das  Justizministerium

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/juˈstiːtsˌmɪnɪstɛˌʁiʊm/

🏛️ What does 'das Justizministerium' mean?

Das Justizministerium is the German term for the Ministry of Justice. It refers to the highest government authority of a state or constituent state responsible for the administration of justice, legislation in the judicial field (e.g., Strafrecht - criminal law, Zivilrecht - civil law), and often also for the penal system (Strafvollzug).

The word always uses the article das because it is a neuter noun, derived from das Ministerium (the ministry). It designates a specific institution.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar & Declension: Das Justizministerium

The word "Justizministerium" is a neuter noun. The definite article is always das.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Das Justizministerium hat einen neuen Gesetzesentwurf vorgelegt.
   (The Ministry of Justice has presented a new draft law.)
2. Die Zuständigkeit liegt beim Bundesministerium der Justiz.
   (The responsibility lies with the Federal Ministry of Justice - a specific name for the national ministry in Germany.)
3. Die Haushaltsmittel des Justizministeriums wurden gekürzt.
   (The budget of the Ministry of Justice was cut.)
4. Er arbeitet seit vielen Jahren in dem Justizministerium.
   (He has been working in the Ministry of Justice for many years.)
5. Mehrere Bundesländer haben eigene Justizministerien.
   (Several federal states have their own Ministries of Justice.)

🗣️ How to use 'Justizministerium'?

The word "Justizministerium" is mainly used in formal language, especially in the fields of politics, administration, law, and in the news.

• Context: It refers to the government agency responsible for judicial matters. In Germany and Austria, one speaks of the Bundesjustizministerium (Federal Ministry of Justice) at the national level or the Landesjustizministerien (State Ministries of Justice) in the individual federal states (Bundesländer).
• Abbreviation: In Germany, the Bundesministerium der Justiz is often abbreviated as BMJ.
• Comparison: It is more specific than the general term Justizbehörde (judicial authority), as it clearly refers to the ministerial level of government.

💡 Mnemonics for 'das Justizministerium'

Article Mnemonic: Remember that most words ending in '-um' derived from Latin are neuter in German, taking 'das'. Also, think of government buildings often being neuter: das Haus, das Gebäude, das Amt, and thus das Ministerium, das Justizministerium.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Justiz sounds like justice. A Ministerium is a ministry. So, 'das Justizministerium' is the ministry of justice.

🔄 Synonyms & Related Terms

Related Terms (Caution!):

• Gericht: (Court) A place where justice is administered, but not an administrative body like a ministry.
• Anwaltschaft: (Bar / Lawyers) Represents parties in court, but is independent of the ministry.
• Polizei: (Police) Enforces law and order, usually subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior (Innenministerium), not the Ministry of Justice.

😄 A Little Joke

Richter zum Angeklagten: "Wollen Sie die Wahrheit sagen, die ganze Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit?"
Angeklagter: "Wofür denn, Herr Richter? Damit wir uns hier gegenseitig langweilen?"

Translation:
Judge to the defendant: "Do you want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Defendant: "What for, Your Honor? So we can bore each other here?"

(Context: The Ministry of Justice oversees the justice system, which includes courts.)

📜 A Poem about the Ministry

Im Haus der Paragraphen, klar und schlicht,
wo Recht und Ordnung halten das Gewicht.
Das Justizministerium, Tag für Tag,
arbeitet dran, was Rechtens gelten mag.

Von Strafvollzug bis hin zum Zivilstreit,
man wacht hier über Gesetz und Zeit.
Ein wichtiger Pfeiler in des Staates Hand,
für Fairness und für Recht im ganzen Land.

Translation:

In the house of paragraphs, clear and plain,
where law and order hold the main weight.
The Ministry of Justice, day by day,
works on what rightfully may hold sway.

From penal system to civil dispute's fight,
they watch over law and time's own flight.
An important pillar in the state's own hand,
for fairness and for justice throughout the land.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Haus, doch wohnen hier nicht viele,
ich hüte Recht und setze hohe Ziele.
Gesetze schreiben ist mein täglich Brot,
ich sorge dafür, dass Recht nicht droht.
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, ganz gewiss.
Wer bin ich? Na klar, ...

Translation:

I am a house, but not many live here,
I guard the law and set goals high and clear.
Writing laws is my daily bread,
I ensure that justice isn't dread.
My article is neuter, that's for sure.
Who am I? Of course, ...

Solution: das Justizministerium

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Justizministerium" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Die Justiz: (from Latin iustitia 'justice') refers to the judiciary and the legal system.
• Das Ministerium: (from Latin ministerium 'service', 'office') denotes the highest administrative authority for a specific area within a government.

Since the base word "Ministerium" is neuter (das Ministerium), the compound word "Justizministerium" is also neuter (das Justizministerium).

Trivia:

In federal states like Germany (Deutschland), there is both a Federal Ministry of Justice (Bundesjustizministerium) and Ministries of Justice in the individual federal states (Landesjustizministerien), each with clearly defined responsibilities.