United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is a key member of the President's cabinet and the head of the U.S. Department of State, playing a vital role in shaping and executing the nation's foreign policy. As the principal advisor to the President on international affairs, the Secretary negotiates with foreign powers and represents the U.S. abroad. This position is significant not only for its responsibilities in diplomacy but also because the Secretary is fourth in the presidential line of succession. The Secretary oversees a large workforce, including about 30,000 employees and a substantial budget, ensuring the smooth operation of the Department.
The role has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1789, with Thomas Jefferson being the first appointed Secretary. Over the years, several former Secretaries have transitioned to the presidency, highlighting the influence and stature of the position. Notable Secretaries include Madeleine Albright, the first woman to hold the office, and Colin Powell, the first African American. The Secretary also manages the Foreign Service, which encompasses diplomatic missions globally, and addresses the needs and safety of American citizens overseas. Through these functions, the Secretary of State remains a pivotal figure in the U.S. government's engagement with the world.
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United States Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state is a member of the US president’s cabinet and the head of the US Department of State (DOS), or State Department. As a member of the president’s cabinet, the US secretary of state is an advisor to the president. The secretary of state is an important member of the executive branch and is fourth in the line of presidential succession. As the head of the DOS, the secretary oversees the foreign policy of the United States and conducts foreign relations negotiations. The secretary of state has help from the deputy secretary of state and many other State Department employees. The secretary also oversees the running of the DOS, which includes roughly thirty thousand employees and a $35 billion budget.
Background
The US president’s cabinet is a group of people who are meant to advise the president. The modern presidential cabinet is much larger than early cabinets. Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution established the idea of the cabinet. George Washington chose his first cabinet in September 1789. President Washington picked Thomas Jefferson as his secretary of state. Jefferson had traveled to Europe and was interested in diplomacy, so he made a logical choice for the position. Jefferson was one of Washington’s closest advisors. Although the president’s cabinet has grown over time, its role is basically the same. The secretary of state is still an important advisor to the president. The secretary of state and all the cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the president. That means that the president hires and fires cabinet secretaries, although each secretary has to be approved by Congress before being allowed to serve. The secretary of state is an important member of the executive branch and is fourth in the line of presidential succession. That means that the secretary of state becomes president if the president, vice president, speaker of the House, and president pro tempore of the Senate are unable to perform the duties of the president.
Overview
In 1789, Congress changed the name of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of State. Congress also indicated that the department should be headed by a secretary of state. When Washington chose Thomas Jefferson as the first secretary of state, Jefferson had an important influence on US diplomacy. However, Washington wanted the United States to stay neutral in foreign affairs, and Jefferson sometimes clashed with Washington on this issue. Nevertheless, Jefferson helped increase the United States’ influence in some countries, such as France.
Jefferson became president after serving as secretary of state. A number of other secretaries of state also went on to become president. For example, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan all served as secretary of state and as president. Another famous secretary of state was William Henry Seward, who served from 1861 to 1869. He served for President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War (1861–1865). Seward was famous, in part, because he attempted to get foreign powers in Europe to support the Union. He also famously helped increase the United States’ territory by purchasing Alaska. The land acquisition came to be known as “Seward’s folly” because some people did not believe the land was valuable, but Seward’s purchase was vindicated when gold was discovered in Alaska. Madeleine Albright was another important secretary of state. She was the first female secretary of state. She served from 1997 to 2001. During her time as secretary, Albright tried to build relations with former countries of the Soviet Union, and she tried to focus on nuclear disarmament. Colin Powell, who served as secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, was also a famous secretary. He was the first African American secretary of state, and he was instrumental in making the case for the United States to go to war in Iraq.
The US Department of State is the part of the executive branch of government that handles many of the country’s foreign policy issues. The State Department also helps Americans who are overseas in other countries. The secretary of state heads the DOS. In this role, the secretary of state negotiates with foreign powers. The secretary also represents the United States when he or she is abroad. Because of that, the secretary of state should most likely be well informed and should have a strong but agreeable personality.
The secretary of state also oversees the Foreign Service, which is the primary diplomatic service in the US government. Thousands of Americans are employed through the Foreign Service. The thousands of employees in the Foreign Service serve in any of hundreds of diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates, located around the world.
The State Department also plays an important role by informing American citizens who travel to or live in foreign countries. Because of this, the secretary of state has to relay information about safety and other issues to US citizens abroad. The DOS is also in charge of issuing passports and other documentation that US citizens require when traveling abroad. The secretary and the State Department also help ensure the safety and protection of American citizens traveling in other countries.
The secretary of state is the principal advisor to the president on foreign policy. The secretary also helps the president choose people to serve in various roles—such as ambassadors, ministers, and consuls—at the State Department. The secretary will also advise the president in cases when State Department employees need to be recalled or dismissed.
The secretary of state has assistance from many other State Department employees. One of the closest advisors to the secretary is the deputy secretary of state. The deputy secretary becomes secretary of state if the acting secretary is no longer able to serve. This person acts as the secretary until the president nominates another secretary. As the head of the State Department, the secretary of state also oversees roughly 13,000 members of the foreign service, more than 11,000 civil service employees, and more than 45,000 locally employed staff.
Bibliography
“The Cabinet.” Archives.gov, 2015, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/cabinet. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
“Duties of the Secretary of State.” U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/secretary/115194.htm. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
“The Executive Branch.” Stanford University Libraries, 28 Aug. 2015, swap.stanford.edu/20150828114557/https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/executive-branch. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
“Former Secretaries of State.” U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/secretary/former/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
“History of the Presidential Cabinet.” History.com, 2 Oct. 2023, www.history.com/news/history-of-the-presidential-cabinet. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
“Notable Secretaries of State.” BBC, 16 Nov. 2004, news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4016527.stm. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.