ríkisráðuneyti

Ríkisráðuneyti is the Icelandic term for a government ministry, a state body within the executive branch responsible for a defined policy area. The word is formed from ríki (state) and ráðuneyti (ministry or government department). In Icelandic governance, a ministry is the administrative unit through which the state formulates and implements policy, delivers public services, and oversees administration within its remit. Typical functions include drafting legislation and regulations relevant to the policy area, preparing the annual budget for the sector, supervising related government agencies, and coordinating with other ministries to ensure coherent government action. Ministers, who head each ministry, are members of the cabinet and answer to the parliament and to the prime minister. Many ministries employ civil servants and agency directors, often with deputies or state secretaries to assist the minister. The exact structure and titles can vary, but the ministry generally operates as the main executive arm for its policy area.

The term ríkisráðuneyti is used to refer to a ministry in a general sense, rather than to a specific institution. In discussions of Icelandic government organization, it is common to distinguish between individual ministries (for example, those responsible for education, health, or finance) and the government as a whole, which coordinates policy across all ríkisráðuneyti.