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22 U.S.C. 3952: Diplomatic and consular missionsText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 22-FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSECHAPTER 52-FOREIGN SERVICE
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§3952. Diplomatic and consular missions

(a)  Recommendations by Secretary of State; appointment by President; vice consul; performance of official functions under commission

The Secretary of State may recommend to the President that a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States be commissioned as a diplomatic or consular officer or both. The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, commission such member of the Service as a diplomatic or consular officer or both. The Secretary of State may commission as a vice consul a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States. All official functions performed by a diplomatic or consular officer, including a vice consul, shall be performed under such a commission.

(b)  Function of commissioned Service members

Members of the Service commissioned under this section may, in accordance with their commissions, perform any function which any category of diplomatic officer (other than a chief of mission) or consular officer is authorized by law to perform.

(c)  Limits of consular districts

The Secretary of State shall define the limits of consular districts.

( Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 312 , Oct. 17, 1980 , 94 Stat. 2087 .)