The Department of State, the senior executive department of the U.S. Government, 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).

Office of the Secretary

Secretary of State The Secretary of State, the principal foreign policy adviser to the President, is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of U.S. foreign relations and for the interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government overseas. The

Secretary is the first-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. The Office of the Secretary includes the offices of the Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Counselor, Legal Adviser, and Inspector General. Some

Regional Bureaus

Six Assistant Secretaries direct the activities of the geographic bureaus, which are responsible for our foreign affairs activities throughout the world. These are the Bureaus of African Affairs, European and Canadian Affairs, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Inter-American Affairs, and Near Eastern Affairs, and South Asian Affairs.

The regional Assistant Secretaries also serve as Chairmen of Interdepartmental

Functional Areas

Diplomatic Security The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, established under the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and

areas where public purposes are widely applied are detailed below and on the following pages.

Economic and Agricultural Affairs The Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs is principal adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the formulation and conduct of foreign economic policy. Specific areas for which the Under Secretary is responsible include international trade, agriculture, energy, finance, transportation, and relations with developing countries. International Security Affairs The Under Secretary for International Security Affairs is responsible for assuring the integration of all elements of the Foreign Assistance Program as an effective instrument of U.S. foreign policy and serves as Chairman of the Arms Transfer Management Group. Other areas of responsibility include international scientific and technological issues, communications and information policy, and technology transfers.

Groups in the National Security Council system. These groups discuss and decide issues that can be settled at the Assistant Secretary level, including those arising out of the implementation of National Security Council decisions. They prepare policy papers for consideration by the Council and contingency papers on potential crisis areas for Council review.

Antiterrorism Act of 1986, as amended (22 U.S.C. 4803 et seq.), provides a secure environment for conducting

American diplomacy and promoting American interests worldwide.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security is responsible for: -security and protective operations abroad and in the United States; -counter-terrorism planning and

coordination;

-security technology development; -foreign government security training;

and

-personnel training.

The Security Awareness Staff directs the development and execution of bureauwide security and information awareness policies and programs, press and media relations, and public awareness. The Security Awareness Program provides information on diplomatic security concerns and is a focal point for responding to public inquiries and maintaining media relations on diplomatic security issues and events. The Training Support Division provides publications and training videotapes on diplomatic security concerns.

The Private Sector Liaison Staff maintains daily contact with and actively supports the U.S. private sector by disseminating timely, unclassified security information concerning the safety of U.S. private sector personnel, facilities, and operations abroad. The Staff operates the Electronic Bulletin Board, a computerized, unclassified security information data base accessible to U.S. private sector enterprises. It also provides direct consultation services to the private sector concerning security threats abroad.

The Overseas Security Advisory Council promotes cooperation on security-related issues between the American private sector interests worldwide and the Department of State, as provided in 22 U.S.C. 2656 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. app.). The Council establishes continuing liaison and provides for operational security cooperation between Department security functions and the private sector. The Council also provides for regular and timely exchange of information between the private sector and the

Department concerning developments in protective security. Additionally, it recommends methods and provides material for coordinating security planning and implementation of security programs.

The Office of Policy, Planning, and Budget assists in developing and coordinating Department and interagency security policy issues and standards through participation in committees, councils, and working groups and in providing assistance to Diplomatic Security program offices by resolving policy inconsistencies.

For further information, call 202-663-0478. Economic and Business Affairs The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs has overall responsibility for formulating and implementing policy regarding foreign economic matters, including resource and food policy, international energy issues, trade, economic sanctions, international finance and development, and aviation and maritime affairs.

For further information, call 202-647-2720.

Finance and Management Policy The Bureau of Finance and Management Policy is directed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who serves as the Department's Budget Officer and Management Control Officer and assists in managing the Department and its posts. The CFO, assisted by wellqualified and well-trained financial management personnel, establishes effective management policies and internal controls; ensures adequate systems to produce useful, reliable, and timely financial and related programmatic information; develops useful financial analysis and performance reports; and integrates budget execution and accounting functions.

For further information, call 202-647-6778. Foreign Service Institute The Foreign Service Institute of the Department of State is the Federal Government's primary training institution for officers and support personnel of the foreign affairs community. In addition to the

Department of State, the Institute provides training for more than 40 other governmental agencies. The Institute's more than 300 courses, including 60 language courses, range in length from several days to 2 years. The courses are designed to promote successful performance in each professional assignment, to ease the adjustment to other countries and cultures, and to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of the foreign affairs community.

For further information, call 703–302-6729. Intelligence and Research The Bureau of Intelligence and Research coordinates programs of intelligence, analysis, and research for the Department and other Federal agencies, and produces intelligence studies and current intelligence analyses essential to foreign policy determination and execution. Through its Office of Research, the Bureau maintains liaison with cultural and educational institutions and oversees contract research and conferences on foreign affairs subjects.

For further information, call 202-647-1080. International Communications and Information Policy The Bureau of International Communications and Information Policy is the principal adviser to the Secretary of State on international telecommunications policy issues affecting U.S. foreign policy and national security. The Bureau acts as coordinator with other U.S. Government agencies and the private sector in the formulation and implementation of international policies relating to a wide range of rapidly evolving

communications and information technologies. The Bureau promotes U.S. telecommunications interests bilaterally and multilaterally.

For further information, call 202-647-5832.

International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing international narcotics

control assistance activities of the Department of State as authorized under sections 481 and 482 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2291, 2292). It is the principal point of contact and provides advice on international narcotics control matters for the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in ensuring implementation of U.S. policy in international narcotics matters.

The Bureau provides guidance on narcotics control matters to chiefs of missions and directs narcotics control coordinators at posts abroad; communicates or authorizes communication, as appropriate with foreign governments, on drug control matters including negotiating, concluding, and terminating agreements relating to international narcotics control programs as authorized by section 1(g)(3) of State Department Delegation of Authority No. 145 of February 4, 1980. For further information, call 202-776-8750. International Organization Affairs The Bureau of International Organization Affairs provides guidance and support for United States participation in international organizations and conferences. It leads in the development, coordination, and implementation of United States multilateral policy. The Bureau formulates and implements United States policy toward international organizations, with particular emphasis. on those organizations which make up the United Nations system.

For further information, call 202-647-6400. Legal Advisor The Legal Advisor advises the Secretary and, through the Secretary, the President on all matters of international law arising in the conduct of United States foreign relations. The Legal Advisor also provides general legal advice and services to the Secretary and other officials of the Department on matters with which the Department and overseas posts are concerned. Medical Services The Office of Medical Services develops, manages, and staffs a

worldwide primary health care system for U.S. citizen employees, and their eligible dependents, residing abroad. Agencies which participate in this medical program include the Department of State, the U.S. Information Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and over 48 other foreign affairs agencies and offices. In support of its overseas operations, the Office approves and monitors the medical evacuation of patients, conducts pre-employment and in-service physical examinations, and provides clinical referral and advisory services. Domestically, the Office offers occupational health care, as well as numerous health education and health maintenance programs.

For further information, call 202-647-3617.

Consular Affairs The Bureau of Consular Affairs, under the direction of the Assistant Secretary, is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the immigration and nationality laws, insofar as they concern the Department and the Foreign Service, for the issuance of passports and visas and related services, and for the protection and welfare of American citizens and interests abroad. Approximately 5 million passports a year are issued by the Passport Office of the Bureau, which has agencies in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford, and Washington, DC. For further information, see Sources of Information.

Political-Military Affairs The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs provides guidance and coordinates policy formulation on national security issues, including: nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technology; nuclear and conventional arms control; defense relations and security assistance; and export controls. It acts as the Department's primary liaison with the Department of Defense. The Bureau also participates in all major arms control, nonproliferation, and other security-related negotiations.

The Bureau's major activities are designed to further U.S. national security objectives by: stabilizing regional military balances through negotiations and security assistance; negotiating reductions in global inventories of weapons of mass destruction and curbing their proliferation; maintaining global access for U.S. military forces; inhibiting adversaries' access to militarily significant technologies; and promoting responsible U.S. defense trade.

For further information, call 202-647-6968. Protocol The Chief of Protocol is the principal adviser to the U.S. Government, the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State on matters of diplomatic procedure governed by law or international custom and practice. The Office is responsible for:

-visits of foreign chiefs of state, heads of government, and other high officials to the United States;

-operation of the President's guest house, Blair House;

-delegations representing the President at official ceremonies abroad; -conduct of official ceremonial functions and public events;

-accreditation of over 100,000 embassy, consular, international organization, and other foreign government personnel and members of their families throughout the United States;

-determining entitlement to diplomatic or consular immunity; -publication of diplomatic, mission employee, and consular lists;

-resolution of problems arising out of diplomatic or consular immunity such as legal and police matters;

-approving the opening of consular offices in conjunction with the Office of Foreign Missions;

-official interpretation of the Order of Precedence;

-conducting an outreach program of cultural enrichment and substantive briefings of the Diplomatic Corps; and

-organizing credential presentations of newly arrived Ambassadors to the President and to the Secretary of State. For further information, call 202-647-2663.