State, Department of

State, Department of

 

chief foreign policy organ of the USA since 1789: it has the functions of a ministry of foreign affairs. It is headed by the secretary of state. Legally, the Department of State is a consultative organ; the US Constitution entrusts the execution of foreign policy to the president. In actual fact, the department puts into practice the foreign policy course worked out by the president and Congress. The department also has certain functions of a purely internal nature (in part, the publication of laws).