The U.S. Department of State is a structure within the U.S. government that performs functions similar to the Foreign Ministries of other countries. The federal executive body is headed by the Secretary of State. Since February 1, 2017, this position has been held by Rex Wayne Tillerson.
Creature
The US Constitution, drafted in September 1787 in Philadelphia and ratified by 13 states the following year, placed the president in charge of foreign policy. The law on the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs was approved by the Senate with the House of Representatives on July 21, 1778. George Washington, then appointed president, signed the document on July 27. Thus, this organization is the first federal body established in accordance with the recently approved Constitution. In the fall of 1789, the agency became known as the US Department of State. The first leader was an influential politician, one of the initiators of the declaration of independence, Thomas Jefferson.
Evolution
The new body had important responsibilities domestically. It:
- Large print storage.
- Mint operation management.
- Conducting a census.
Subsequently, most of the internal duties of the US State Department were entrusted to the newly created federal structures. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State is still responsible for the preservation of the symbol of the country - the Great Seal. He is also competent to accept a written letter of resignation from the president or vice president, if they express a desire to resign.
By the way, Madeleine Albright became the first woman to take the post of US Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice became the second female Secretary of State in 2005. Hillary Clinton - Third (2009).
Location
From 1790 to 1799, the US Department of State office was located in Philadelphia, the then capital of the United States. In 1800, the organization moved to Washington, where it settled in the Treasury. After a series of transfers, the State Department was located in the Orphanage and remained there until 1875.
In May 1947, the organization found a permanent residence in the building of Harry S. Truman. It is located in the Foggy Bottom area (Foggy bottom), where previously there was a marshland. Since then, the department has been jokingly called the “Misty bottom”.
In 2014, a project was signed to expand the US Department of State. The former naval complex on 23rd Street, not far from the Truman building, was transferred to his jurisdiction. Architectural and construction companies Louis Berger Group, Goody and Clancy signed a contract for $ 2.5 million for the redevelopment and reconstruction of premises with a total area of 48,000 m2.
Occupation
The executive branch and the Congress are constitutionally responsible for the implementation of the country's foreign policy. Within its authority, the US Department of State is the United States' leading foreign affairs agency, and its head automatically becomes the president’s chief foreign affairs adviser.
The department is called upon to promote the interests of its state in the world. It also provides a range of services to citizens of the United States and foreigners who wish to visit or immigrate to the United States. All foreign policy events - representation abroad, foreign aid programs, combating crime and terrorism, foreign military assistance programs - are paid from a special fund, which makes up about 1% of the total federal budget.
Department Responsibilities
US Department of State Responsibility:
- Protection, support for US citizens living or traveling abroad.
- Support for US enterprises in international markets.
- Coordination of international activities of other agencies.
- Organization of intergovernmental official visits.
- Providing the public and the media with information on relations in foreign policy.
- Establishing feedback between the public and officials.
- Facilitating vehicle registration for non-diplomatic staff and foreign diplomats with diplomatic immunity in the United States.
The Department of State maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 180 countries. About 5,000 employees work on:
- compilation and analysis of reports from abroad;
- providing logistical support;
- communication with the press and the public;
- organization budget control;
- warning tourists about the risks.
The State Department has an active dialogue with the public. In 2007, the Department’s blog was created and a Twitter account was opened. Briefings are regularly held, where journalists are told about various situations, problems, solutions and possible consequences. In addition, media representatives are entitled to ask questions, including inconvenient ones. In 2009, the Virtual Student Federal Service was created on the basis of e-government. Its tasks include introducing students who wish to come to work here in the future, learn more about the features and structure of the organization.