Deputy minister

An assistant minister in politics

Deputy minister is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. A deputy minister is positioned in some way ‘under’ a minister, who is a full member of Cabinet, in charge of a particular standing policy portfolio, and typically oversees an associated civil service department. Depending on the jurisdiction, a "Deputy minister" may be a Cabinet minister who regularly acts as and for a more senior cabinet minister, a junior minister assigned to assist a cabinet minister, an elected member of the governing party or coalition assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister ‘from the back benches’ or a non-elected head of a civil service department taking political direction from a Cabinet minister.Bangladesh: A Deputy minister is junior to a Minister of a Department of State and of similar standing to a Parliamentary Secretary. Canada: The Deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department and takes political direction from an appointed minister of the Crown. East Timor: The Government, which comprises the Prime Minister, Ministers and Secretaries of State, may include one or more Deputy Prime Ministers and Deputy Ministers. Japan: A Deputy Minister assists the work of the Cabinet of Japan. Malaysia: A Deputy minister is not a member of the Cabinet and also called half minister. It is secondary to and ranked below ministers. Deputy ministers deputise for ministers. A ministry usually has one or two deputy ministers. Netherlands: A State Secretary is the title of a junior member of the Cabinet of the Netherlands. South Africa: A Deputy Minister is secondary to cabinet ministers. The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet also has deputy shadow ministers. Sri Lanka: A Deputy ministers are junior ministers ranking below that of cabinet minister and State Minister. It is similar to the pre-1972 post of Parliamentary Secretary. Tanzania: The Deputy ministers are junior ministers, and are usually not members of the government's cabinet

This keyword could refer to multiple things. Here are some suggestions: