II.

Administration

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.