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Our Mission
To protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values and shape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive.
Foreign Affairs Manual and Handbook
The FAM and FAH govern how we do our work.
Joint Strategic Plan
Guides how the State Department and USAID implement U.S. foreign policy and development assistance.
We Are the U.S. Department of State
Watch career employees and ambassadors discuss our work in this video series.
With just 0.5 percent of the entire Federal budget, the State Department has an outsized impact on Americans’ lives at home and abroad.
Leadership
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department.
Find biographies of officials serving in positions domestically from Deputy Assistant Secretaries up to the Secretary of State.
Our History
The U.S. Department of State has grown significantly over the years. The first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, oversaw a small staff of one chief clerk, three other clerks, a translator, and a messenger. They maintained only two diplomatic posts, in London and Paris, as well as 10 consular posts. More than 230 years later, the Department’s workforce includes some 13,000 members of the Foreign Service, 11,000 Civil Service employees, and 45,000 locally employed staff at more than 270 diplomatic missions worldwide.
Our role has also changed in response to changing global circ*mstances. At one time, the State Department was responsible for a number of domestic duties ranging from publication of the census to control of copyright to management of the Mint.We now work to fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives while building a more free, prosperous, and secure world.
Explore our other websites for a more in-depth look at the State Department’s history and the impact of our work through the years and today.
Provides in-depth information to the public on the history of U.S. foreign policy. In addition to afull text archive of theForeign Relationsseries, the website includes valuable encyclopedic content on the history ofU.S. relations with states around the world, and a database of theDepartment’s principal officers and chiefs of mission.
This new museum, located at our headquarters in Washington, DC, tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy. Through exhibitions and programs, it inspires the American public to discover diplomacy and how it impacts their lives every day.
Art in Embassies creates vital cross-cultural dialogue and mutual understanding through the visual arts and dynamic artist exchanges. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) initiated exhibitions of contemporary art for U.S. embassy residences in 1953. Ten years later, President John F. Kennedy established our Art in Embassies office.
For fifty years, the art of diplomacy has thrived in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms against a stunning backdrop of American art and architecture from the time of our country’s founding and of its formative years.In these State Rooms, the United States signs treaties, conducts summit negotiations, hosts swearing-in ceremonies, facilitates trade agreements, and promotes peace.
TheU.S. Department of State Facilities and Areas of Jurisdictionsmap visualizes the Department’s official presence around the world and the organizational structure of the regional bureaus. Current as of April 2021.
Resources
Administrative
Directories
As an expert in international relations and the functioning of government agencies, I am well-versed in the intricacies of the U.S. Department of State, its structure, and its role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. My expertise is derived from a deep understanding of historical contexts, policy implementations, and the evolution of the State Department's responsibilities over time.
Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Mission and Objectives: The article emphasizes the mission of the U.S. Department of State, which is to protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values. The department aims to shape an international environment conducive to the well-being of all Americans.
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Guiding Documents: The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and Handbook (FAH) are highlighted as governing documents that dictate how the State Department carries out its work. These manuals provide guidelines and procedures for diplomatic and foreign service activities.
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Strategic Planning: The Joint Strategic Plan is mentioned, guiding the implementation of U.S. foreign policy and development assistance by both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Budget and Impact: Despite having only 0.5 percent of the entire Federal budget, the State Department is noted to have a significant impact on Americans' lives, both domestically and abroad. This underscores the efficiency and importance of the department's work.
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Leadership Structure: The leadership structure of the State Department, including the Secretary of State and the Deputy Secretary of State, is outlined. The Secretary of State is the chief foreign affairs adviser to the President, responsible for executing foreign policies through the State Department.
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Historical Evolution: The article provides a historical perspective on the growth of the U.S. Department of State, from its early days under the first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, to its current structure with a diverse workforce managing diplomatic missions worldwide.
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Changing Roles: The evolving roles of the State Department are highlighted, transitioning from domestic duties like publishing the census and managing the Mint to contemporary responsibilities such as fighting terrorism, protecting U.S. interests abroad, and implementing foreign policy initiatives.
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Specialized Websites: The article mentions various specialized websites related to the State Department, such as History.State.Gov, providing in-depth information on the history of U.S. foreign policy, and The National Museum of American Diplomacy, which tells the story of American diplomacy through exhibitions and programs.
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Art in Embassies and Diplomatic Reception Rooms: Art in Embassies and Diplomatic Reception Rooms are discussed as initiatives promoting cross-cultural dialogue through visual arts. The Diplomatic Reception Rooms serve as venues for significant diplomatic events against a backdrop of American art and architecture.
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Facilities and Areas of Jurisdiction: The U.S. Department of State Facilities and Areas of Jurisdictions map is mentioned, visualizing the department's official presence worldwide and the organizational structure of regional bureaus.
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Resources and Directories: The article provides information on various resources, including department reports, financial reports, organization charts, and directories like the Telephone Directory, U.S. Ambassadors, and U.S. Embassies and Other Posts.
In conclusion, my expertise enables me to comprehend and elucidate the complex interplay of these concepts within the broader context of U.S. foreign policy and the functioning of the State Department.
