Interior minister
An interior minister is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency management, supervision of regional and local governments, conduct of elections, public administration and immigration matters. This position is head of a department that is often called an interior ministry, a ministry of internal affairs or a ministry of home affairs. In some jurisdictions, there is no department called an "interior ministry", but the relevant responsibilities are allocated to other departments.
Remit and role
In some countries, the public security portfolio belongs to a separate ministry, with the interior ministry being limited to control over local governments, public administration, elections and similar matters. Notable examples include Greece and Israel. In some jurisdictions, matters relating to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice are the responsibility of a separate justice ministry.In countries with a federal constitution, interior ministers will often be found at both the federal and sub-national levels. Similarly, autonomous entities and dependent territories may also have interior ministers.
By country
Australia
In Australia, the Department of Home Affairs is responsible for central coordination, and strategy and policy leadership in relation to:- Cyber and critical infrastructure resilience and security
- Immigration
- Border security and management
- Counter-terrorism
- The protection of Australia's sovereignty
- Citizenship and social cohesion
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the position of Secretary of State for the Home Department, normally referred to as the "Home Secretary", was created in the British governmental reorganisation of 1782.United States
The United States Department of the Interior has responsibilities different from similarly named departments elsewhere, primarily the management and conservation of natural resources, and programs and policies dealing with Indigenous peoples. The functions that fall under what most other countries call an "interior ministry" come under other government departments—mostly the Department of Homeland Security, with some others falling under the Department of Justice and individual state governments.Canada
In Canada, the post of Minister of the Interior existed from 1873 to 1936, replacing the previous role of the Secretary of State for the Provinces; it included functions similar to the US Department of the Interior. After 1936 the post was abolished, its responsibilities being transferred to other departments.France
France has a Ministry of the Interior dealing with internal security, law enforcement, civil defence, crisis management, firefighting, identity, territorial administration, elections, immigration and relations with the Catholic Church in France.Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the Secretary for Home Affairs is responsible for matters relating to communities, culture, sports and local governance. Policing and related matters are the responsibilities of the Secretary for Security.India
The Ministry of Home Affairs in India is responsible for internal security and demographics, promoting the official languages. It carries out specialized functions through its departments, namely the Department of Border Management, the Department of Internal Security, the Department of Jammu & Kashmir Affairs, the Department of Home, the Department of Official Language and the Department of States. As such it heads such functions as the internal intelligence, and police and Civil Services of India, also handling protocol, freedom-fighter pensions and manning of the courts.In each state, there is a Home Department, also known as the Ministry of Home Affairs of the state, headed by a Minister for Home, who looks after the maintenance of law and order, internal security, and the administration of Police, Prisons, Fire and Rescue Services, Home Guards, Prosecution, and Civil and Criminal Justice.