America’s oldest Cabinet department, and its lead agency for foreign policy.
Founded in 1789 as the first federal department, State represents U.S. interests abroad, issues passports and visas, and helps American citizens who run into trouble while traveling or living overseas. Most people’s only direct contact with State is a passport application — but the department’s daily work spans nearly every country on Earth.
Diplomacy is the art of restraining power.
Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State
What It Does
The State Department is the U.S. government’s lead agency for foreign affairs. Plain-language duties first — then programs, services, and accountability.
Conducts diplomacy
Negotiates treaties and agreements, represents the United States at the United Nations and other international bodies, and manages bilateral relations worldwide.
Staffs posts abroad
Operates embassies and consulates in more than 170 countries — the permanent U.S. presence overseas.
Serves the public
Issues passports and visas, assists Americans in distress abroad, and publishes travel advisories.
Reports and records
Publishes human-rights reports, treaty texts, and policy documents; responds to FOIA requests.
The department is led by the Secretary of State, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate — fourth in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate.
How It Fits Into Government
Presidential oversight, congressional funding
The Secretary of State reports directly to the President and can be removed at will. Congress writes the laws that define State’s authority, confirms the Secretary and senior ambassadors through the Senate, and controls the department’s budget through annual appropriations. Foreign Service Officers — State’s career diplomats — staff embassies and consulates worldwide, carrying out policy set in Washington while reporting up through regional bureaus to the Secretary.
Major Program Areas
Cabinet departments are bundles of practical responsibilities. These are the areas visitors most often need to understand.
Diplomacy and posts
Regional bureaus, bilateral relationships, and the network of embassies and consulates.
- Regional bureaus
- Embassy operations
- International organizations
Consular services
Passports, visas, and protection of U.S. citizens overseas.
- Passport Services
- Visa Services
- Overseas Citizens Services
Security and assistance
Diplomatic security, political-military affairs, and foreign assistance coordination.
- Diplomatic Security
- Political-Military Affairs
- Foreign assistance programs
How It Is Checked
Agency power is limited by statute, funding, courts, and public process.
Congress
Writes the laws that define State’s authority, confirms the Secretary and ambassadors, and controls the budget through appropriations.
Courts
Review department actions and can set aside decisions that exceed statutory authority or violate required procedures.
Public process
Many policies and rules go through notice-and-comment; travel and passport rules are published for the public to use and challenge.
Inspector General
The State OIG audits programs and investigates waste, fraud, and misconduct inside the department.
Public Services Visitors May Need
Check a travel advisoryCountry-by-country safety guidance before you travel.→
Get help overseasEmergency assistance and embassy contact information.→
Register a birth abroadConsular Report of Birth Abroad for U.S. citizen children.→
Most of State’s budget doesn’t fund embassies
A common misconception is that the State Department’s budget mostly goes toward running embassies and consulates. A large share instead funds foreign assistance programs administered through State and USAID — economic aid, security assistance, and humanitarian response — not embassy operations themselves.
Under This Department
State is organized into regional and functional bureaus — the office most visitors actually interact with is the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which runs the passport and visa system.
