The
finance minister is a
cabinet position in a
government.
A minister of
finance (also called financial affairs, the treasury, the economy, or economic affairs) has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the
government budget,
stimulate the economy, and control finances. Finance ministers are often found in state or provincial governments if that country has a form of
federalism.
The powers of a finance minister vary between governments. Sometimes the finance minister is the most powerful cabinet post, like in
Canada or
New Zealand. Other times they are unpopular posts if they must raise
taxes or cut
spending.
In the
United States, the finance minister is called the
Secretary of the Treasury, though there is a separate
Treasurer of the United States, and it is the director of the
Office of Management and Budget who drafts the budget. In the
United Kingdom, the finance minister is called the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. In Hong Kong it is called the
Financial Secretary, though there is a
Secretary for the Treasury subordinate to him. In Australia, the
Treasurer is responsible for economic matters and is assisted by the
Minister for Finance and Deregulation (formerly Finance and Administration) who heads a separate department.
Country-related articles and lists
See also
Category:Lists of government ministers Financeaf:Departement van Finansiesar:وزير الماليةda:Finansministerde:Finanzministerfr:Ministère de l'Économie et des Financesid:Menteri Keuanganis:Fjármálaráðherrams:Kementerian Kewanganja:財務大臣no:Finansministernn:Finansministerpl:Ministerstwo Finansówfi:Valtiovarainministerisv:Finansminister 
