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The term General Secretary (alternatively First Secretary) denotes a leader of various unions, parties, churches or associations. The most notable usages are the following:

• The official title of the leader of most Communist parties was the General Secretary of the Central Committee. When a Communist party is in power, the General Secretary is the country's de facto leader.

• The term General Secretary often refers to the Secretary-General of an organization such as the Secretary-General of the United Nations or Secretary-General of the League of Nations. Also called the Executive Secretary in the case of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

• The General Secretary (or First Secretary) may also be the title used by the head of a political party or group such as the Labour Party (UK) but this usage is most often associated with the leadership of communist political organisations.

• The General Secretary may also be the head of a trade union, particularly in the United Kingdom or another association such as a federation of agriculture or farmer's union or a co-operative.

• The General Secretary may also be the head of a Church or a Church Organization, such as a National Council of Churches or the World Council of Churches.

The General Secretary's office or department is often referred to as the Secretariat.

[edit] See also

• Secretary General