The Minister of Defence is a departmental Minister of the Government of the Republic of Hungary responsible for accomplishing the country's defence tasks, as well as for commanding and leading the Hungarian Defence Forces.
He is responsible for performing duties related to preparing governmental draft decisions and central administrative tasks concerning national defence, furthermore for making decisions on the proper, professional and lawful operation of the Hungarian Defence Forces and controlling the execution of these decisions.
He exercises all the rights regarding control of defensive activities and superior command and control of the Hungarian Defence Forces that are not lawfully referred to the scope of authority of any other body or person.
He commands and controls the activity of the Hungarian Defence Forces and takes care of the all-inclusive support of its operation. Through the Head of the Cabinet Office he ensures the proper direction of the Ministry of Defence and with his collaboration he manages the work of state secretaries. The Minister, through Senior State Secretary, State Secretaries and the Head of the Cabinet Office, ensures the professional control of the Hungarian Defence Forces and through the Chief of Defence Staff commands the military organisations of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
He directly governs the military services of national security.

The Minister of Defence exercises authority over the State Medical Center (ÁEK), which includes the Military (Honvéd), Police and Railway Company Medical Centers as well.

According to the decision of the Government he determines the commanding levels and the order of professional control and command of the Hungarian Defence Forces. He exercises his powers of command and control in collaboration with the Senior State Secretary, State Secretaries, the Head of the Cabinet Office of the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff, according to the relevant regulations determined in the pertinent provisions of law, government decisions, other legal means of state guidance and in the Operational and Organizational Code of the Ministry of Defence.