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U.S. Department of State
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U.S. Department of State

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Also known as: State Department
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Last Updated: • Article History
Quick Facts
Also called:
State Department
Date:
1789 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
foreign policy
Related People:
Alger Hiss
See all related content

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U.S. Department of State, executive division of the U.S. federal government responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy. Established in 1789, it is the oldest of the federal departments and the president’s principal means of conducting treaty negotiations and forging agreements with foreign countries. Under its administration are the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, the Foreign Service Institute, and various offices of diplomatic security, foreign intelligence, policy analysis, international narcotics control, protocol, and passport services.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.