Kanzler

Kanzler, from Latin cancellarius, is a German title meaning chancellor. Historically, it described a senior official who ran a royal or imperial chancery. In the Holy Roman Empire the Reichskanzler was the highest-ranking secular office, often serving as the Emperor’s chief adviser and administrator. In the German Empire (1871–1918) and the Weimar Republic, the Reichskanzler was the head of government, though the office’s practical power depended on the ruler and parliament.

In contemporary use, Kanzler is the generic term for the head of government in German-speaking countries, most commonly rendered as Bundeskanzler. In Germany, the Bundeskanzler is the chief executive, chairs the cabinet, and sets government policy. The Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag on the proposal of the Federal President and can be dismissed by a constructive vote of no confidence. In Austria, the Bundeskanzler is similarly the head of government and leads the cabinet, usually appointed on the basis of parliamentary support.

Beyond a political title, Kanzler can refer to other high administrative or ceremonial roles, and in some contexts to a university chancellor, though the latter is often translated simply as “chancellor.” The term remains a central element in the organization of German-speaking governments and institutions.