Simone Lawson
Diplomacy is a key function of any government, and in the US, the Secretary of State is the country's chief diplomat. The Secretary of State is a member of the President's Cabinet and is the third-highest-ranking member of the US government, after the President and Vice President. The Secretary of State is responsible for foreign policy and relations, including advising the President on international relations, negotiating treaties, and representing the US at the United Nations. The role is currently held by Marco Rubio, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Position | Secretary of State |
| Department | Department of State |
| Duties | Advising the president on international relations, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, protecting citizens abroad, and representing the U.S. at the United Nations |
| Supervises | The State Department, which works with foreign countries, decides on travel to countries, and protects U.S. citizens abroad |
| Appointed by | The President |
| Confirmed by | The U.S. Senate |
| Current holder | Marco Rubio |
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What You'll Learn
- The Secretary of State is the US chief diplomat
- The Secretary of State advises the President on international relations
- The Department of State is responsible for foreign policy
- The Department of State is an executive department of the federal government
- The Secretary of State is a member of the Cabinet
The Secretary of State is the US chief diplomat
The Secretary of State is the chief diplomat of the United States and is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position is currently held by Marco Rubio, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 20, 2025, by a vote of 99-0. The Secretary of State is the most senior official in the Department of State and is analogous to a foreign minister in other nations.
As the chief diplomat, the Secretary of State's primary duties include advising the President on international relations, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the United States at the United Nations. The Secretary of State also supervises the State Department, which works with foreign countries, decides on travel to countries, and protects U.S. citizens abroad.
The Secretary of State is the chief executive officer of the Department of State and reports directly to the President of the United States. They organize and supervise the entire department and its staff, including the Deputy Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, who are the second- and third-highest-ranking officials in the department.
The Department of State, established in 1789, is considered one of the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. It is responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations, and as of 2024, maintained 271 diplomatic posts worldwide, second only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
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The Secretary of State advises the President on international relations
The Secretary of State is the chief executive officer of the Department of State and a member of the Cabinet who advises the President of the United States. The role of the Cabinet is to advise the President on any subject relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The Secretary of State is the federal government's chief diplomat and representative abroad. They advise the President on international relations, administer diplomatic missions, negotiate international treaties and agreements, and protect US citizens abroad.
The Secretary of State is the most senior official in the Department and is first in the order of precedence and in the presidential line of succession. They organize and supervise the entire department and its staff, including the Deputy Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, the second- and third-highest-ranking officials in the department.
The Department of State is an executive department of the US federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. It is considered one of the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. The Department has a long history, dating back to 1789 when it was established as the first administrative arm of the US executive branch.
The position of Secretary of State is a critical one, with the incumbent playing a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policy and representing the nation on the world stage. The Secretary of State's advice to the President on international relations is informed by the expertise and resources of the Department of State, which works to advance US interests and engage with foreign countries.
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The Department of State is responsible for foreign policy
The Department of State, also known as the United States Department of State (DOS) or the State Department, is the executive department of the US federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. It is considered one of the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. The Department of State is headed by the US Secretary of State, who is the third-highest-ranking member of the presidential line of succession, after the Vice President and the Attorney General. The Secretary of State is the chief diplomat and representative of the federal government abroad and is responsible for advising the President on international relations, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and protecting US citizens overseas.
The Secretary of State is the chief executive officer of the Department and a member of the Cabinet, reporting directly to and advising the President. They organize and supervise the entire department and its staff. The Deputy Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources are the second- and third-highest-ranking officials in the department, respectively. There are also six Under Secretaries who each oversee several bureaus and offices responsible for specific areas of policy and administration.
The Department of State has a long history, dating back to 1789 when it was established as the first administrative arm of the US executive branch. Over time, the department has evolved and adapted to the changing world, including the rapid digitization of society and the global economy. Today, the State Department maintains 271 diplomatic posts worldwide, second only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
The Department of State plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing US foreign policy. Through its various bureaus and offices, the department works to advance US interests and engage with foreign governments and citizens. The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, for example, leads efforts to expand and strengthen relationships between Americans and citizens of other countries, seeking to engage, inform, and understand the perspectives of foreign audiences.
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The Department of State is an executive department of the federal government
The United States Department of State, also known as the State Department, is an executive department of the federal government. It is the first administrative arm of the US executive branch, established in 1789. The State Department is considered one of the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. It is headed by the US Secretary of State, who is the third-highest-ranking member of the President's Cabinet and reports directly to the President. The Secretary of State is the federal government's chief diplomat and representative abroad. They are responsible for advising the President on foreign policy and international relations, as well as negotiating international treaties and agreements.
The Secretary of State supervises the entire department and its staff, including the Deputy Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, who are the second and third highest-ranking officials. There are also six Under Secretaries who oversee specific bureaus and offices, each managed by a senior official such as an Assistant Secretary of State. The Department of State has a long history of conducting diplomacy and representing the US abroad, dating back to the late 18th century when it had diplomatic posts in London and Paris.
The Department's responsibilities include administering diplomatic missions, protecting US citizens abroad, and representing the US at the United Nations. The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, for example, leads efforts to strengthen relationships between Americans and citizens of other countries by seeking to engage, inform, and understand the perspectives of foreign audiences. The Department of State is headquartered in the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C., and as of 2024, maintained 271 diplomatic posts worldwide.
The position of Secretary of State is currently held by Marco Rubio, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2025. The Department has also been headed by notable figures such as Madeleine Albright, who became the first woman and first foreign-born woman to serve as Secretary of State in 1997.
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The Secretary of State is a member of the Cabinet
The Secretary of State is responsible for supervising the State Department, which works with foreign countries, decides on travel to countries, and protects U.S. citizens abroad. They are also in charge of the country's foreign policy and relations, including advising the President on international relations, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the U.S. at the United Nations.
The Secretary of State is one of the most important members of the Cabinet, as they are responsible for maintaining the country's relationships with other nations. They are also the first Cabinet official in the order of precedence, which means that they are the most senior official in the Department of State.
The position of Secretary of State is currently held by Marco Rubio, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 20, 2025, by a vote of 99-0. The Secretary of State has a significant role in shaping the country's foreign policy and maintaining its relationships with other nations. They work closely with the President to ensure that the country's interests are represented and protected on the world stage.
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Frequently asked questions
The Secretary of State is the cabinet position that deals with diplomacy. They are the federal government's chief diplomat and representative abroad.
The Secretary of State advises the president on international relations, administers diplomatic missions, negotiates international treaties and agreements, protects citizens abroad, and represents the US at the United Nations.
Marco Rubio is the current Secretary of State, appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the US Senate on January 20, 2025, by a vote of 99-0.
Madeleine Albright was the first woman appointed Secretary of State in 1997. She was also the first foreign-born woman to serve in the Cabinet.
The Secretary of State reports directly to the US President and is a member of the President's Cabinet.
