.
The position is widely regarded as the most senior in the Cabinet. In the presidential line of succession, the secretary of state falls first among Cabinet officers, and fourth overall. The secretary of state is also, in protocol, the first Cabinet member in the order of precedence, immediately preceding any former presidents and former first ladies, who are followed by the rest of the Cabinet.
State government
In most of the individual states of the United States, the secretary of state is an administrative officer responsible for certain governmental functions. The specific powers and duties of this office depend on the constitution and laws of the particular state, but they often include responsibility for overseeing elections within the state. In the state of Oregon the secretary of state is an elected office that acts as the equivalent of a lieutenant governor in other states among many other duties. In three states (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), the position is called "secretary of the commonwealth," since these states as well as Kentucky are called "commonwealths" instead of "states." In Connecticut, this office is called the "secretary of the state". In three states (Alaska, Hawaii and Utah), there is no secretary of state.
Asia Brunei
The state secretary (Setiausaha Kerajaan) was established to support the Menteri Besar in overseeing Brunei's administrative functions. The position was specifically reserved for Malay Muslims and required nomination by the Sultan. Under the 1959 Constitution, the State Secretary became the principal officer managing internal administrative affairs, ensuring departmental coordination and policy consultation. The State Secretary also held a seat in the Council of Ministers and worked alongside other key officials like the Attorney General and the State Financial Officer to implement the Sultan's executive authority. Additionally, in legal matters involving government personnel, documents signed by the State Secretary, such as those certifying employment details, were accepted as conclusive evidence in court.
Indonesia In Indonesia, the minister-secretary of state (Menteri Sekretaris Negara) is a government official of ministerial rank who heads the Ministry of State Secretariat. The minister-secretary of state gives technical and administrative assistance to the president and vice president in running state affairs. In the president's case, the minister-secretary of state also provides assistance for the president in his role as commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. In addition, the state secretary provides the president and vice president with their reports, coordinates household matters and protocols, as well as assisting in the drafting of bills and/or governmental regulations.
Kuwait The Kuwaiti minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, is in charge of international relations of Kuwait, and all Kuwaiti representatives abroad. Al-Sabah is a member of the cabinet of ministers, and reports directly to Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, The Emir of Kuwait. He is also in charge of all the diplomatic representatives in Kuwait.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, the chief secretary to the government is the Malaysian secretary of state.
However, every state in Malaysia have its own state secretary, except federal territories. The secretary of state is the member of the State Executive Council, appointed by the governor (in Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak) or the sultan (except in Negeri Sembilan, appointed by the Yang DiPertuan Besar; and Perlis, appointed by the (Raja of Perlis). The state secretary is the head of the public service in their state.
Timor-Leste Following the Portuguese model, in the government of Timor-Leste, a secretary of state (Sekretáriu Estadu in Tetum, Secretário de Estado in Portuguese) is a junior minister, subordinate to a cabinet minister. Despite being members of the Government, the Secretaries of State usually do not participate in the Council of Ministers, unless they are specially summoned for and, in this case, without right to vote. Europe
Belgium As in France, a secretary of state in Belgium is a junior minister who is responsible to a minister or to the prime minister. For example, Vincent Van Quickenborne was a secretary of state charged with the simplification of the administration, and in this role he was accountable to the prime minister. The title "secretary of state" was created because the constitution of Belgium explicitly limits the number of ministers to fifteen (seven French-speaking ministers and seven Dutch-speaking ministers, with the prime minister being officially "linguistically neutral"). Therefore, appointing people as secretaries of state allows the government to circumvent this constitutional limitation. See Current list of secretaries of states for Belgian Federal Government.
There are also three secretaries of state in the government of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of whom has to be Flemish.
Estonia The secretary of state (Riigisekretär) directs the Government Office. Its mission is to support the Government of Estonia and the prime minister of Estonia in policy drafting and implementation. It also supports any Ministers without portfolio and helps to ensure good governance. The first secretary of state was Karl Terras. Before the Soviet re-occupation in 1944, the State Secretary went into exile until the position came back to Estonia in 1992.
Finland A state secretary (), is the highest official below each minister. Ministers, who lead ministries (government departments), comprise the Finnish Government. Each state secretary is appointed for the term of the minister and is responsible to the minister.