state secretary
Loading your saved state.
state secretary
A high-ranking female civil servant or politician who stands directly below the minister in a ministry's hierarchy and supports or represents him or her.
Die Staatssekretärin im Außenministerium reiste zu den Verhandlungen nach Brüssel.
The state secretary in the Foreign Ministry traveled to Brussels for the negotiations.
The word is composed of three parts: 'der Staat' (state), the linking -s, and 'die Sekretärin' (secretary). It literally refers to a secretary in the service of the state, but it has a much higher-ranking meaning.
Die neue Staatssekretärin hat heute ihre Arbeit im Ministerium aufgenommen.
The new state secretary began her work in the ministry today.
A 'Staatssekretärin' (state secretary) is a high-ranking female political civil servant or politician. She works in a ministry and is positioned directly below the minister in the hierarchy.
Die Staatssekretärin vertrat den Minister bei der wichtigen Konferenz.
The state secretary represented the minister at the important conference.
To specify the area of responsibility, the title is often connected with the relevant ministry. For example, people say 'Staatssekretärin im Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft' (state secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs).
Sie wurde zur parlamentarischen Staatssekretärin im Familienministerium ernannt.
She was appointed parliamentary state secretary in the Family Ministry.
minister
'Ministerin' and 'Staatssekretärin' both belong to the area of government and ministries. The important difference is the position. A 'Ministerin' heads a ministry and has the main political responsibility for a department. A 'Staatssekretärin' also works at a high level in a ministry, but is below the minister in the hierarchy. She supports, organizes, or represents the minister. The words can be confused because both can work in a ministry. In practical terms: the minister leads the ministry, while the state secretary helps at a high leadership level.
Die Staatssekretärin beantwortet im Ausschuss Fragen zum Haushalt des Ministeriums.
The state secretary answers questions in the committee about the ministry's budget.
Am Montag hat die Ministerin ein neues Gesetz vorgestellt.
On Monday, the minister presented a new law.