Simone Lawson
In the United States, the Secretary of State is the cabinet member responsible for carrying out diplomacy. The Secretary of State is the chief executive officer of the Department of State and a member of the Cabinet who answers directly to, and advises, the president of the United States. The Department of State engages a full range of tools, including diplomacy, foreign assistance, and public-private partnerships, to optimize the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and make the government more responsive, effective, and accountable. The Secretary of State is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs to provide for the safe and efficient evacuation of United States government personnel, dependents, and private citizens when their lives are endangered. The President, however, has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is responsible for carrying out diplomacy? | The President, in conjunction with the Secretary of State |
| Who is the Secretary of State? | A member of the Cabinet and the principal adviser to the President on foreign affairs |
| Who are the members of the Cabinet? | Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest confidants |
| What is the role of the Cabinet? | To advise the President on any subject relating to the duties of each member's respective office |
| What is the role of the Secretary of State? | To oversee State Department operations, including the Foreign Service |
| What is the Foreign Service? | The principal cultivator of the United States' relations with other countries |
| Who are the members of the Foreign Service? | Trained representatives stationed worldwide who provide the President and the Secretary of State with the building blocks of foreign policy |
| What is the role of the Department of State? | To work in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce, to compile and analyze reports from overseas, provide logistical support to posts, communicate with the American public, formulate and oversee the budget, issue passports and travel warnings, etc. |
| What is the role of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR)? | To harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy and provide independent analysis of events to Department policymakers |
| What is the role of the Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM)? | To provide the Department of State with the information technology it needs to carry out diplomacy in the information age |
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What You'll Learn
The Secretary of State advises the President on foreign policy
The US Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of 15 executive departments. The President appoints its members, who are often their closest confidants. The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject relating to the duties of each member's respective office.
The Secretary of State is the most senior official in the Department of State and a member of the Cabinet. They advise the President of the United States on foreign policy and serve as their chief foreign affairs advisor. The Secretary of State is also a member of the National Security Council and oversees State Department operations, including the Foreign Service.
The Department of State works in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce. It is responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations with about 180 countries and many international organizations, adding up to 273 posts around the world. The Department of State's responsibilities include formulating and overseeing the budget, issuing passports and travel warnings, and providing logistical support to posts.
The Department of State has a long history of conducting diplomacy. In the 19th century, it was responsible for administering the consular services and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The Department was composed of two primary administrative units: the diplomatic service, which staffed US legations and embassies, and the consular service, which promoted American commerce abroad and assisted distressed American sailors.
Today, the Department of State continues to play a crucial role in US diplomacy and foreign policy. It works to promote international consensus on weapons of mass destruction proliferation, address threats posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups, and coordinate the implementation of international treaties. The Department also harnesses intelligence to serve US diplomacy and ensure that intelligence activities support foreign policy and national security purposes. Information technology is also leveraged to support diplomatic operations.
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The President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties
The US President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of laws created by Congress. The President is also responsible for conducting diplomacy with other nations and has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. The President's Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments, and the members are often the President's closest confidants. The Secretary of State is a member of the Cabinet who advises the President of the United States on foreign affairs. The Secretary of State is the most senior official in the Department of State and is the principal cultivator of the US's relations with other countries. The Department of State works in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce.
The Department of State is composed of two primary administrative units: the diplomatic service, which staffs US embassies, and the consular service, which is primarily responsible for promoting American commerce abroad and assisting distressed American sailors. The Department of State also has a role in administering the consular services and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). In 1793, responsibility for patents was also transferred to the Department of State.
The Secretary of State is the first in importance among the President's foreign affairs advisers and serves on the National Security Council. The Secretary of State oversees State Department operations, including the Foreign Service. Trained representatives of the Foreign Service are stationed worldwide and provide the President and the Secretary of State with the building blocks of foreign policy. These representatives also offer recommendations to help guide the process of policy-building. Ambassadors are the personal representatives of the President and report to the President through the Secretary of State.
The President has the power to appoint the Secretary of State, who is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
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The Department of State works with other federal agencies
The US Department of State works in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce. The Department of State also consults with Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser and a member of the Cabinet. The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and US Agency for International Development.
The Department of State is responsible for coordinating and providing support for the international activities of other US agencies (local, state, or federal government), official visits overseas and in the US, and other diplomatic efforts. It also keeps the public informed about US foreign policy and relations with other countries, providing feedback from the public to administration officials. The Department of State has a civilian workforce and usually uses the Foreign Service personnel system for positions that require service abroad. Employees may be assigned to diplomatic missions abroad to represent the United States, analyze and report on political, economic, and social trends, adjudicate visas, and respond to the needs of US citizens abroad.
The Department of State's primary record-keeping system is the Central Foreign Policy File, which consists of copies of official documents related to foreign relations, such as diplomatic notes, reports, and memorandums. The Department also has a number of bureaus and offices responsible for handling various interests and policy initiatives, including passport agencies, foreign press centers, logistic support offices, security offices, and financial service centers. These bureaus and offices report to one of six Under Secretaries, who serve as advisors to the Secretary of State and lead the Department's efforts in their respective subject matters.
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The US has diplomatic relations with about 180 countries
Diplomacy is carried out by the President, who has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. The President is supported by the Secretary of State, who is a member of the Cabinet and advises the President on foreign policy.
The Department of State works with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce, as well as consulting Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies. The Department of State is headquartered on Navy Hill and has an annual budget of $51.7 billion.
The Foreign Service is a group of over 11,000 employees who represent the United States in other countries. The Civil Service, meanwhile, is made up of over 9,000 employees, mostly based in Washington, DC, who provide expertise and support. In addition, there are over 37,000 Foreign Service National employees based in the country in which an embassy or other post is located.
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The Department of State has a budget of $51.7 billion
Diplomacy is carried out by the Executive Branch of the US government, with the President having the power to negotiate and sign treaties. The President is supported by 15 executive departments, each led by a member of the President's Cabinet, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The Department of State is one of these 15 executive departments and is responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries and international organizations. The Department of State works in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the departments of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce. The most senior official in the Department of State is the Secretary of State, who is a member of the Cabinet and reports directly to the President.
In 2010, the Department of State, together with "Other International Programs" such as USAID, had a combined projected discretionary budget of $51.7 billion. This budget is intended to fund the Department's operations and initiatives worldwide, including its regional and functional bureau strategies, as well as its consular and diplomatic services.
The Department of State's budget is included in the US Federal Budget, which is created by Congress and executed by the President. The Department's budget is subject to oversight and must be transparent, with the Department providing financial and performance data to Congress, the President, and the public. The Office of Inspector General conducts independent audits, inspections, and investigations to ensure the accountability of the Department's spending.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Secretary of State is the chief executive officer of the Department of State and a member of the Cabinet who answers directly to, and advises, the president of the United States. The Secretary of State is responsible for carrying out diplomacy and is the first in importance among the President's foreign affairs advisers.
The Secretary of State is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs to provide for the safe and efficient evacuation of US government personnel, their dependents, and private US citizens when their lives are endangered. They also work with the Department of Defense, Treasury, and Commerce to compile and analyze reports from overseas, provide logistical support to posts, communicate with the American public, and formulate and oversee the budget.
The Secretary of State is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
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