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Officers and officials refers to individuals who hold positions of authority within organizations or governments and who exercise powers or perform duties on their behalf. The exact meaning varies by country and context, but the term generally covers people entrusted with formal authority, either through statutory delegation or organizational governance, to implement policy, enforce rules, or manage resources.

An officer typically denotes a role with the legal or formal authority to bind the organization through acts such as signing contracts, making appointments, or enforcing regulations. An official is a broader term for a person who holds such a position or who performs duties within a governing body, administration, or agency, and may not always carry independent power beyond the office.

In government, public officers include elected representatives, appointed administrators, and civil servants who carry out laws and policy. Their authority and duties are defined by constitutions, legislation, and administrative rules, and they are subject to accountability mechanisms such as audits, ethics rules, and ombudsman oversight.

In corporate and nonprofit sectors, officers are individuals with executive power, such as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or chief operating officer, responsible for strategy and operations. Officials in these contexts may include department heads, compliance officers, or board members who guide policy and governance.

Effective governance relies on clear roles, transparent processes, conflict-of-interest rules, and mechanisms for oversight and redress to prevent abuse of power and corruption. Terminology differs by jurisdiction; some systems distinguish public officers by legal status, others use civil servants or employees. The umbrella term “officers and officials” thus commonly describes leadership and administrative actors across public, private, and voluntary sectors.