Secretary of State

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In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the government.

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Canada

The Canadian Cabinet used to have a Secretary of State for Foreign 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 it was abolished. From 1993 to 2003, several MPs were styled Secretary of State with a specific policy areas and assist Cabinet Ministers but these were not themselves members of Cabinet. In the current Cabinet these positions are styled Ministers of State.

France

In France, a Secretary of State is a junior minister, who responds to a minister or the Prime Minister.

Holy See

The Cardinal Secretary of State presides over the Secretariat of State, which is the most important dicastery of the Roman Curia, as it organizes, makes appointments to, and directs the activities of the other dicasteries. During a sede vacante, the former Secretary of State (the appointment expires when the pope dies or resigns) assumes some of the functions of the head of state as a part of a temporary commission.

Mexico

In Mexico a Secretary of State is a member of the Mexican Executive Cabinet who responds to the President of the Republic

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a staatssecretaris is a government official directly accountable to a minister. The position of secretary of state has existed since 1948 and is described article 46 of the constitution of the Netherlands. According to the constitution, secretaries of state may be instated and fired by Royal Order (which means by the minister), but in practice these positions are usually created and held for the duration of the cabinet and they can even be used as bargaining chips in coalition negotiations. Again according to the constition, the secretary of state may act as minister in those cases where the minister deems this necessary, taking the minister's directions into account. In practice this usually means that the secretary is responsible for a subfield of the minister's field of work and reports to parliament on issues concerning his field. Secretaries of state may attend the meetings of the council of ministers when they concern their own field, but may not vote in these meetings.

Norway

A statssekretær in Norway is more or less the same position as the French equivalent. Secretaries of State are connected to specific ministry, and serve as a de facto vice minister.


United Kingdom

Main article: Secretary of State (United Kingdom)

In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a senior Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department. Secretary of State positions can be created without primary legislation; and legislation refers to "Secretary of State", which is a notional position split between all the Secretaries of State depending upon the functions.

The ancient English monarchs always had in attendance a learned ecclesiastic, known at first as their clerk, and afterwards as "Secretary", who conducted the royal correspondence; but it was not until the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603) that these functionaries gained the title "Secretaries of State". Upon the direction of public affairs passing from the Privy Council to the Cabinet after 1688 the Secretaries of State began to assume those high duties which now render their office one of the most influential of an administration.

Until the time of Henry VIII (reigned 1509–1547), monarchs generally had only one Secretary of State, but at the end of his reign a second Principal Secretary appeared. The number of Secretaries gradually increased over the years. There are currently thirteen people heading fifteen ministries as Secretaries of State. Since devolution the Secretaries of State for the three devolved nations have combined their office with another. As of June 2005 the Wales and the Northern Ireland offices were linked, as was the Scotland Office and the Department for Trade and Industry. This linking can change as the Prime Minister desires. In addition the Deputy Prime Minister holds the title "First Secretary of State".

Current positions

United States

In the federal government of the United States of America, the main role of the United States Secretary of State is to supervise and conduct foreign policy. He or she is head of the United States Department of State. As of January 2005, the current Secretary of State is Condoleezza Rice.

In the individual states of the United States, the Secretary of State is normally an administrative officer responsible for certifying elections and maintaining corporate registrations. In some states, the Secretary of State handles driver's licenses and license plates and certifies state documents and notaries public. Ordinarily this is not a particularly powerful position; however, because the Secretary of State is generally responsible for certifying elections, this position can occasionally become important. For example, the Secretary of State of Florida, Katherine Harris, played an important role in deciding the outcome of the 2000 Presidential election.

In many states the state secretary of state is often third in line to assume the office of governor upon death or resignation of the incumbent, after the lieutenant governor.

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