Cabinet secretaries’ responsibilities in many countries include administrative support for each country’s elected leaders. Cabinet secretaries may also supervise civil servants, investigate government leaks, and handle any national crises in some regions. Except for the Department of Justice, which is overseen an attorney general, each federal division of the government in the United States is headed a cabinet secretary appointed the president.
Cabinet secretaries are the top officials in some state departments. State governors may request information from secretaries of departments such as health, environmental protection, and commerce to assist them in setting goals for the state. The cabinet secretary may provide policy advice and communicates with other departments within the governor’s office.
In the United Kingdom, the cabinet secretary is in charge of the prime minister’s office. The secretary is in charge of all administrative tasks and is usually the head of the civil service department, which oversees all civil servants in the country. In addition, the cabinet secretary is in charge of the code, which allows elected ministers to be investigated if sensitive information is leaked. Because he or she may also impose disciplinary measures, the cabinet secretary frequently wields power over elected officials.
A chief cabinet secretary is employed the Japanese government and is appointed the minister of state. In each division of government, the person with this title supervises cabinet secretariats and their employees. In the absence of the chief, three deputy chief secretaries assist him or her and perform necessary duties. Any life-threatening crisis or emergency will be handled one deputy chief. Without the permission of the prime minister, the secretary may not work in any other capacity.
The Secretary of the Cabinet of India is the country’s highest-ranking civil servant. He or she assists the council of ministers coordinating all of the states’ administrative matters. If problems arise between the states and the federal government, the secretary seeks solutions. The secretary is in charge of overseeing all administrative actions in each department and providing information to the council of ministers to aid in decision-making.
In addition to routine administrative tasks, Australia’s cabinet secretary organizes ceremonial events and is responsible for providing hospitality to foreign visitors. He or she may inform the prime minister of the need for maintenance or renovations at the official’s home. The Australian cabinet secretary also ensures that all government agencies have good working relationships and that communication is open.