Ministry

Ministry is a government department responsible for a broad policy area or public service, led by a minister who is part of the executive and often a member of the cabinet. The term can also refer to the period of a government’s tenure or to the collective body of ministers. Usage varies by country: some states call these units ministries, others departments or secretariats.

Etymology: from Latin minister meaning servant or attendant; modern usage grew with centralized state administration in the early modern era. In many Commonwealth countries, the term ministry remains common; in the United States the equivalent is a department headed by a secretary rather than a minister.

Functions: ministries formulate policy, draft and implement legislation, oversee programs, regulate activities, manage budgets, and supervise civil service agencies. They interact with the legislature for appropriation and oversight and are accountable to the public through elections and audits. Exact powers vary by constitutional framework.

Religious sense: in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other faiths, ministry can denote the work of clergy and religious leaders, including preaching, pastoral care, sacraments or rites, and charitable activities. It also refers to the organized mission of a congregation or denomination.