Chancellery

A chancery is the office in a government, royal court, or other formal institution tasked with drafting, authenticating, and issuing official documents, such as charters, decrees, and correspondence. Its name derives from Latin cancellaria, via Old French chancellerie; traditionally the chancellor sat behind a lattice screen (cancellus), and the office grew up around the drafting and authentication of records.

Historically, chancelleries were central to administration in medieval and early modern Europe. They housed scribes, clerks, and seal-makers, and were responsible for seal management, archives, and the transmission of royal or state decrees. The term can also denote the physical building that houses the office.

In contemporary usage, "Chancellery" usually refers to the executive's central office. In Germany the Bundeskanzleramt, or Federal Chancellery, coordinates policy, prepares cabinet decisions, and oversees communications and staff for the chancellor. In Austria the Bundeskanzleramt performs similar duties and serves as the government's coordination hub. Other countries use the term less commonly, sometimes for historical contexts or in translation.

In English-speaking jurisdictions, "Chancery" has historic legal meanings, notably the Court of Chancery and its offices dealing with equity, seals, and records. The term persists in place names and in institutional titles in some countries.