Titular da Pasta

04:09 Jan 16, 2012 

I was only speaking metaphoricallly to explain what a "titular" is -if it's a Ministério, the 'head' is the Ministro; if it's a Secretaria, then it's the Secretario - it goes without saying. I thought I made that clear. That contrasts with a minister without portfolio, or "pasta", who has no particular area of concern and no bureaucracy under him/her.

01:29 Jan 16, 2012 

Andrew, I would only say that there is no such thing as a "head of ministry," as this is the minister him or herself. If it's a state or municipal "pasta," it would be the state or municipal secretary of... (in the US, the Secretary is the minister, like the Secretary of State, but not here, it's a different nomenclature).

23:19 Jan 15, 2012 

In this case, it's a state-level position, not federal, and I think Jorge is 100% correct.

23:06 Jan 15, 2012 

Thank you all for feed back, I did not specify which pasta ( portfolio - I think u were very much on the right track Nick!) as I was looking for a sort of general termas there are so many refs to this Titular de Pasta.
So it would appear from Muriel's comprehensive explanation that I could use Head of Ministry, un less Luiz has something to the contrary?
Many thks to all!

22:32 Jan 15, 2012 

A "pasta" is the area of concern, or 'portfolio' of a ministry or department (e.g. health, environment, trade, social security). A 'minister without portfolio' is one who does not have a particular area of concern. He 'floats'. The "titular" is the person who holds the position of Minister or Secretary responsible for the particular area of concern. He/she is therefore also head of the corresponding ministry or secretariat/department. In this case, as Jorge has explained, it's the State Secretary of Education. (No references, just a lot of experience with protocol.)

19:49 Jan 15, 2012 

No Brasil, secretários estaduais e municipais são designados pelo governador e prefeito, respectivamente. Já os ministros são designados pelo presidente da República.

19:46 Jan 15, 2012 

neste contexto o Titular da Pasta é o Ministro. Será que o secretário em causa é designado pelo Ministro?

19:42 Jan 15, 2012 

Is there any text before the one provided indicating what "pasta" it is talking about? The term usually refers to a minister (not chief of ministry), as in http://hotsites.atribuna.com.br/atribuna/blogdepolitica/?idC... but it can also refer to a "secretário" of a "secretaria estadual" or "secretaria municipal" . In your case, it could be the head or president of the council...