ministre

Ministre is a title used in many countries to designate a member of the government who heads a ministry, or the department itself. The term comes from the Latin minister, meaning servant or attendant, with cognates in many Romance languages (ministro in Spanish and Italian, ministre in French, ministro in Portuguese). In most systems, a minister is a political appointee charged with formulating and implementing policy within a specific area, such as finance, health, or education, and with managing the civil service under the ministry's remit. The minister represents the ministry in the cabinet and in parliament, and is responsible for presenting legislation, budgets, and policy proposals.

Appointment and tenure vary by country. In parliamentary systems, ministers are usually members of parliament or lawmakers who are selected by the head of government and may be replaced in elections or cabinet reshuffles. In presidential systems, presidents or heads of state typically appoint ministers who may not be elected; ministers depend on the executive's confidence and can be dismissed. Some countries also employ non-partisan or technocratic ministers in times of crisis or reform. A senior variant exists as 'ministre d'État' or 'state minister' in several jurisdictions, indicating a high-ranking cabinet position.

The ministry refers to the government department, sometimes comprising several agencies, and to the collective body of ministers. Portfolios cover broad policy domains, and overlap can occur between ministries. The term mirrors similar offices in many states, such as 'minister' or 'secretary' in different constitutional arrangements.