What is a portfolio? A portfolio is a government department for which a Minister has responsibility. Laws made by the Parliament need to be administered and put into practice in the community. This is done by the Public Service, a group of government departments staffed by people who work impartially for the government of the day. Each department has a Minister in charge who is answerable to the Parliament for the actions of that department. Some Ministers are in charge of only one department, others may be in charge of two or more departments.