Who Is in Control of the State Department?

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Because the president selects the secretary of state, who is the top figure in the United States state department, ultimately it is the US president who controls the state department.
Cabinet Selection

The United States president selects the secretary of state upon his inauguration. All presidential cabinet selections, however, must be approved by Congress following hearings.

Role of the Secretary of State

The secretary of state is considered the president's chief foreign-affairs adviser and is responsible for heading up the state department and the foreign service. Oftentimes the secretary of state will travel and meet with foreign officials on behalf of the president.
Deputy Secretary of State

Following the secretary of state, the deputy secretary serves as principal adviser to the secretary of state and may act in his or her place if necessary.
Deparment and Bureau Leaders

Beneath the secretary of state and the deputy secretary of state in the state department are the various heads of departments and bureaus, including the head of the critical Bureau of Resource Management, which oversees the state department's worldwide finances.
Current Secretary of State

The current secretary of state of the United States is Hillary Rodham Clinton, formerly a senator for the state of New York and former First Lady.