Md. Code, State Gov't § 8-205

(a) The secretary of each principal department serves at the pleasure of the Governor unless otherwise provided by law. (b) A secretary shall: (1) receive the salary and have the assistants, employees, and professional consultants provided in the budget, unless otherwise provided by law; (2) be responsible for establishing policy to be followed by the units of State government within the secretary’s department; (3) be responsible for the efficient and orderly administration of the department; (4) be responsible for the comprehensive planning of programs and services within the secretary’s jurisdiction and for reviewing and approving the plans of all units of State government within the secretary’s jurisdiction; (5) notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as provided in § 1–203(c) of the Health Occupations Article, be responsible for the supervision of the units of State government within the secretary’s jurisdiction that are composed in whole or in part of individuals participating in the occupation or profession regulated by the units; (6) be responsible for the budget of the secretary’s office and for the budgets of other units of State government within the secretary’s jurisdiction; (7) be responsible for the organization of the secretary’s office and for recommending to the Governor changes in the organization and placement of units of State government within the secretary’s jurisdiction; and (8) recommend to the Governor any modification, abolition, and transfer of advisory bodies within the secretary’s jurisdiction. (c) A secretary may: (1) appoint officers and employees in the secretary’s office as provided in the budget and review the personnel action taken by any unit of State government within the secretary’s jurisdiction; and (2) create the citizen advisory bodies that may be necessary for the operation of the secretary’s department.