secretariat

Secretariat is a term with several related meanings. In general, a secretariat refers to the administrative arm of a government, organization, or international body, providing support services to executives and coordinating operations. The word derives from secretarius, the Latin for secretary, and is used in many languages to denote offices responsible for governance and documentation.

In government, a secretariat is the central administrative unit that supports ministers, the cabinet, or a head of government. It handles policy development, interdepartmental coordination, record-keeping, and the organization of meetings and documents. Variants include cabinet secretariats and state secretariats or ministries’ secretariats, depending on the country’s administrative structure.

In international organizations, the secretariat comprises the staff and offices that carry out day-to-day functions, serve the decision-making bodies, and administer programs. A well-known example is the United Nations Secretariat, which provides administrative services, research support, and logistical coordination to the General Assembly and Security Council, and manages personnel and budgets.

In corporate and public administration, the secretariat or corporate secretariat is responsible for statutory compliance, governance, and board administration. Tasks typically include maintaining corporate records, filing regulatory documents, arranging board meetings, and advising on governance matters.

The term also appears as a proper name in other contexts. Secretariat may refer to Secretariat, a famous American Thoroughbred racehorse noted for his performance in the early 1970s and widely regarded as one of the sport’s greats.