Bundesminister

Bundesminister is the title given to a member of the federal government in Germany and Austria. A Bundesminister heads a federal ministry and serves in the federal cabinet, contributing to national policy across a designated portfolio. The feminine form is Bundesministerin.

In Germany, Federal Ministers are appointed by the Federal President on the proposal of the Chancellor. They may be members of the Bundestag or, in some cases, non-parliamentarians. Ministers are responsible for their respective ministries, proposing legislation, implementing government policy, and managing the relevant administrative agencies. They participate in cabinet meetings and collectively bear responsibility for the government’s overall policy before the Bundestag. A minister can be reshuffled or dismissed by the Chancellor; their term generally ends with the formation of a new government.

In Austria, Bundesminister similarly head their ministries and participate in the Federal Cabinet (Bundesregierung). They are appointed by the Federal President on the Chancellor’s proposal and serve for the duration of the governing coalition, subject to reshuffles or resignations. Ministers in Austria oversee their policy areas, guide administrative implementation, and contribute to drafting legislation through the cabinet and the parliamentary process. They may come from parliament or be appointed from outside it.

The title is used for male ministers and, in gender-sensitive usage, as a generic form in English-language references. The equivalent feminine title is Bundesministerin. The position represents parliamentary and political leadership at the federal level in both Germany and Austria, distinct from the heads of government who coordinate the cabinet.