Minister

In Governmental Law. An officer who is placed near the sovereign, and is invested with the administration of some one of the principal branches of the government. Ministers are responsible to the king or other supreme magistrate who has appointed them.

4 Conn. 134.

In Ecclesiastical Law

One ordained by some church to preach the Gospel. Ministers are authorized in the United States, generally, to solemnize marriage, and are liable to fines and penalties for marrying minors contrary to the local regulations. As to the right of ministers or parsons, see 8 Am. Jur. 268; Shep. Touch. (Anthon~Ed.) 564; 2 Mass. 500; 10 Mass. 97; 14 Mass. 333; 11 Me. 487. In International Law. An officer appointed by the government of one nation, with the consent of two other nations who have a matter in dispute, with a view by his interference and good office to have such matter settled. A liame given to public functionaries who represent their country with foreign governments, including ambassadors, envoys, and residents. A custom of recent origin has introduced a new kind of ministers, without any particular determination of character. These are simply called "ministers," to indicate that they are invested with the general character of a sovereign's mandatories, without any particular assignment of rank or character. The minister represents his government in a vague and indeterminate manner, which cannot be equal to the first degree, and he possesses all the rights essential to a public minister. There are also "ministers plenipotentiary," who, as they possess full powers, are of much greater distinction than simple ministers. These, also, are without any particular attribution of rank and character, but by custom are now placed immediately below the ambassador, or on a level with the envoy extraordinary. Vattel, liv.

4, c. 6, § 74; 1 Kent, Comm. (10th Ed.) 48; Merlin, Repert.

Formerly no distinction was made in the different classes of public ministers, but the count of a want of precision, became a source of controversy. To obviate these, the congress of Vienna, and that of Aix-la- Chapelle, put an end to these disputes by classing ministers as follows: (1) Ambassadors and papal legates or nuncios; (2) envoys, ministers, or others accredited to sovereigns {aupres des souverains); (3) ministers resident, accredited to sovereigns; (4) Charges d'Affaires, accredited to the minister of foreign affairs.

Recez du Congres de Vienne, du 19 Mars, 1815; Protocol du Con^res d'Aix-la-Chapelle, du 21 Novembre, 1818; Wheaton, Int. Law, pt. 3, c. 1, § 6.

See "Ambassador."

See Ambassador.