These duties of SOS-- the activities and responsibilities of the State Department -- include the following:
Serves as the President's principal adviser on U.S. foreign policy;Conducts negotiations relating to U.S. foreign affairs;Grants and issues passports to American citizens and exequaturs to foreign consuls in the United States;Advises the President on the appointment of U.S. ambassadors, ministers, consuls, and other diplomatic representatives;Advises the President regarding the acceptance, recall, and dismissal of the representatives of foreign governments;Personally participates in or directs U.S. representatives to international conferences, organizations, and agencies;Negotiates, interprets, and terminates treaties and agreements;Ensures the protection of the U.S. Government to American citizens, property, and interests in foreign countries;Supervises the administration of U.S. immigration laws abroad;Provides information to American citizens regarding the political, economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian conditions in foreign countries;Informs the Congress and American citizens on the conduct of U.S. foreign relations;Promotes beneficial economic intercourse between the United States and other countries;Administers the Department of State;Supervises the Foreign Service of the United States.
and Condeleeza Rice did better????? |