Home > Chancellor
 | | | |
Learn more about "Chancellor"
|
|
|
Chancellor
Chancellor or '''chancellour''' (archaic) () is an official title used in countries whose civilization has arisen directly or indirectly out of the Roman Empire. At different times and in different countries it has stood for various duties and has been borne by officers of various degrees of dignity. Various governments have a chancellor who serves as some form of junior or senior Minister (government)|minister. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the ''cancelli'' or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the audience. A Chancellor's office is called a chancellery or Court of Chancery|chancery.
Austria
The Chancellor of Austria, or ''Bundeskanzler'', is the title for the head of government in Austria. In Politics of Austria|Austrian politics, the ''Bundeskanzler'' position is somewhat equivalent to that of a prime minister.
Argentina
In Argentina the Foreign Minister is mostly called as''Canciller'' (Chancellor) and he works at the ''Cancillería'' (chancellery).http://www.pilkington.com/resources/bparg10.jpg
Brazil
The Chancellor of Brazil, or ''Chanceler'', is the country's Ministry of External Relations (Brazil)|foreign minister. His office is in the Itamaraty Palace.
Chile
In Chile, the Chancellor is the Foreign Affairs Minister.
China
The Chancellor of China was the second highest rank after the Emperor of China.
Colombia
In Colombia, the Chancellor is the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Denmark
The office of chancellor (or royal chancellor) seems to have appeared in the 12th century, and until 1660 it was the title of the leader of the state administration (a kind of a "Home Office" but often with foreign political duties). Often he appeared to be the real leader of the government. From 1660–1848, the title continued as "Grand Chancellor" or "President of the Danish Chancellery," and was replaced in 1848 by the title "Minister of Domestic Affairs."
Egypt
There are two ancient Egyptian titles sometimes translated as chancellor. There is the "royal sealer" (xtmtj-bity or xtmw-bity), a title attested since the First Dynasty (about 3000 BC)[Toby A. H. Wilkinson, ''Early Dynastic Egypt'', Routledge 1999, p.131]. People holding the post include Imhotep and Hemaka[Michael Rice, ''Who's Who in Ancient Egypt'', Routledge 2001, p.63].
The other title translated as chancellor is "Keeper of the Royal Seal" (or ''overseer of the seal'' or ''treasurer''—imy-r xtmt[''pBerlin 10035'' in U. Luft, ''Urkunden zur Chronologie der späten 12. Dynastie, Briefe aus Illahun'', Wien 2006, 69 ff.][''pLouvre 3230 B'' in E. Wente, ''Letters from Ancient Egypt'', Atlanta, 1990, 92]). Officials holding the post include Chancellor Bay|Bay or Irsu, Khety[''Memoirs'', Egypt Exploration Society—1958, p.7] Meketre[Serdab of the Chancellor Meketre], and Nakhti[Michael Rice, ''Who's Who in Ancient Egypt'', Routledge 2001].
The first title (royal sealer) announced a certain rank at the royal court, the second (supervisor of the sealed goods, i.e. treasurer) was responsible for the state's income. This position appears around 2000 BC.
Estonia
In Estonia the Chancellor of Justice (''Õiguskantsler'', Currently Indrek Teder) supervises the legality of actions taken by the Government of Estonia|government and monitors the implementation of basic civil liberties.
Finland
In Finland the Chancellor of Justice (''Oikeuskansleri, Justitiekanslern'') supervises the legality of actions taken by the Government of Finland|government and monitors the implementation of basic civil liberties. In this special function the chancellor also sits in the Finnish Cabinet, the Finnish Council of State.
France
For centuries, the King of France appointed a chancellor or ''Chancelier de France'', a Great Officers of the Crown of France|Great Officer of the Crown, as an office associated with that of keeper of the seals. The ''chancelier'' was responsible for some judicial proceedings. During the reigns of Louis XVIII of France|Louis XVIII, Charles X of France|Charles X and Louis Philippe of France|Louis Philippe, the Chancellor of France presided over the Chamber of Peers, the upper house of the royal French parliament.
Germany
As in Austria, the Chancellor of Germany or ''Bundeskanzler'' (meaning "Federal republic|Federal Chancellor"), is the title for the head of government in Germany. ''Bundeskanzlerin'' is the Grammatical gender|feminine form. In Politics of Germany|German politics the ''Bundeskanzler'' position is somewhat equivalent to that of a prime minister and is elected by the ''Bundestag'', the German Parliament, every four years, but can be replaced at any time by the parliament.
This can be only done by a so called constructive vote of non-confidence, it requires that the opposition, on the same ballot, proposes a candidate of their own.
After the unification of Germany, in the year 1871, the Chancellor of the Reich or ''Reichskanzler'' (meaning "Imperial Chancellor"), served not only as head of government, but also as presiding officer of the Bundesrat (Germany)|Bundesrat, the upper house of the German imperial parliament. After the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918, the German chancellor no longer presided over the upper house of parliament, but was head of the Weimer Republic|republic's government.
Adolf Hitler was appointed to the chancellorship in 1933 by President Paul von Hindenburg|Hindenburg. On March 23 1933, after the Reichstag fire, the parliament passed the Enabling Act of 1933|Enabling Act, which gave to Hitler legal right to pass legislation without the approval or consent of the parliament: he was made a legal dictator. The office of "Chancellor" was combined with that of the "President" and called the ''Führer und Reichskanzler'' (meaning "Leader and Imperial Chancellor") after President Hindenburg's death in the year 1934.
Since the World War II|defeat of Nazi Germany and the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany|Federal Republic in 1949, the chancellorship has adhered to its role as prescribed by the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law. It differs from the chancellorship of Weimar Germany primarily in that the office is not appointed by the president, but through a majority Bundestag vote.
Lithuania
See Poland below.
Japan
The Daijō Daijin or '''Chancellor of the Realm''' was the head of the ''Daijō-kan'', or Department of State in Heian period|Heian Japan and briefly under the Meiji Constitution.
Mexico
In Mexico the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs is called ''cancillería'' and the minister is called ''canciller'' (Chancellor).
Peru
As in many Latin American countries, in Peru, the Chancellor is the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Poland
In the Kingdom of Poland of the Jagiellons|Kingdom of Poland from the 14th century, there was a royal chancellor. In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795), the four chancellors were among the ten highest officials of the state. Poland and Lithuania each had a Grand Chancellor and a Deputy Chancellor, each entitled to a senatorial seat, responsible for the affairs of the whole Kingdom, each with his own chancery. See Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Russia
In the Russian Empire, the chancellor was the highest rank of civil service as defined by the Table of Ranks and on the same grade as field marshal and General Admiral. Only the most distinguished government officials were promoted to this grade, such as foreign ministers Alexander Gorchakov and Aleksei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin|Alexey Bestuzhev-Ryumin.
Spain
The Spanish language|Spanish word “canciller” is the equivalent to the English language|English chancellor. However, in Spain, the term refers to a civil servant responsible for technical issues relating to foreign affairs. Chancellors work in the embassies and consulates of Spain. Other Spanish speaking countries use the term “canciller” to refer to the Foreign Minister.
Sweden
In Sweden the Chancellor of Justice or ''Justitiekanslern'' acts as the Solicitor|Solicitor General for the Government of Sweden|Swedish Government. The office was introduced by Charles XII of Sweden in 1713. Historically there was also a Lord High Chancellor of Sweden|Lord High Chancellor or ''Rikskansler'' as the most senior member of the Privy Council of Sweden. There is in addition to this a University Chancellor or ''Universitetskansler'', who leads the National Agency for List of colleges and universities in Sweden|Higher Education.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland|Federal Chancellor (''Bundeskanzler, Chancelier fédéral, Cancelliere della Confederazione'') is elected by the Swiss parliament. He or she heads the Federal Chancellery, the general staff of the seven-member executive Federal Council of Switzerland|Federal Council, the Swiss government. The Chancellor participates in the meetings of the seven Federal Councilors with a consultative vote and prepares the reports on policy and activities of the council to parliament. The chancellery is responsible for the publication of all federal laws.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, a number of State offices contain the word ''chancellor'':
- The Lord Chancellor (''Lord High Chancellor'', ''King's Chancellor'') is the occupant of one of the oldest offices of state, dating back to the Kingdom of England, and older than Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament itself. Theoretically, the Lord Chancellor is the "Chancellor of Great Britain"; there was formerly an office of "Chancellor of Ireland" which was abolished in 1922, when all but Northern Ireland left the United Kingdom. The Lord Chancellor is the second highest non-royal subject in precedence (after the Archbishop of Canterbury). In addition to various ceremonial duties, he is head of the Ministry of Justice, which was created in May 2007 from the Department for Constitutional Affairs (which was created in 2003 from the Lord Chancellor's Department) In this role, he sits in the Cabinet. Until the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, the Lord Chancellor had two additional roles:
- Head of the English, but not Scottish, judiciary. In previous centuries, the Lord Chancellor was the sole judge in the Court of Chancery; when, in 1873, that court was combined with others to form the High Court of England and Wales|High Court, the Lord Chancellor became the nominal head of the Chancery Division. The Lord Chancellor was permitted to participate in judicial sittings of the House of Lords; he also chose the committees that heard appeals in the Lords. The ''de facto'' head of the Chancery Division was the Vice-Chancellor, and the role of choosing appelate committees was in practice fulfilled by the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.
- ''De facto'' speaker of the House of Lords. These duties are now undertaken by the Lord Speaker. The current Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, is the first in history to sit in the British House of Commons|House of Commons rather than the House of Lords.
- Chancellor of the Exchequer, the minister with overall responsibility for the Exchequer or Treasury. This, too, is an ancient title dating back to the England|Kingdom of England. It is roughly the equivalent of the Minister of Finance or Secretary of the Treasury in other governmental systems. In recent years, when the term ''chancellor'' is used in British politics, it is taken as referring to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As ''Second Lord of the Treasury'', the Chancellor has an official residence at 11 Downing Street, next door to the ''First Lord of the Treasury'', the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister, at 10 Downing Street, in London.
- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, another ancient office of state, the Chancellor being the Minister of the Crown responsible in theory for the running of the Duchy of Lancaster, a duchy in England belonging to the Crown but historically maintained separately from the rest of the kingdom, whose net revenues personally belong to the monarch. In reality, the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, effectively like a chairman of trustees, carries minimal work and responsibilities, so it is used in effect as a minister without portfolio position, often given to the chairman of the party in power to give her or him a seat in the cabinet.
- Chancellor of the High Court, a senior legal position, the head of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. Before 2005, the judge occupying this position was known as the Vice-Chancellor, the Lord Chancellor being the nominal head of the Division.
- The Consistory courts of the Church of England are each presided over by a Chancellor of the Diocese: see Chancellor (ecclesiastical).
United States
In the United States, the only "chancellor" established by the federal government is the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution, a largely ceremonial office held by the Chief Justice of the United States. As the Smithsonian is a research and museum system, its use of the title is perhaps best thought of as akin to a Chancellor (education)|university's chancellor.
State Chancellors
Some U.S. states, like Delaware, still maintain a separate Court of Chancery with jurisdiction over Equity (law)|equity cases. Judges who sit on those courts are called chancellors.
Among the states that once had the judicial office of chancellor, but have now abolished it, is New York State. In 1789, after George Washington had been elected the first President of the United States, he traveled to the temporary national capital, New York City, to be sworn in to office. By tradition, the presidential oath is administered by the Chief Justice of the United States except in cases of emergency. Of course, at the time Washington took office there was no chief justice or any other federal judges, as there was not yet a president to appoint them. Therefore, the oath of office was administered to Washington by the highest-ranking judge available, Robert Livingston (1746-1813)|Robert Livingston, the chancellor of New York State.
Uruguay
In Uruguay, Chancellor (Spanish: Canciller) is the title given to the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Other organizations
Catholic Church
The chancellor is the principal record-keeper of a diocese or eparchy, or their equivalent. The chancellor is a notary, so that he may certify official documents, and often has other duties at the discretion of the bishop of the diocese: he may be in charge of some aspect of finances or of managing the personnel connected with diocesan offices, although his delegated authority cannot extend to vicars of the diocesan bishop, such as vicars general, episcopal vicars or judicial vicars. His office is within the "chancery." Vice-chancellors may be appointed to assist the chancellor in busy chanceries. Normally, the chancellor is a priest or deacon, although in some circumstances a layperson may be appointed to the post.[CIC 482; CCEO 252—§1.] In the eparchial curia a chancellor is to be appointed who is to be a presbyter (priest) or deacon and whose principal obligation, unless otherwise established by the particular law, is to see that the acts of the curia are gathered and arranged as well as preserved in the archives of the eparchial curia.
[§2. If it seems necessary the chancellor can be given an assistant whose title is vice-chancellor.
§3. The chancellor as well as the vice-chancellor are by the law itself notaries of the eparchial curia.
In the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin rite of the Catholic Church, the chancellor may be a layperson, and not necessarily a presbyter or deacon. The office of the Chancellor is mandatory in all diocessan (eparchial) curia. The primary function of the Chancellor is to keep the curial records properly.Beal, ''New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law'', Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ, 2000, p.635]
Educational usage
main article: Chancellor (education)
The title chancellor has several uses in U.S. educational institutions.
In government, it is title of the heads of the New York City Department of Education and the District of Columbia Public Schools, who run the municipally-operated public schools in those jurisdictions. New York State also has a chancellor of the University of the State of New York, a "university" as a fiction of law in that it is the body that licenses and regulates all educational and research institutions in the state and many professions (it is not to be confused with the State University of New York, an actual institution of higher learning).
Many public and private universities and university systems are headed by chancellors who function as the chief executive officer of the school or systems of schools.
In a few instances, the term chancellor is used for a student or faculty member within a high school or an institution of higher learning being either appointed or elected as chancellor in order to preside on the highest ranking judicial board or tribunal. They handle non-academic matters such as violations of behavior
See also
- Logothete
- Chancellors of Lincoln, NE
References
Category:Chancellors (government)|
Category:Titles of national or ethnic leadership
simple:Chancellor
Related Images
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
 |
Welcome to Start Learning Now.
Explore to your heart's content, and we hope you enjoy reading the material we
have assembled for you here! |
 |
| | | | |
Related News
|
|
Further Resources
|
|
Related Resources
search
|
|
