What is "great officer of state"

In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional Crown ministers, who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions or operate as part of the government. Separate Great Officers exist for England and Scotland, and formerly for Ireland. Many of the Great Officers became largely ceremonial because historically they were so influential that their powers had to be resumed by the Crown or dissipated.

Government in all the medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the Royal Household from which the officers of state arose. Initially having household and governmental duties, later some of these officers split into two counterparts in the Great Officer of the State and the Royal Household, or were superseded by new officers or absorbed by existing officers. This was due to many of the officers having become hereditary and thus too removed from practical operation of either the state or the household.

Great Officer of State stands for one of several positions:

• Great Officers of State in England
• Great Officers of the Crown of France
• Great Officers of the Swedish Realm

Great Offices of State also refer to political offices in several countries:

• Great Offices of State in the Republic of Italy, referring to the President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies and the Prime Minister.