Undersecretary (orunder secretary) is a title for a person who works for and has a lower rank than asecretary (person in charge). It is used in theexecutive branch of government, with different meanings in different political systems, and is also used in other organizational settings.
In government, the position may be a juniorgovernment minister (e.g. aparliamentary secretary) who assists asecretary of state. In other cases, the position may be a senior government official, frequently a careerpublic servant, who typically acts as a senior administrator. The senior administrator may be considered asecond-in-command to a politically appointedcabinet minister or other governmentofficial (e.g. in the United States), or they may be considered a head orchief executive of a government department (e.g. apermanent secretary). Some systems of government have both types of position, as in the United Kingdom where the title has been in use since the 17th century.
In France theUndersecretary of State (sous-secrétaire d'État) was a governmental role created during theHundred Days and institutionalized in 1816. It served as an administrative and, later, political assistant to ministers, evolving significantly across the country's political regimes until being replaced by the title ofSecretary of State under the Fifth Republic.
In theHoly See, undersecretary is a title given to senior administrative officials working in thedicasteries of theRoman Curia.
InHong Kong, undersecretary is a position created in 2008 to work closely with bureau secretaries and top civil servants to implement theChief Executive's policy blueprint and agenda in an executive-led government. The appointment of undersecretaries and political assistants is an extension of thePrincipal Officials Accountability System into today'sPolitical Appointments System.[1]
InIndia, undersecretary is an officer level secretariat post in central ministries, tenanted by officers of various civil services, usually promoted officers from the Group 'B' (section officers) of theCentral Secretariat Service, or the newly appointed officers of theIndian Administrative Service and theIndian Foreign Service, or other Group 'A' services on deputation in the central government in early stages of their careers with a minimum of 7–8 years of service.
Officers in this capacity further manage desk or section officers within a ministry or central regulatory body. Undersecretaries occupy gazetted civil service posts in India, unlike in some Western democracies, where they are political appointees. An undersecretary will typically report to a deputy secretary, or a director to theGovernment of India.
InItaly, Undersecretary is a second-in-command to a politically appointed Minister. In particular, he/she is appointed with a President of the Republic Decree, on proposal of the Prime Minister, who previously agreed such proposal with the relevant Minister.
In the Netherlands, a state secretary (Dutch:staatssecretaris) is the title of a junior member of theCabinet of the Netherlands. They take over part of the portfolio of a certain minister and fall under the responsibility of that minister, but are at the same time also separately responsible to theStates General of the Netherlands.[2] They do not attend the weeklyCouncil of Ministers unless specifically invited. Some are allowed to use the title "minister" in meetings with foreign colleagues who are responsible for the same topic area (who may be ministers).
In Poland, the ministries are staffed by secretaries of state and undersecretaries of state, commonly referred to as deputy ministers. Their task is to assist the Minister and replace him if necessary.
In Portugal the level of undersecretary is not a pro-forma echelon in the executive hierarchy. Such posts are created on an ad hoc basis as required.[3] It is the lowest rung in the executive power. There is currently only one undersecretary of State in the present government.
In the Spanish Government, an Under-Secretary is a seniorcivil servant charged with running agovernment department on a day-to-day basis. Thus, the under-secretaries reports directly to the competent minister and they are appointed by theMonarch on the advice of theCouncil of Ministers. The position has existed since the early 19th century, being second-in-command to the minister, although since the 1970s it has been displaced by secretaries of state.
The position is equivalent to the BritishPermanent Under-Secretary of State.
The title of Under-Secretary is used in two different contexts in theBritish political system. AParliamentary Under-Secretary of State is a junior member of the government, always anMP or apeer from the governing party, who is appointed to assist aSecretary of State or other government minister. They rank between aMinister of State and aParliamentary Private Secretary; the rank is usually seen as a stepping-stone to higher political office. The title originated in the 17th century.[4] The titlesecretary of state in the government of England has also been in use since the early 17th century.
In contrast, aPermanent Under-Secretary of State is the full title of aPermanent Secretary, a senior civil servant employed to head a government department and oversee the implementation of policy.
In theUnited Statesexecutive branch, an undersecretary is a senior official in a government department, junior to a departmental Secretary such as theSecretary of State and usually junior to a Deputy Secretary as well. An Undersecretary is typically a political appointee. They may head specific sub-departments or agencies such as theDefense Intelligence Agency, or be responsible for a specific area of policy within the department, e.g. the Undersecretary for Management within theDepartment of State. Before 1972, "Undersecretary" (also spelled "Under Secretary") signified the senior deputy to a cabinet Secretary, especially of State and Treasury. The office ofUnder Secretary of State was replaced by theDeputy Secretary of State and the office of Under Secretary of the Treasury was replaced by theDeputy Secretary of the Treasury.[citation needed]
The first question to be considered in the light of the memorandum of 1684 is the origin of the office of Under Secretary. It should be emphasised in this connection that the term 'Under Secretary', although found in use as early as 1672, passed only gradually into general currency.
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