Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
U.S. Department of State
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Read Next
Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting
Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?
Washington, D.C. locator map.
What State Is Washington, D.C. In?
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Discover
Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet
10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
All Saints Day. All Souls Day. Candles in cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day, November 1. All Souls Day, November 2. Christian church, All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Feast of All Saints, purgatory, Roman Catholic church
7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.
Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

U.S. Department of State

United States government
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: State Department
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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

News •

The Latest: Hegseth had an unsecured internet line in his office for Signal, AP sources say • Apr. 24, 2025, 7:58 PM ET (AP)
Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine by resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia • Apr. 24, 2025, 12:15 AM ET (AP)
The Latest: US stocks are leaping amid a worldwide rally • Apr. 23, 2025, 7:00 PM ET (AP)
Palestinian student remains detained in Vermont with a hearing set for next week • Apr. 23, 2025, 5:01 PM ET (AP)
International students stripped of legal status in the US are piling up wins in court • Apr. 23, 2025, 4:58 PM ET (AP)

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.