Who is responsible for foreign policy decisions?
The following publication provides an overview of the organization of the Department of State. Additional resources include an organization chart and a list of bureaus and offices. Show The Executive Branch and the Congress have constitutional responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy. Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy adviser. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in shaping a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through its primary role in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy. The Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S. Government entities including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It also provides an array of important services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit or immigrate to the U.S. All foreign affairs activities – U.S. representation abroad, foreign assistance programs, countering international crime, foreign military training programs, the services the Department provides, and more – are paid for by the foreign affairs budget. This budget is key to maintaining U.S. leadership, which promotes and protects the interests of our citizens by:
As the lead foreign affairs agency, the Department of State has the primary role in:
The services the Department provides include:
The Department of State conducts all of these activities with a small workforce comprised of Civil Service and Foreign Service employees. Overseas, Foreign Service officers represent America; analyze and report on political, economic, and social trends in the host country; and respond to the needs of American citizens abroad. The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with about 180 countries and also maintains relations with many international organizations, adding up to a total of more than 250 posts around the world. In the United States, Civil Service employees work alongside Foreign Service officers serving a stateside tour, compiling and analyzing reports from overseas, providing logistical support to posts, consulting with and keeping the Congress informed about foreign policy initiatives and policies, communicating with the American public, formulating and overseeing the budget, issuing passports and travel warnings, and more. Bureaus and Offices of the Department of State in the U.S.The Office of the Secretary of State The immediate Office of the Secretary (S) is comprised of the Secretary's Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, the Secretary's secretary, the Executive Assistant, two special assistants, the Secretary's scheduler, staff assistant, and two personal assistants. This staff handles all of the day-to-day matters of the Secretary, including meetings at the Department, functions in Washington and throughout the country, and travel around the world. The Deputy Secretary serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; serves as Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department. The Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources serves as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer, alter ego to the Secretary, and principal adviser to the Secretary on overall supervision, direction of resource allocation, and management activities of the Department. The Deputy Secretary is charged with promoting innovation, developing a management reform agenda, and ensuring our people and posts are safe and secure. In addition, the Deputy Secretary is responsible for the budget, development assistance, and promoting coordinated strategic planning. Under her purview is also the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) office.
The Executive Secretariat (S/ES), comprised of the Executive Secretary and four Deputy Executive Secretaries, is responsible for coordinating the work of the Department internally, serving as the liaison between the Department's bureaus and the offices of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretaries. It also handles the Department's relations with the White House, National Security Council, and other Cabinet agencies.
In addition, there are several other offices attached to the Secretary's office:
In addition, the following bureaus and offices, although not attached to the Office of the Secretary, report directly to the Secretary.
Counselor of the Department The Counselor of the Department is a principal officer, serving the Secretary as a special advisor and consultant on major problems of foreign policy, and providing guidance to the appropriate bureaus with respect to such matters. The Counselor conducts special international negotiations and consultations, and also undertakes special assignments from time to time, as directed by the Secretary. Under Secretaries and Their Components The Under Secretaries also report directly to the Secretary and serve as the Department's "corporate board" on foreign policy in the following areas:
Offices and bureaus that do not report directly to the Secretary are organized in groups to support policy planning, coordination, and execution by the six Under Secretaries. Under Secretary for Political Affairs (P) The Under Secretary for Political Affairs is the day-to-day manager of overall regional and bilateral policy issues. The Department has grouped countries of the world in the following areas of responsibility under six bureaus:
The Assistant Secretaries of these geographic bureaus advise the Under Secretary and guide the operation of the U.S. diplomatic missions within their regional jurisdiction. They are assisted by Deputy Assistant Secretaries, office directors, post management officers, and country desk officers. These officials work closely with U.S. Embassies and consulates overseas and with foreign embassies in Washington, DC. The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) is the U.S. Government’s primary interlocutor with the United Nations and other international agencies and organizations. IO is charged with advancing the President’s vision of robust multilateral engagement as a crucial tool in advancing U.S. national interests. U.S. multilateral engagement spans the full range of important global issues, including peace and security, nuclear nonproliferation, human rights, economic development, climate change, and global health. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment (E) The Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment leads the State Department’s efforts to develop and implement economic growth, energy, agricultural, oceans, environmental, and science and technology policies to promote economic prosperity and address global challenges in a transparent, rules-based, and sustainable system. The bureaus and offices under the E group work to advance the Department’s economic statecraft agenda, using America’s global leadership to strengthen the domestic economy; elevate and intensify efforts on energy security and environmental sustainability; and foster innovation through robust science, entrepreneurship, and technology policies.
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security (T) The Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security serves as Senior Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament. In this capacity, the Under Secretary attends and participates, at the direction of the President, in National Security Council (NSC) and subordinate meetings pertaining to arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament and has the right to communicate, through the Secretary of State, with the President and members of the NSC on arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament concerns. The following bureaus report to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security:
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J) The Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights oversees and coordinates U.S. foreign relations on the spectrum of civilian security issues across the globe, including democracy, human rights, population, refugees, trafficking in persons, rule of law, counter-narcotics, crisis prevention and response, global criminal justice, and countering violent extremism. The following bureaus and offices report to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights:
Under Secretary for Management (M) The Under Secretary for Management is the State Department's representative on the President's Management Council, and is responsible for implementing the President's Management Agenda (PMA). The PMA is a set of management initiatives designed to make government more citizen-centered, effective, and efficient. There are five government-wide PMA initiatives: Human Capital; E-Government; Competitive Sourcing; Financial Management, and Budget and Performance Integration. The Department is also working with the White House Office of Management and Budget on the PMA initiative focused on "rightsizing" the U.S. Government's overseas presence. The following bureaus and offices report to the Under Secretary for Management:
The Under Secretary also oversees the Office of White House Liaison. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R) The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs leads America's public diplomacy outreach, which includes communications with international audiences, cultural programming, academic grants, educational exchanges, international visitor programs, and U.S. Government efforts to confront ideological support for terrorism. R also oversees the public affairs function of providing information to the U.S. audience. The following bureaus and offices report to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs:
Advisory Groups A number of advisory councils, commissions, committees, and boards exist to maintain an open dialogue between the U.S. Government and the private sector on various issues. Organization of the Department of State AbroadU.S. Missions To support its relations with other countries and international organizations, the United States maintains diplomatic and consular posts around the world. Under the President's direction, the Secretary of State is responsible for the overall coordination and supervision of U.S. Government activities abroad. Missions to countries and international organizations are headed by Chiefs of Mission. They are considered the President's personal representatives and, with the Secretary of State, assist in implementing the President's constitutional responsibilities for the conduct of U.S. foreign relations. Most missions have personnel assigned from other executive branch agencies in addition to those from the Department of State. Department of State employees at missions comprise U.S.-based political appointees and career diplomats, and Foreign Service Nationals. Other executive branch agencies represented may include the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Defense, and Justice (the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Other U.S. Government agencies also make vital contributions to the success of U.S. foreign relations and in promoting U.S. interests. Country Missions In most countries with which it has diplomatic relations, the U.S. maintains an embassy, which usually is located in the host country capital. The U.S. also may have consulates in other large commercial centers or in dependencies of the country. Several countries have U.S. ambassadors accredited to them who are not resident in the country. In a few special cases--such as when it does not have full diplomatic relations with a country--the U.S. may be represented by only a U.S. Liaison Office or U.S. Interests Section, which may be headed by a principal officer rather than a Chief of Mission. The Chief of Mission--with the title of Ambassador, Minister, or Charge d'Affaires--and the Deputy Chief of Mission head the mission's "country team" of U.S. Government personnel. Responsibilities of Chiefs of Mission at post also include:
The country team has responsibilities covering the following areas: Consular Affairs. Whether in a U.S. Embassy or a consulate, consular officers at post are the State Department employees whom both American citizens overseas and foreign nationals are most likely to meet. Consular officers protect U.S. citizens abroad and their property. Consular officers provide emergency loans to U.S. citizens who become destitute while traveling abroad, search for missing Americans at the request of their friends or family, visit arrested Americans in prison, maintain lists of local attorneys, act as liaison with police and other officials on matters that affect the welfare of American citizens, re-issue lost or stolen passports, assist in resolving parental child abduction cases, help next of kin when American relatives die abroad, and generally provide many types of assistance to U.S. citizens abroad. Consular officers also perform non-emergency services -- dispensing information on absentee voting, Selective Service registration, and acquisition and loss of U.S. citizenship; providing U.S. tax forms; notarizing documents; issuing passports; and processing estate and property claims. U.S. consular officers also issue nonimmigrant visas to foreign nationals who wish to visit, work or study in the United States and immigrant visas to those who wish to reside here permanently. Commercial, Economic, and Financial Affairs. By helping American businesses abroad, the Department helps Americans at home. State and Commerce Department officers specialize in four areas:
Agricultural and Scientific Matters. Agricultural officers promote the export of U.S. agricultural products and report on agricultural production and market developments in their area. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are responsible for animal and plant health issues that affect U.S. trade and the protection of U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and diseases. They also expedite U.S. exports affected by technical sanitary and phytosanitary regulations. Environment, science, technology, and health officers analyze and report on developments in these areas and their potential impact on U.S. policies and programs. Political, Labor, and Defense Assistance Issues. Political officers analyze political developments and their potential impact on U.S. interests; promote adoption by the host country of foreign policy decisions which support U.S. interests; and advise U.S. business executives on the local political climate. Labor officers promote labor policies in countries to support U.S. interests and provide information on local labor laws and practices, including wages, non-wage costs, social security regulations, the political activities of local labor organizations, and labor attitudes toward American investments. Many posts have defense attaches from the Department of Defense. Security assistance officers are responsible for Defense Cooperation in Armaments and foreign military sales. They also function as the primary in-country point of contact for the U.S. defense industry and U.S. businesses. Administrative Support and Security Functions. Administrative officers are responsible for normal business operations of the post, including overall management of personnel, budget, and fiscal matters; real and expendable property; motor pools; and acquisitions. Information management officers are responsible for the post's unclassified information systems, database management, programming, and operational needs. They also are responsible for the telecommunications, telephone, radio, diplomatic pouches, and records management programs within the diplomatic mission and maintain close contact with the host government's communications authorities on operational matters. Regional security officers are responsible for providing physical, procedural, and personnel security services to U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel; they also provide local in-country security briefings and threat assessments to business executives. Public Affairs. Public affairs officers, information officers, and/or cultural affairs officers of U.S. missions overseas serve as press spokespersons and as administrators of official U.S. exchange programs. They also direct the overseas U.S. Speakers program and international electronic linkages. Legal and Immigration Matters. Legal attaches serve as Department of Justice representatives on criminal matters. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services officers are responsible for administering the laws regulating the admission of foreign-born persons (aliens) to the United States and for administering various immigration benefits. USAID mission directors are responsible for USAID Programs including dollar and local currency loans, grants, and technical assistance. USAID also provides humanitarian assistance abroad during times of natural or man-made disasters. Helping other countries develop through foreign assistance programs helps American business. As other countries develop, they begin to import goods from abroad -- and now account for one-third of all U.S. exports and more than one-half of America's farm exports. U.S. Representation at International Organizations U.S. representation at international organizations reflects the growing importance of multilateral diplomacy to the conduct of U.S. foreign relations. In addition to its bilateral embassies and consulates, accredited to just a single host country, the U.S. also sends official representatives to international organizations and conferences in various locations around the world. These representatives are typically organized into delegations. Some of the larger, more permanent delegations are designated "U.S. Missions," such as in Geneva or Vienna. Others are designated simply "U.S. Delegations," such as to the Conference on Disarmament or to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Other "U.S. Delegations" are assembled for only a finite period to represent the U.S. at a single international event. Related Foreign Affairs AgenciesFollowing the reorganization of the foreign affairs agencies in 1999, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the United States Information Agency (USIA) were merged into the Department of State, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which is responsible for all U.S. Government and government-sponsored broadcasting, became an independent, autonomous federal entity. The U.S. Agency for International Development remains an independent agency. Who makes the decisions in foreign policy?The Senate plays a unique role in U.S. international relations. The Constitution authorizes the president to make treaties, but the president must then submit them to the Senate for its approval by a two-thirds vote. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is integral to this process.
What department is responsible for foreign policy?Foreign policy is formulated and implemented within the executive branch. The principal policy institutions are the departments of State and Defense, the National Security Council (NSC), and the CIA. The Department of State is most directly responsible for the conduct of foreign policy.
Who negotiates foreign policy?Presidents nominate diplomats and negotiate treaties, but the Senate determines whether those nominees will serve or if those treaties will be ratified. This division of powers has caused the Senate to spar with presidents, but it also has given senators an expertise in foreign affairs.
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