Minister (title)

A minister is a politician that heads a government ministry. The title is used by both the Unified Earth Government and the Covenant.

Covenant ministers
Since San'Shyuum were the only species entitled to hold civilian government positions, the position of minister was held exclusively by Prophets. Each of the Covenant ministerial bodies were headed by its own minister, and each minister represented their ministry on the High Council, serving as a High Councilor. A vice minister served as a direct subordinate and deputy to each minister. In the event of a minister's absence, a vice minister would substitute in for them during High Council sessions. When a minister proved to be unable to accomplish their duties—by pursing their own personal agenda rather than carrying out their ministerial function, for example—or ignored their responsibilities, the minister could be dismissed. In war, the weapons deployed by a Covenant fleet depended almost entirely on the ministers responsible for fleet logistics and weapon procurement, occasionally with no other reason other than aesthetic purposes. Ministers were permitted to use powerful anti-gravity chairs capable of individual flight. Their chairs were armed with a powerful assault cannon that allowed the minister to defend themselves. Some ministers assigned themselves to a fleet, such as the Minister of Etiology assigning himself to the Fleet of Particular Justice. A minister could have possessed several other titles, including High Lord and Prophet.

Ministers have private offices, situated on top of large towers, with room for only one. This was used to send a message to members of the Covenant that "there was only room for one at the top". Ministers could hand-pick Sangheili Honor Guardsmen within the Lights of Sanghelios serve as their personal guards for their offices. Many ministers were killed during the Battle of Installation 05, as many traveled to the ring's Flood-infested surface to examine the holy object for themselves.

Known Covenant ministers

 * Minister of Anticipatory Security – Briefly held in 850 BCE
 * Minister of Concert – Dismissed at the start of the Unggoy Rebellion; title later held by Prophet of Tolerance
 * Minister of Conversion
 * Minister of Discovery – Killed during the Flood invasion of High Charity
 * Minister of Etiology – Killed by the Flood at Installation 04
 * Minister of Fortitude – Formerly held by the Prophet of Truth
 * Minister of Inquisition – Killed by a Super MAC round during the Battle of Earth
 * Minister of Kindly Subjection – Held title in 851 BCE
 * Minister of Penance – Present at glassing of Harvest during 2531
 * Minister of Relative Reconciliation – Held title in 851 BCE
 * Minister of Relic Safety – Held title in 851 BCE

UEG ministers
Ministers of the Unified Earth Government head government departments. Not all leaders of government departments are titled "Minister" however, with some, such as Defense, using the title of "Secretary".

Known UEG ministers

 * Minister of Information – Position held by David Dockmaster Dunn in 2552
 * Minister for the Colonies – Position held by David Agnoli in 2553

List of appearances

 * Halo 2
 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo: Contact Harvest
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Wages of Sin
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: Broken Circle
 * Halo 2 Anniversary