The Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is characterized as a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In postwar occupied Germany, its functions were exercised by the Administrative Office of Economy (German: Verwaltungsamt fr Wirtschaft) between 1946 and 1949
 Because the new Ministry was very large and important, it was often referred to as a super-ministry (Superministerium) and its minister as a super-minister (Superminister)

