United States Department of State 31975 226101466 2008-07-16T20:48:50Z NuclearWarfare 5697725 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{redirect|Department of State|the term as used in Ireland|Department of State (Ireland)}} {{Infobox Govt Agency | agency_name = United States<br>Department of State | nativename = | nativename_a = | nativename_r = | logo = | logo_width = | logo_caption = | seal = Department of state.svg | seal_width = 140px | seal_caption = Seal of the United States Department of State | formed = [[July 27]], [[1789]] | date1 = [[September 15]], [[1789]] | date1_name = Renamed | date2 = | date2_name = | preceding1 = | preceding2 = | dissolved = | superseding = | jurisdiction = | headquarters = [[Harry S Truman Building]] | employees = 30,266 (2004) | budget = $35.1 billion (2007) | chief1_name = [[Condoleezza Rice]] | chief1_position = [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary]] | chief2_name = [[John Negroponte]] | chief2_position = [[United States Deputy Secretary of State|Deputy Secretary]] | parent_agency = | child1_agency = | child2_agency = | website = [http://www.state.gov www.state.gov] | footnotes = }} The '''United States Department of State''', often referred to as the '''State Department''', is the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]]-level [[foreign affairs]] agency of the [[United States]] [[Federal government of the United States|government]], similar to foreign ministries, foreign offices, ministries of external relations, etc. in other countries. It is administered by the [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]. It is headquartered in the [[Harry S Truman Building]] at 2201 C Street, N.W., a few blocks from the [[White House]] in the [[Foggy Bottom]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]] The Department's Secretary is the first Cabinet member in the [[United States presidential line of succession|line of succession]] in the event of the disability or death of the President, and is fourth after the [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]], the [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]], and the [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate]]. ==History== The [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]], drafted in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] in 1787 and ratified by the states the following year, gave the [[President of the United States|President]] the responsibility for the conduct of the nation's foreign relations. It soon became clear, however, that an executive department was necessary to support the President in the conduct of the affairs of the new federal government. The [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]] approved legislation to establish a '''Department of Foreign Affairs''' on [[July 21]], [[1789]], and President Washington signed it into law on [[July 27]], making the Department of Foreign Affairs the first Federal agency to be created under the new Constitution. This legislation remains the basic law of the Department of State. In September 1789, additional legislation changed the name of the agency to the Department of State and assigned to it a variety of domestic duties. [[Image:State Department Building, Washington, D. C., 1865.png|left|300px|thumb|"The old state department building in Washington, as it was in 1865." - From an 1898 publication.]] These responsibilities grew to include management of the [[United States Mint]], keeper of the [[Great Seal of the United States]], and the taking of the [[United States Census Bureau|census]]. President [[George Washington]] signed the new legislation on [[September 15]]. Most of these domestic duties of the Department of State were eventually turned over to various new Federal departments and agencies that were established during the 19th century. On [[September 29]], [[1789]], President Washington appointed [[Thomas Jefferson]] of [[Virginia]], then Minister to [[France]], to be the first [[United States Secretary of State]], although [[John Jay]] had been serving in that capacity as a holdover from the Confederation since before Washington had taken office and would continue in that capacity until Jefferson would return from Europe many months later. ==Duties and responsibilities== The Executive Branch and the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]] have [[United States Constitution|constitutional]] responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy. Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and its head, the Secretary of State, is the President's principal foreign policy advisor, though other officials or individuals may have more influence on his foreign policy decisions. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in the world through its primary role in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy. The Department also supports the [[United States Diplomatic History|foreign affairs]] activities of other U.S. Government entities including the [[United States Department of Commerce]] and the [[U.S. Agency for International Development]]. It also provides an array of important services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit or immigrate to the U.S. All foreign affairs activities—U.S. representation abroad, foreign assistance programs, countering international crime, foreign military training programs, the services the Department provides, and more—are paid for by the foreign affairs budget, which represents little more than 1% of the total federal budget, or about 12 cents a day for each American citizen. As stated by the Department of State, its purpose includes: * Protecting and assisting U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad; * Assisting U.S. [[business]]es in the international marketplace; * Coordinating and providing support for international activities of other U.S. agencies (local, state, or federal government), official visits overseas and at home, and other diplomatic efforts. * Keeping the public informed about U.S. foreign policy and relations with other countries and providing feedback from the public to administration officials. * Providing [[diplomatic license plates in the United States|automobile registration]] for non-diplomatic staff vehicles and the vehicles of diplomats of foreign countries having [[diplomatic immunity]] in the United States. The Department of State conducts these activities with a civilian workforce. While assigned to diplomatic missions abroad, [[Foreign Service]] employees represent America, analyze and report on political, economic, and social trends; adjudicate visas; and respond to the needs of American citizens abroad. The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with about 180 countries and maintains relations with many international organizations , adding up to a total of more than 250 posts around the world. In the United States, about 5,000 professional, technical, and administrative employees work compiling and analyzing reports from overseas, providing logistical support to posts, communicating with the American public, formulating and overseeing the budget, issuing passports and travel warnings, and more. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Department of State works in close coordination with other federal agencies, including the [[U.S. Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce. As required by the principle of [[checks and balances]], the Department also consults with Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies. == Organization== [[Image:Us department of state.jpg|thumb|400px|This chart from the U.S. Department of State website displays the hierarchy of the agency. Click the image to enlarge.]] '''[[United States Secretary of State]]''': [[Chief Executive Officer]] of the Department and answerable directly to the [[President of the United States]]. He or she organizes and supervises the entire department and its staff: *[[United States Deputy Secretary of State]]: The Deputy Secretary (with the Chief of Staff, Executive Secretariat, and the Undersecretary for Management) assists the Secretary in the overall management of the department. Reporting to the Deputy Secretary are the six undersecretaries and the counselor, along with several staff offices: **Chief of Staff ** [[Executive Secretariat]] ** [[Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism]] (which produces the [[Patterns of Global Terrorism]] report) ** [http://www.crs.state.gov Office of the Coordinator For Reconstruction & Stabilization] ** [[National Foreign Affairs Training Center]] (former Foreign Service Institute) ** [[Bureau of International Information Programs]] ** [[United States Department of State Office of the Legal Adviser|Office of the Legal Adviser]] ** [[Office of Management Policy]] ** [[United States Chief of Protocol|Office of Protocol]] ** [[Office of the Science and Technology Adviser]] ** [[Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons]] ** [[Office of War Crimes Issues]] ** [[Bureau of Intelligence and Research]] ** [[Bureau of Legislative Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Resource Management]] *[[Undersecretary for Political Affairs]]: The Undersecretary for Political Affairs is the third-ranking state department official and becomes Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary and Deputy. He or she is responsible for bureaus, headed by Assistant Secretaries, coordinating American diplomacy around the world: ** [[Bureau of African Affairs]] **[[Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs]] ** [[Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of International Organization Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs]] *[[Under Secretary for Management (Department of State)|Undersecretary for Management]]: The principal adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters relating to the allocation and use of Department's budget, physical property, and personnel. He or she is responsible for bureaus, headed by Assistant Secretaries, planning the day-to-day administration of the Department and proposing institutional reform and modernization: ** [[Bureau of Administration]] *** [[Office of Allowances]] *** [[Office of Authentication]] *** [[Language Services]] *** [[Office of Logistics Management]] *** [[Office of Overseas Schools]] *** [[Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization]] *** [[Office of Multi-Media Services]] *** [[Office of Directives Management]] *** [[Office of Commissary and Recreation Affairs]] *** [[Office of the Procurement Executive]] ** [[Bureau of Consular Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Diplomatic Security]] ***[[Diplomatic Security Service]] ***[[Office of Foreign Missions]] ** [[Bureau of Human Resources]] ** [[Bureau of Information Resource Management]] ** [[Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations]] *[[Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs]]: The senior economic advisor for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on international economic policy. He or she is responsible for bureaus, headed by Assistant Secretaries, dealing with trade, agriculture, aviation, and bilateral trade relations with America's economic partners: ** [[Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs]] *[[Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs]]: This Undersecretary leads functions that were formerly assigned to the [[U.S. Information Agency]] but were integrated into the State Department by the 1999 reorganization. He or she manages units that handle the department's public communications and seek to burnish the image of the United States around the world: ** [[Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs]] ***[[Internet Access and Training Program]] ** [[Bureau of Public Affairs]] *** [[Office of The Historian]] ** [[Bureau of International Information Programs]] *[[Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs]]: This Undersecretary coordinates the Department's role in U.S. military assistance. Since the 1996 reorganization, this Undersecretary also oversees the functions of the formerly independent [[U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency]]. ** [[Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation]] ** [[Bureau of Political-Military Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation]] *[[Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs]]: The office of Undersecretary of Global Affairs was created by the Clinton Administration to manage diplomatic efforts on emerging worldwide issues, such as the environment, that could not be addressed at the bilateral or regional level. The office was renamed Democracy and Global Affairs in 2005, reflecting an increased focus on democracy promotion in American foreign policy.<ref>[http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=17770&prog=zgp&proj=zdrl,zme Carnegie Endowment]</ref> ** [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] ** [[Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs]] ** [[Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration]] *[[Counselor of the United States Department of State|Counselor]]: Ranking with the Under Secretaries, the Counselor is the Secretary's and Deputy Secretary's special advisor and consultant on major problems of foreign policy. He or she provides guidance to the appropriate bureaus with respect to such matters, conducts special international negotiations and consultations, and undertakes special assignments from time to time as directed by the Secretary. *The [[Global AIDS Coordinator (U.S.)|Office of Global AIDS Coordinator]], the president's main task force to combat global [[AIDS]], also reports directly to the Secretary of State. Since the 1996 reorganization, the Administrator of the U.S. Administration for International Development ([[AID]]), while leading an independent agency, has also reported to the Secretary of State, as does the [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations|Permanent Representative to the United Nations]], or U.N. Ambassador. == See also == *[[Diplomatic missions of the United States]] *[[United States Foreign Service]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.state.gov/ United States Department of State website] *[http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/82073.pdf United States Department of State Telephone Directory in .pdf format] *[http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/dephis.html History of the U.S. Department of State] *[http://www.rewardsforjustice.net Rewards for Justice site] *[http://thefederalregister.com/b.p/department/DEPARTMENT_OF_STATE/ Department Of State Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register] *[http://thefederalregister.com/rss/department/DEPARTMENT_OF_STATE/ RSS Feed] *[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/diplomacy/index.html Frontline Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training] {{USDOS agencies}} {{cabinet}} [[Category:United States Department of State| ]] [[Category:1789 establishments]] [[Category:Foreign affairs ministries|United States]] [[bs:State Department]] [[bg:Държавен департамент]] [[cs:Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí USA]] [[da:Det amerikanske udenrigsministerium]] [[de:Außenministerium der Vereinigten Staaten]] [[et:Ameerika Ühendriikide Riigidepartemang]] [[es:Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos]] [[eu:Ameriketako Estatu Batuetako Estatu Saila]] [[fa:وزارت امورخارجه ایالات متحده آمریکا]] [[fr:Département d'État des États-Unis]] [[ko:미국 국무부]] [[id:Menteri Luar Negeri Amerika Serikat]] [[it:Segretario di Stato degli Stati Uniti]] [[he:מחלקת המדינה של ארצות הברית]] [[ja:アメリカ合衆国国務省]] [[no:Utenriksdepartementet (USA)]] [[pl:Departament Stanu USA]] [[pt:Departamento de Estado dos Estados Unidos da América]] [[ru:Государственный департамент США]] [[sk:Ministerstvo zahraničných vecí USA]] [[sr:Стејт департмент]] [[fi:Yhdysvaltain ulkoministeri]] [[uk:Державний департамент США]] [[zh-yue:美國國務卿]] [[zh:美国国务院]]