Staatsministerien

Staatsministerien are the cabinet-level ministries of the state governments within federal systems of German-speaking countries, most prominently in Germany's Länder. They function as the executive departments of a state's government and are responsible for defining and implementing state policy in their respective areas. Each Staatsministerium is headed by a Staatsminister or Staatsministerin (often simply called a minister) who sits in the state cabinet, chaired by the Ministerpräsident or Ministerpräsidentin. The ministries draft legislation and regulations applicable at the state level, prepare the state budget for their portfolios, supervise subordinate authorities, and coordinate policy across the administration. They also represent the state in intergovernmental forums with other Länder and with the federal level.

Naming and organization vary by state. Some states traditionally use the term Staatsministerium for certain portfolios (for example interior, finance, or culture), while others name these departments without the prefix Staats-. The exact powers and structure depend on the state's constitution and statutes. In addition to the core ministries, the state government may include state secretaries and a central administration to support coordination across portfolios.

The term Staatsministerien thus denotes the portfolio-based departments of subnational governments within federal systems, distinct from the federal ministeries (Bundesministerien). In practice, the term is encountered mainly in German states with historical or regional naming conventions.