§2651a. Organization of Department of State

(a) Secretary of State

(1) The Department of State shall be administered, in accordance with this Act and other provisions of law, under the supervision and direction of the Secretary of State (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary").

(2) The Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of State, and the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(3)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in this section, the Secretary shall have and exercise any authority vested by law in any office or official of the Department of State. The Secretary shall administer, coordinate, and direct the Foreign Service of the United States and the personnel of the Department of State, except where authority is inherent in or vested in the President.

(B)(i) The Secretary shall not have the authority of the Inspector General or the Chief Financial Officer.

(ii) The Secretary shall not have any authority given expressly to diplomatic or consular officers.

(4) The Secretary is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Secretary of State and the Department of State. Unless otherwise specified in law, the Secretary may delegate authority to perform any of the functions of the Secretary or the Department to officers and employees under the direction and supervision of the Secretary. The Secretary may delegate the authority to redelegate any such functions.

(b) Under Secretaries

(1) In general

There shall be in the Department of State not more than 6 Under Secretaries of State, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be compensated at the rate provided for at level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5.

(2) Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security

There shall be in the Department of State, among the Under Secretaries authorized by paragraph (1), an Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, who shall assist the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary in matters related to international security policy, arms control, and nonproliferation. Subject to the direction of the President, the Under Secretary may attend and participate in meetings of the National Security Council in his role as Senior Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on Arms Control and Nonproliferation Matters.

(3) Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy

There shall be in the Department of State, among the Under Secretaries authorized by paragraph (1), an Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, who shall have primary responsibility to assist the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary in the formation and implementation of United States public diplomacy policies and activities, including international educational and cultural exchange programs, information, and international broadcasting.

(4) Nomination of Under Secretaries

Whenever the President submits to the Senate a nomination of an individual for appointment to a position in the Department of State that is described in paragraph (1), the President shall designate the particular Under Secretary position in the Department of State that the individual shall have.

(c) Assistant Secretaries

(1) In general

There shall be in the Department of State not more than 24 Assistant Secretaries of State, each of whom shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be compensated at the rate provided for at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5.

(2) Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

(A) There shall be in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor who shall be responsible to the Secretary of State for matters pertaining to human rights and humanitarian affairs (including matters relating to prisoners of war and members of the United States Armed Forces missing in action) in the conduct of foreign policy and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. The Secretary of State shall carry out the Secretary's responsibility under section 2304 of this title through the Assistant Secretary.

(B) The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor shall maintain continuous observation and review all matters pertaining to human rights and humanitarian affairs (including matters relating to prisoners of war and members of the United States Armed Forces missing in action) in the conduct of foreign policy including the following:

(i) Gathering detailed information regarding humanitarian affairs and the observance of and respect for internationally recognized human rights in each country to which requirements of sections 2151n and 2304 of this title are relevant.

(ii) Preparing the statements and reports to Congress required under section 2304 of this title.

(iii) Making recommendations to the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development regarding compliance with sections 2151n and 2304 of this title, and as part of the Assistant Secretary's overall policy responsibility for the creation of United States Government human rights policy, advising the Administrator of the Agency for International Development on the policy framework under which section 2151n(e) projects are developed and consulting with the Administrator on the selection and implementation of such projects.

(iv) Performing other responsibilities which serve to promote increased observance of internationally recognized human rights by all countries.

(3) Nomination of Assistant Secretaries

Whenever the President submits to the Senate a nomination of an individual for appointment to a position in the Department of State that is described in paragraph (1), the President shall designate the regional or functional bureau or bureaus of the Department of State with respect to which the individual shall have responsibility.

(d) Other senior officials

In addition to officials of the Department of State who are otherwise authorized to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and to be compensated at level IV of the Executive Schedule of ¹ section 5315 of title 5 four other such appointments are authorized.

(e) Coordinator for Counterterrorism

(1) In general

There is within the office of the Secretary of State a Coordinator for Counterterrorism (in this paragraph referred to as the "Coordinator") who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(2) Duties

(A) In general

The Coordinator shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of State shall prescribe.

(B) Duties described

The principal duty of the Coordinator shall be the overall supervision (including policy oversight of resources) of international counterterrorism activities. The Coordinator shall be the principal adviser to the Secretary of State on international counterterrorism matters. The Coordinator shall be the principal counterterrorism official within the senior management of the Department of State and shall report directly to the Secretary of State.

(3) Rank and status of Ambassador

The Coordinator shall have the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.

(f) Qualifications of officer having primary responsibility for personnel management

The officer of the Department of State with primary responsibility for assisting the Secretary of State with respect to matters relating to personnel in the Department of State, or that officer's principal deputy, shall have substantial professional qualifications in the field of human resource policy and management.

(g) Qualifications of officer having primary responsibility for diplomatic security

The officer of the Department of State with primary responsibility for assisting the Secretary of State with respect to diplomatic security, or that officer's principal deputy, shall have substantial professional qualifications in the fields of (1) management, and (2) Federal law enforcement, intelligence, or security.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, §1 [part], 70 Stat. 890 ; renumbered title I and amended Pub. L. 97–241, title II, §202(a), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 282 ; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §161(a), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 402 ; Pub. L. 103–415, §1(f)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4299 ; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XII, §1213, title XIII, §1313, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §§2301(a), 2303–2305(a)(1), (b)(1), (c), 2306, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–767 , 2681-776, 2681-824, 2681-825, 2681-826; Pub. L. 106–553, §1(a)(2) [title IV, §404(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762 , 2762A-96.)

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, 70 Stat. 890 , as amended, known as the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, which enacted sections 2651a, 2669 to 2672, 2673 to 2679a, 2680, 2680a, 2684, 2687 to 2690, 2692, 2695, and 2696 to 2724 of this title and chapters 53 (§4301 et seq.), 53A (§4341 et seq.), and 53B (§4351 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1956 Amendment note set out under section 2651 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 2662 of this title.

Section was also formerly classified to section 170f of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378 .

Amendments

2000-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106–553 substituted ", the Deputy Secretary of State, and the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources" for "and the Deputy Secretary of State".

1998-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–277, §1213, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. heading, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(a)(1), substituted "6 Under Secretaries" for "5 Under Secretaries".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–277, §1313, added par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105–277, §2306(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(b)(1), substituted "24" for "20".

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–277, §2306(b), added par. (3).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(c), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (d). Text read as follows: "There shall be in the Department of State not more than 66 Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State."

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(c)(2), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(c)(2), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 105–277, §2301(a), added subsec. (f).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(c)(2), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (f).

Pub. L. 105–277, §2303, added subsec. (g).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–277, §2305(c)(2), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g).

Pub. L. 105–277, §2304, added subsec. (h).

1994-Pub. L. 103–236 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "The Secretary of State is authorized to establish, maintain, and operate passport and despatch agencies."

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–415 inserted "and the Deputy Secretary of State" after "Secretary".

1982-Pub. L. 97–241 substituted "The Secretary" for "That the Secretary".

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by section 1213 of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Apr. 1, 1999, see section 1201 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6511 of this title.

Amendment by section 1313 of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Oct. 1, 1999, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6531 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(f)(2), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4300 , provided that: "The amendments made by this section and section 162 [amending this section, sections 2151n, 2304, 2314, 2349aa–2, 2384, 2652b, 2655a, 2669, 2670, 2707, 2755, 4302 to 4305, 4308, 4801, 4802, 4806, 4821 to 4823, and 4852 of this title, sections 5314 and 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, sections 1101, 1104, 1105, and 1521 to 1523 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality, repealing sections 811a, 2652, 2652a, 2653 to 2655, 2658, 4803, and 4804 of this title and section 1525 of Title 8, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 113 of Title 10, Armed Forces] shall apply with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of the Department of State when executive orders, regulations, or departmental directives implementing such amendments become effective, or 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], whichever comes earlier."

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–241, effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 204 of Pub. L. 97–241, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.

State Department Official for Northeastern Europe

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §302], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536 , 1501A-434, provided that: "The Secretary of State shall designate a senior-level official of the Department of State with responsibility for promoting regional cooperation in and coordinating United States policy toward Northeastern Europe."

Science and Technology Adviser to Secretary of State

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §303], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536 , 1501A-434, provided that:

"(a) Designation.-The Secretary of State shall designate a senior-level official of the Department of State as the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State (in this section referred to as the 'Adviser'). The Adviser shall have substantial experience in the area of science and technology. The Adviser shall report to the Secretary of State through the appropriate Under Secretary of State.

"(b) Duties.-The Adviser shall-

"(1) advise the Secretary of State, through the appropriate Under Secretary of State, on international science and technology matters affecting the foreign policy of the United States; and

"(2) perform such duties, exercise such powers, and have such rank and status as the Secretary of State shall prescribe."

Transition; Reappointment of Officers Holding Office as of April 30, 1994, Not Required

Section 161(c) of Pub. L. 103–236 provided that: "Any officer of the Department of State holding office on the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994] shall not be required to be reappointed to any other office, at the Department of State at the same level performing similar functions, as determined by the President, by reason of the enactment of the amendments made by this section and section 162 [see Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note above for classification]."

[Functions of President under section 161(c) of Pub. L. 103–236, set out above, delegated to Secretary of State by Memorandum of President of the United States, July 26, 1994, 59 F.R. 40205, set out as a note under section 2370a of this title.]

References to Officials and Offices of Department of State Whose Authority Is vested in Secretary of State Deemed References to Secretary of State or Department of State

Section 161(d) of Pub. L. 103–236 provided that: "Except as specifically provided in this Act [see Tables for classification], or the amendments made by this Act, a reference in any other provision of law to an official or office of the Department of State affected by the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] (other than the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of State) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary of State or the Department of State, as may be appropriate."

Office of Coordinator for Counterterrorism

Section 161(e) of Pub. L. 103–236, which established for not less than one year after Apr. 30, 1994, an Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the Department of State having the same responsibilities and functions as such office had as of Jan. 20, 1993, was repealed by Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2301(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–824 .

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Burdensharing

Section 161(f) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(f)(3), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4300 , which conditioned availability of 1995 appropriations upon establishment of position within Department of State of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Burdensharing and set forth responsibilities of position, was repealed by Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2302, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–825 .

Authorization To Redelegate Certain Responsibilities Vested in the President and Delegated to the Secretary of State

Memorandum of President of the United States, Nov. 4, 1997, 62 F.R. 60995, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, to the extent that you consider doing so appropriate to facilitate the consolidation of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Department of State, I hereby authorize you to redelegate to any officer of the executive branch any or all authorities vested in the President that are delegated to the Secretary of State by any act, order, determination, delegation of authority, regulation, or Executive order heretofore or hereinafter enacted or issued and that have been or may be redelegated to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

William J. Clinton.      

[For abolition, transfer of functions, and treatment of references to United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, see section 6511 et seq. of this title.]

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 2652c of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "under".