How does the Department of State interact with Congress? - The National Museum of American Diplomacy (2024)

FAQs

How does the U.S. Department of State interact with Congress? ›

They work closely with authorizing, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with individual Members who express interest in Department or foreign policy issues.

The U.S. Department of State manages America's relationships with foreign governments, international organizations, and the people of other countries. The management of all of these relationships is called diplomacy.

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.

U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Committees

House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) – The HFAC is responsible for oversight and legislation related to a number of different foreign policy issues, including foreign assistance, promotion of democracy, and international law enforcement issues.

The Department of State (DOS) advises the President and leads the nation in foreign policy issues. The State Department negotiates treaties and agreements with foreign entities and represents the United States at the United Nations.

All legislative power in the government is vested in Congress, meaning that it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws. Executive Branch agencies issue regulations with the full force of law, but these are only under the authority of laws enacted by Congress.

The President of the United States, in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, is given the power to negotiate with foreign governments and appoint ambassadors. These responsibilities make the President the Chief Diplomat of the United States.

The State Department is responsible for the diplomatic aspects of foreign policy. It manages US embassies and consulates abroad and takes the lead in negotiations with other countries. The State Department links foreign governments and US policy makers.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Major responsibilities include United States representation abroad, foreign assistance, foreign military training programs, countering international crime, and a wide assortment of services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seeking entrance to the United States.

The Executive Branch and the Congress have constitutional responsibilities for US foreign policy. Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead US foreign affairs agency, and its head, the secretary of state, is the president's principal foreign policy advisor.

Who protects American diplomats? ›

The bureau of diplomatic security (DS) is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State and is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. “This job is demanding, the stakes are high, and the hours are long.”

Our highest priority is to protect the lives and interests of U.S. citizens overseas. We do this through routine and emergency services to Americans at our embassies and consulates around the world.

Antony J. Blinken was sworn in as the 71st U.S. Secretary of State on January 26, 2021. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser.

The executive branch consists of the President, his or her advisors and various departments and agencies. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land.

The compensation for most Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000. These levels have remained unchanged since 2009.

The U.S. Department of State leads America's foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity.

The states and the federal government have both exclusive and concurrent powers, which help to explain the negotiation over the balance of power between them. The federal government can encourage the adoption of policies at the state-level through federal aid programs.

Through legislative debate and compromise, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives. It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.

Each state sends elected representatives and senators to Congress.