Ministère

Ministère is the French term for a government department headed by a minister. In most Francophone states, a ministry is part of the executive branch and is responsible for a defined policy area such as finance, education, defense, or health. Each ministry typically includes a political leadership team headed by a minister and a civil service that carries out day-to-day administration. Ministers are usually members of the cabinet and are accountable to the legislature; they propose policy, draft legislation, prepare the department's budget, and oversee public agencies and services within their remit. Inter-ministerial coordination is common for cross-cutting issues such as the economy or the environment.

Variations exist by country. In many Francophone countries the term "ministère" is used for national-level departments; in some jurisdictions the English-language equivalent is "ministry" and "department" can be used interchangeably. Some systems have "ministères délégués" or "attached" ministers with responsibility for specific areas within a broader ministry. Subnational units such as provinces or cantons may also have ministries or equivalent departments.

Historically, ministries emerged with centralized bureaucracies in early modern states and have evolved into the chief executors of public policy under constitutional or parliamentary systems. In practice, the exact powers, size, and structure of a ministère vary by legal framework and tradition.

See also: Government ministry, Department (government), Cabinet, Civil service.