- A Minister of State is a member of HM's Government, junior only to a Secretary Of State but senior to a Parliamentary Under Secretary Of State . Ministers of State are responsible to their Secretaries of State. This position has only existed since 1945 - previously, each parliamentary under-secretary was directly beneath a secretary of state.
- A Minister of State is a junior Minister in the Federal or Central Government who may assist a cabinet minister or have independent charge of a ministry. A recently passed law restricts the number of ministers of state in the federal government- see a current listing of Indian ministers- Indian Cabinet
- Minister of State (''Ministre d'État'' in French) is a honorific title bestowed during his nomination on a minister of particular importance. It is not to be mistaken for a Secretary of State (''Secrétaire d'État''), a junior minister assisting a minister and who may only attend cabinet meeting if the topic discussed touches his responsibilities.
- Minister of State (''Staatsminister'' in German) is the title given to a parliamentary secretary of state (a member of parliament serving as a political aide to a cabinet minister) serving in the Foreign Office or the Federal Chancellor's Office. Accordingly, ''Staatsminister'' ranks between a normal Secretary Of State and a cabinet minister. Historically, the same title was used in certain constitutive states of Germany, e.g. in Schaumburg-Lippe , as head of government
- During the time serving Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo as Prime Minister Of Spain ( 1981 - 1982 ), Ministers of State were created which held a more distinct position within the government. However, this initiative did not last since his succesors did not follow this path.
- In n states, the equivalent title Statsminister is used for the head of government, and a compound may be used for a major portfolio minister.
- In , ''Minister of State'' is the title borne by all members of the Japanese Cabinet .
In the Netherlands (''Minister van Staat'' in Dutch) and Belgium (also ''Ministre d'État'' in French), Minister of State is a title of Honour awarded formally by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the government. It is given on a personal basis, usually for exceptional merits, generally to Politicians often former cabinet members or party leaders, after a succesful career. Ministers of State advise the Sovereign in delicate situations, with moral authority but without formal competence.
- In Belgium they are entitled to a seat, alongside the members of the government in power, in the ''crown council''; to date the crown council has been convened on only five occasions, the first being in (European Commissioner) and Luc Coene (prime-ministerial Kabinetschef , circa Chief of staff). In January 2006 the membership reached 51 with Johan Vande Lanotte, shortly after he laid down his portfolio and title of Vice-Prime Minister to head the Flemish Socialist SP.A Party .
- In the Netherlands the crown council can also be asked for advice by others on Constitution al issues.
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- ''De Standaard'' (leading Flemish neswpaper, in Dutch), e.g. January 31, 2006
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