U.S. State Department Law and Legal Definition
The U.S. Department of State is a federal executive department of the U.S. Government. It is often referred to as the State Department. The U.S. State Department was established in 1789. This department is responsible for international relations of the U.S.
The department was established to carry on the following purposes:
1. to protect and assist U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad;
2. to assist U.S. businesses in the international marketplace;
3. to coordinate and provide support for international activities of other U.S. agencies, official visits overseas and at home, and other diplomatic efforts;
4. to keep the public informed about U.S. foreign policy and relations with other countries and providing feedback from the public to administration officials;
5. to provide automobile registration for non-diplomatic staff vehicles and the vehicles of diplomats of foreign countries having diplomatic immunity in the U.S.
This department operates the diplomatic missions of the U.S. abroad and is responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the U.S. and U.S. diplomacy efforts. The department is headed by the Secretary of State, who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The secretary of state is usually a member of the cabinet.
