[Vocabulary] line ministers

[kendara]

What are "line ministers"?

It appears in the following context?

The government, particularly the line ministers and
with the possible support of the prime minister,
seems to be having a change of heart. Recently, the
Minister of Industry said that the line ministers are
not in agreement with the fiscal rule in its current
form and suggested that it may not be applied before
the 2012 budget.

My guess is that they are a series of ministers related to or in charge of a particular issue. No?

 

[Rover_KE]

The government of which country are we talking about, Kendara?

Rover

 

[kendara]

This is about Turkey.
Thanks.

 

[BobK]

... I think Rover_KE asks because it might have reference to a constitution that has ministers of different ranks, with definitions defined by the constitution.

There is a use of 'line' that refers to being ordinary. A 'line minister' might be a junior minister; or it might be one with particular duties (rather than a 'minister without portfolio'), or it might be one with particular duties (on the analogy of 'line manager'). But it's not a term I've met.

b