Department of State

noun phrase

: the part of the U.S. government that is responsible for how the U.S. deals with other countries

Examples of Department of State in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees elections, said that by Saturday there were some 3,700 challenges to mail ballot applications by overseas voters pending in 10 counties. —Mark Scolforo, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2024

The company said that the Michigan Department of State and Bureau of Elections had since updated its website to affirm the issue only affects Michigan. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Under Schmidt’s watch, the Department of State has also continued its year-round hotline to report voter intimidation and election fraud and a fact-checking Web page designed to combat disinformation and suspicion. —Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024

Throughout the Obama administration, Psaki served in a variety of roles, including deputy press secretary, deputy communications director, spokesperson for the Department of State, and White House communications director. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

Legal Definition

Department of State

Agency

federal executive division responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy. It is the president's principal means of conducting treaty negotiations and effecting agreements with foreign nations. Under its control are the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, seven bureaus of political affairs, the U.S. Foreign Service (including 270 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions, and numerous subagencies), and various offices of diplomatic security, foreign intelligence, policy analysis, international narcotics control, protocol, and passport and medical services. The department's legal adviser advises the secretary of state on all matters of international law arising in the conduct of foreign relations.