Secretary of State, an ancient and important office in the government of England. The oldest record of its existence is in the reign of Henry III., when John Mannsell is described as 'secretarius noster.' Prior to the Restoration the holder of this office was generally styled the 'king's chief (or 'principal') secretary'; he had the custody of the king's signet, and discharged his duties with the assistance of four clerks. Two secretaries are said to have been first appointed towards the close of the reign of Henry VIII. The office, always one of influence, gradually grew in importance. On the Union of 1707 Anne added a third secretary of state for Scotland, which office, however, was soon done away with. In the reign of George III. there were at first but two secretaries; for a time there was a third for America, but his office was abolished by statute in 1782. While the secretaries were two in number both equally directed home affairs; to the one were committed the foreign affairs of the northern, to the other of the southern department. Irish affairs belonged to the province of the elder secretary.
There are now five principal secretaries of state, who are respectively appointed for home affairs, foreign affairs, war, the colonies, and India. They are all appointed by the sovereign by delivery of the seals of office, followed by the issue of a patent under the great seal, and they are always members of the Privy-council and of the cabinet. Though each has his own department, he is considered capable of discharging the duties of the others; a member of the House of Commons if removed from one secretaryship to another does not thereby vacate his seat. Not more than four secretaries or under-secretaries of state may sit at one time in the House of Commons.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has the charge of the maintenance of the internal peace of the United Kingdom, the security of the laws, and the administration of justice so far as the royal prerogative is involved in it. He provides for the suppression of riots. He has the ultimate supervision of all that relates to prisons and criminals; and numerous statutory powers have been given him regarding police, sanitary matters, the regulation of labour, &c. He is responsible for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy; application for pardon or commutation of sentence forms no small part of the work imposed on the Home Secretary. All patents, licenses, dispensations, charters of incorporation, commissions of the peace and of inquiry pass through his office. He recommends persons to the sovereign for civil knighthood, and is empowered to grant certificates of Naturalisation (q.v.) to foreigners. He is the organ of communication between the cabinet and the viceregal government of Ireland, for which he is responsible, and is informed of and advises all the graver measures adopted in that country. His patronage is very considerable, including the nomination to a large number of judicial offices. Among his powers is that of examining and committing for trial persons charged with offences against the state, a function which, though its legality has been called in question, has been often exercised.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is the responsible adviser of the crown in all communications between the government and foreign powers. He negotiates treaties, either directly with the foreign ministers resident in the country, or through the British ministers abroad. It is his duty to inquire into the complaints of British subjects residing in foreign countries, to afford them protection, and to demand redress for their grievances. The Foreign Secretary recommends to the sovereign all ambassadors, ministers, and consuls to represent this country abroad. He grants Passports (q.v.) to British subjects travelling abroad.
The Secretary for the Colonial Department has the supervision of the laws and customs of the colonies and dependencies (except India), watches over their interests, apportions the imperial troops necessary for their defence or police, appoints governors, and sanctions or disallows laws reserved for his consideration by colonial governors. The responsibilities of the colonial office in regard to the greater colonies have been much decreased by the extension of responsible government (see COLONY).
Each of these secretaries of state is assisted by two under-secretaries of state—one permanent, while the other is a political officer dependent on the administration in power.
The Secretary of State for India, whose office dates from the abolition in 1858 of the double government of India by the Court of East India Directors and Board of Control, has the same control over the government of India which was formerly exercised by these bodies, and countersigns all warrants and orders under the sign-mannal relating to India. He is assisted by an under-secretary, who is also a member of the legislature and loses office with the cabinet, and by a permanent under-secretary and assistant-secretary, as also by a council of fifteen members, over whom he presides. Every order sent to India must be signed by the secretary, and all despatches from governments and presidencies in India must be addressed to the secretary.
The Secretary of State for War has the superintendence of all matters connected with the army, assisted by the commander-in-chief, and is responsible for the amount of the military establishment. He prepares for the royal signature and countersigns commissions in the army, and recommends to the sovereign for the order of Knighthood of the Bath. Down to the Crimean war there was also a Secretary-at-war, a high officer of the ministry, who had the control of the financial arrangements of the army, and was the responsible medium for parliamentary supervision in military affairs. He was quite independent of the Secretary of State and of the military authorities.
The Chief-secretary to the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland and the Secretary for Scotland do not rank as secretaries of state, though they may be members of the cabinet. For a full account of the secretarial departments, see Todd's Parliamentary Government in England (2d ed. 1889).
In the cabinet of the United States there is one Secretary of State, who is specially charged with foreign affairs.