Guide Note

The U.S. Department of State, commonly called the State Department, is a Cabinet-level federal agency. It is headed by the Secretary of State, who is also the main adviser to the president on foreign affairs. The purpose of the State Department is to carry out the president’s foreign policies and assist government bureaus in other matters regarding foreign affairs. The State Department is also responsible for assisting U.S. citizens traveling and living abroad, assisting U.S. business in international markets and issuing passports and travel advisories.

Fast Facts

Formed: 1789
Also known as: the State Department
Preceding agencies: Department of Foreign Affairs
Headquarters: Harry S Truman Building, Washington, D.C.
Employees (2006): 18,877¹
Current Secretary of State: Condoleezza Rice
Annual budget (2008): $10.1 billion²

Early History

The Department of Foreign Affairs was founded in 1789, and was delegated many of the duties currently assigned to the U.S. Department of State. It was was originally in charge of a wide range of offices including the U.S. Mint. The Department was first led by Thomas Jefferson, who was appointed the first Secretary of State by George Washington in 1789.³

Categories

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View Note History

U.S. Department of State

Also try: How to Renew a Passport | How to Volunteer Abroad | United States | Condoleezza Rice

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: U.S. Department of State
Wikipedia: United States Department of State
Official Site: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Official Site: Department Organization
Official Site: Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions
SourceWatch: U.S. Department of State
Topix.com: U.S. State Department

U.S. Department of State Recent News

Google News: U.S. Department of State
Asian Tribune: U.S. State Dept Donates Anti-Terrorism Equipment to Sri Lanka... (March 18, 2008)
Bangkok Post: A Warming up of Cold Relations (March 18, 2008)
Las Vegas Sun: US Asks China for Restraint in Tibet (March 16, 2008)
CNN.com: Report: Anti-Semitism on the Rise Globally (March 14, 2008)
Baltomore Business Journal: Colliers Pinkard Subsidiary wins State Department...Contract (March 12, 2008}
SFGate: Russia Slams US Report as Biased (March 12, 2008)
US News and World Report: Inside Colombia's War on Kidnapping (February 27, 2008)

U.S. Department of State Background and Articles

Official Site: FY 2007-2012 Department of State and USAID Strategic Plan
Official Site: Bureau of Public Affairs: Office of the Historian
Official Site: Secretaries of State, 1789-2005
Official Site: Principal Officers
Wikipedia: United States Secretary of State
Espionage Info: Department of State, United States
The New York Times: Wolfowitz to Lead State Dept. Panel (January 25, 2008)
Guardian Unlimited: Anthrax Found at US State Department (October 26, 2001)

U.S. Department of State Information and Services

Official Site: US State Department Services
Official Site: Alphabetical List of Bureaus and Offices
Official SIte: Freedom of Information Act
Official Site: Issues and Press

Travel

Official Site: Current Travel Warnings
Official Site: Visa
Official Site: Law
Official Site: Passports
Official Site: Children and Family
Official Site: Crisis Preparedness
Official Site: International Travel

Living Abroad

Official Site: American Citizens Services and Crisis Management
Official Site: How to Contact Us
Official Site: American Citizens Services
Official Site: Office of Overseas Schools
Official Site: Office of Authentications
Official Site: What You Should Know If You are Residing Abroad or are Planning to Reside Abroad

Careers

Official Site: Internships
Official Site: Peace Corps
Official Site: Recruitment
Official Site: U.S. Department of State Careers
Official Site: U.S. Department of State Careers - Now Hiring
Official Site: United States Intelligence Community
Wikipedia: United States Foreign Service

Employee Services

Official Site: Family Liaison Office
Official Site: Pay Schedules
Official Site: Family Liaison Office
Official Site: Transition Center
Official Site: No FEAR Act
Official Site: Office of Overseas Schools

U.S. Department of State Videos and Media

Official Site: Daily Press Briefings
YouTube & Google Video: U.S. Department of State Search
YouTube: U.S Department of State Q&A Career TV (Time: 1:22)
YouTube: U.S. Foreign Service Selection Process (Time: 9:38)
YouTube: U.S. Independence Day at the State Department (Time: 4:24)
YouTube: Great Seal of the USA 225th Anniversary State Department (3:33)

U.S. Department of State Blogs and Message Boards

Official Site: US Department of State Blog
Google Blog Search: U.S. Department of State
International Blawg: US State Department Names World's Worst Human Rights Offenders (March 12, 2008)
Extreme Mortman: Blogging Away U.S. Foreign Policy (March 15, 2008)
Catholic Friends of Israel:: U.S. State Dept. ... on "Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism" (March 15, 2008)
Paper Chase (Jurist): China slams US Rights Record in Response to US State Dept... (March 13, 2008)
Minuteman Message Board: US Department of State Drug War

U.S. Department of State Criticism and Commentary

Committee to Free Lori Berenson: US State Department
The New York Times: Send the State Department to War (November 14, 2007
Rense.com:State Department Protection Racket (October 29, 2007)
Hellenic Communication Service: Has the U.S. State Department Capitulated...? (November 10, 2004)

U.S. Department of State Satire

TheSpoof: U.S. State Department in Soccer Shocker
SatireWire: Australia gets Drunk, Wakes up in North Atlantic
The Onion: State Department to hold Enemy Tryouts Next Week

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