Chief minister

{{short description|Title for the head of government of some countries' administrative divisions}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=June 2014}} {{Globalize|section|Commonwealth countries|date=March 2023}} }} {{Executive}}

A '''chief minister''' is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union territory) in India; a territory of Australia;<ref>[https://nt.gov.au/about-government "About government"]. nt.gov.au. Retrieved on 16 March 2018.</ref> a province of Sri Lanka or Pakistan; a federal province in Nepal; an autonomous region of Philippines;<ref>Only in Bangsamoro</ref> or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-governance. It is also used as the English version of the title given to the heads of governments of the Malay states<ref>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Unfederated+Malay+States|title=Malay Stats|work=TheFreeDictionary.com |access-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> without a monarchy.

The title is also used in the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man (since 1986), in Guernsey (since 2004), and in Jersey (since 2005).

In 2018, Sierra Leone, a presidential republic, created the role of an appointed chief minister, which is similar to a prime minister in a semi-presidential system.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesierraleonetelegraph.com/controversy-over-appointment-of-chief-minister-of-sierra-leone/|title=Controversy over appointment of chief minister of Sierra Leone|first=Abdul Rashid|last=Thomas|date=2 May 2018}}</ref> Before that, only Milton Margai had the same position between 1954 and 1958.<ref>[http://unimak.edu.sl/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Centre-of-Sierra-Leone-Studies-Politics.pdf ''Centre of Sierra Leone Studies – The politics of Sierra Leone.'' The University of Makeni.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126144517/http://unimak.edu.sl/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Centre-of-Sierra-Leone-Studies-Politics.pdf |date=26 November 2019 }} Retrieved 15 May 2018.</ref>

== Origin == It was used throughout history in various forms but most notable is the Grand vizier. The vizier was originally known as "''wazir''" and was used for the first as prime minister or chief minister role in Abbasid Caliphate later it was adopted by various sultanates and empires like Ottoman Empire.

== Meaning and role == The title has a similar construction and role as a first minister or minister-president but usually with a lower rank. The role has context within the Westminster system of government where a constitutional head of state (usually sub-national) is advised by ministers who usually head executive government departments (ministries). A chief minister is understood to be "first among equals". They would be the chief adviser to the nominal head of their state, the chair of cabinet and leader of the main governing political party in the legislature.<ref name="NTchief">{{cite book |last1=Boland |first1=Angela |title=Cabinet Handbook |date=8 August 2017 |publisher=Northern Territory Government |page=5 |url=https://dcm.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/252216/cabinet_handbook_august_2017.pdf |access-date=20 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320113700/https://dcm.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/252216/cabinet_handbook_august_2017.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Informal chief ministers == * Chief minister of France * English chief ministers

== See also == {{Wiktionary|chief minister}} * Constitutional monarchy * Governor * Parliamentary leader

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Heads of government Category:Positions of subnational authority Category:Gubernatorial titles

Chief minister

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