Department of State in the United States

Introduction to Department of State

Department of State, department of the executive branch of the United States federal government, whose principal responsibility is the conduct, under the direction of the president, of United States foreign policy. The Department of State was created in 1789 to replace the Department of Foreign Affairs (1781-1789) of the Confederation government. Crucial decisions on foreign policy are made by the president, usually on the basis of information acquired, summarized, and interpreted by the State Department. The department then has the responsibility of implementing the president’s decisions. The main objective of the State Department in the conduct of foreign affairs is the long-range interests and security of the United States.

Contact between other nations and the United States is maintained by the State Department through the representatives of foreign governments in the United States and, abroad, through the diplomatic and consular offices of the U.S. Foreign Service. Through the Foreign Service, the department protects American citizens and interests abroad and promotes U.S. foreign trade. The State Department also negotiates agreements and treaties with foreign governments. It represents the nation in international organizations, and it participates in hundreds of international conferences each year. The department issues passports to American citizens who wish to travel abroad and visas to foreigners who want to visit or immigrate to the United States.” (1)

Legal Materials

The State Department is in charge of relations between the U.S. and other countries, particularly diplomatic relations.

State Department documents back to 1990 are on Westlaw (USTREATIES).

Apostille and the Authentication/Legalization of Documents: The State Department’s Office of Authentications and Bureau of Consular Affairs each certify certain official documents for use in other countries. For more information, see the “Apostille and Authentication/Legalization of Documents” entry.

Tough Questions: For truly tough questions about State Department materials, call the State Department’s library at 202-647-1099.

Treaties: The Department is a good source for information on U.S. treaties. The number for the Treaty Desk is 202-647-1345.

Department of State Background

Department of State

In Legislation

Department of State in the U.S. Code: Title 22, Chapter 38

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating department of state are compiled in the United States Code under Title 22, Chapter 38. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Foreign Relations (including department of state) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, Arms of the US Code, including department of state) by chapter and subchapter.

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Department of State in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Department of State

In this Section

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy (including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.

See Also

Apostille and the Authentication/Legalization of Documents
Country Information
Doing Business in Foreign Countries
Embassies
Passports
Travel Expenses
Treaties
Visa Information