Department of State Purpose in the United States

Definition and Purpose

The Department of State advises the President and leads the United States in foreign policy issues to advance freedom and democracy for the American people and the international community. To this end, the Department compiles research on American overseas interests, disseminates information on foreign policy to the public, negotiates
treaties and agreements with foreign nations, and represents the United States in the United Nations and other international organizations and conferences.

The Department of State plays the lead role in developing and implementing the President’s foreign policy. Major responsibilities include United States representation abroad, foreign assistance, foreign military training programs, countering international crime, and a wide assortment of services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seeking entrance to the U.S.

The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 180 countries — each posted by civilian U.S. Foreign Service employees — as well as with international organizations. At home, more than 5,000 civil employees carry out the mission of the Department.

The Secretary of State serves as the President’s top foreign policy adviser, and oversees 30,000 employees and a budget of approximately $35 billion.

The Department of State was established by act of July 27, 1789, as the Department of Foreign Affairs and was renamed Department of State by act of September 15, 1789 (22 U.S.C. 2651 note).

Organization

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of U.S. foreign relations and for the interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government abroad. The Secretary is the ?rst-ranking member of the Cabinet, is a member of the National Security Council, and is in charge of the operations of the Department, including the Foreign
Service.

Regional Bureaus

Foreign affairs activities worldwide are handled by the geographic bureaus, which include the Bureaus of African Affairs, European and Eurasian Affairs, East Asian and Paci?c Affairs, Near Eastern Affairs, South and Central Asian Affairs, and Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Administration

The Bureau of Administration provides support programs and services to Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates. These functions include administrative policy, domestic emergency management, and management of owned or leased facilities in the United States; procurement, supply, travel, and transportation support; diplomatic pouch, domestic
mail, of?cial records, publishing, library, and language services; support to the
schools abroad that educate dependents of U.S. Government employees assigned
to diplomatic and consular missions; and small and disadvantaged business
utilization. Direct services to the public and other Government agencies
include: authenticating documents used abroad for legal and business
purposes; responding to requests under the Freedom of Information and Privacy
Acts and providing the electronic reading room for public reference to State
Department records; and determining use of the diplomatic reception rooms of the Harry S Truman headquarters building in Washington, DC.

Consular Affairs

The Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for the protection and welfare of American
citizens and interests abroad; the administration and enforcement of
the provisions of the immigration and nationality laws insofar as they
concern the Department of State and Foreign Service; and the issuance of
passports and visas and related services.

Approximately 18 million passports a year are issued by the Bureau’s Office
of Passport Services at

• the processing centers in Portsmouth, NH, and Charleston, SC, and
• the regional agencies in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Aurora, CO; Honolulu, HI; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Norwalk, CT; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; and Washington, DC.

In addition, the Bureau helps secure America’s borders against entry by terrorists or narcotraf?ckers, facilitates international adoptions, and supports parents whose children have
been abducted abroad.

For further information, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site at travel.state.gov.

Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) is responsible
for developing and implementing U.S. policy on democracy, human rights,
labor, and religious freedom. DRL practices diplomatic engagement and
advocacy to protect human rights and strengthen democratic institutions.

DRL engages with governments, civil society, and in multilateral organizations
to support democratic governance and human rights. DRL participates
in multi-stakeholder initiatives to encourage multinational corporations to adhere to human rights standards of conduct, including the elimination of child labor. DRL ful?lls the USG reporting responsibilities on human rights and democracy, producing the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the annual International Religious Freedom report, and the
Advancing Freedom and Democracy report. DRL provides targeted program
assistance, through the Human Rights and Democracy Fund and other funding
streams, to protect human rights and strengthen democratic institutions.

DRL programs help prosecute war criminals, promote religious freedom,
support workers’ rights, encourage accountability in governance, facilitate
freedom of expression, and freedom to access information on the Internet.

DRL carries out the Congressionallymandated responsibility to ensure that
foreign military assistance and training is not provided to gross violators of human
rights. DRL leads the Secretary of State’s Task Force on Global Internet Freedom.

For further information, contact the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.