Department of State

Article Outline

Introduction

Department of State, department of the executive branch of the United States federal government, whose principal responsibility is the conduct, under the direction of the president, of United States foreign policy. The Department of State was created in 1789 to replace the Department of Foreign Affairs (1781-1789) of the Confederation government. Crucial decisions on foreign policy are made by the president, usually on the basis of information acquired, summarized, and interpreted by the State Department. The department then has the responsibility of implementing the president’s decisions. The main objective of the State Department in the conduct of foreign affairs is the long-range interests and security of the United States.

Contact between other nations and the United States is maintained by the State Department through the representatives of foreign governments in the United States and, abroad, through the diplomatic and consular offices of the U.S. Foreign Service. Through the Foreign Service, the department protects American citizens and interests abroad and promotes U.S. foreign trade. The State Department also negotiates agreements and treaties with foreign governments. It represents the nation in international organizations, and it participates in hundreds of international conferences each year. The department issues passports to American citizens who wish to travel abroad and visas to foreigners who want to visit or immigrate to the United States.

Administration

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The Department of State is administered by the secretary of state, who is appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate. The secretary is the chief presidential adviser on foreign affairs and, as the highest ranking member of the cabinet, is fourth in the line of succession to the presidency. The secretary is also a member of the National Security Council.

Assisting the secretary of state is a large staff headed by the deputy secretary, who on occasion serves as acting head of the department. Reporting directly to the secretary of state are six undersecretaries, one for each of the following areas: political affairs; economic, business, and agricultural affairs; arms control and international security; global affairs (an area that includes human rights, environmental issues, and population and refugee issues); public diplomacy and public affairs; and management.

Bureaus

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The State Department has six geographically defined bureaus, all of which report to the undersecretary of political affairs. There are geographic bureaus for Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Near East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The bureaus, each headed by an assistant secretary, coordinate U.S. relations with the countries in their respective areas. Directors within the bureaus work closely with U.S. ambassadors abroad to ensure that U.S. foreign policy directives are both understood and implemented. Also included in the State Department is the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, which implements U.S. policies in the United Nations (UN), UN-affiliated agencies, and other international organizations.

The following are among the other major functional bureaus in the Department of State. The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is responsible for formulating and coordinating policy regarding foreign economic matters and international trade. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research produces intelligence studies and analysis for the State Department as well as other federal agencies. The Bureau of Public Affairs is involved with the dissemination of foreign policy information to the American people. The Bureau of Consular Affairs enforces immigration laws, issues passports to U.S. citizens and visas to foreign visitors to the United States, and publishes travel warnings recommending that Americans avoid travel to certain countries. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs provides direction on military and security policies. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor promotes democracy, assists newly formed democracies, investigates and documents human rights conditions in other countries, and promotes worker rights. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration works with foreign governments and international organizations to provide relief to refugees and victims of conflict, and it formulates U.S. policies on population and migration. The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs deals with global problems that relate to human health, oceans, forests, the atmosphere, and space. It also directs U.S. participation in science and advanced technology programs. The Office of Protocol deals with the many aspects of protocol involved in international relations, such as planning ceremonial events for visiting heads of state.

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Introduction

Administration

Bureaus