What’s the difference between a Deputy Secretary (or PM) and a normal secretary?

Question

As in “Deputy Secretary of XYZ” or “Deputy Prime Minister”. Whats the difference between a Deputy X and a normal X?

In: 14

Answer 1

A Deputy X is the person who works directly under X and can assume their role in certain conditions.

For example, a Deputy Secretary of XYZ works under the Secretary of XYZ, and depending on what they’ve setup, has the authority to do certain things that the actual Secretary of XYZ has authorized them to do. Similarly, a Deputy Prime Minister is authorized by the PM to act in certain situations on their behalf.