Legal Definitions - plenipotentiary

A plenipotentiary is a person who has full power to do something or act on behalf of another. They are fully commissioned to represent someone else.

• A minister plenipotentiary is a diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador but has full power and authority as a governmental envoy. They are often seen as the personal representative of a head of state.
• A foreign minister is a government official who manages a country's foreign affairs. They are equivalent to the U.S. Secretary of State.
• A public minister is a high diplomatic representative, such as an ambassador or envoy, but not including a commercial representative like a consul.
• A religious minister is a person authorized by a Christian church to perform religious functions.

These examples illustrate how a plenipotentiary can be a diplomatic representative, a government official, or a religious figure who has full power and authority to act on behalf of someone else.