U.S. Department of State

State, U.S. Department of, oldest executive department of the U.S. government. Originally in charge of domestic as well as foreign affairs, it now conducts U.S. foreign policy. It collects and analyzes information from abroad, gives policy advice to the president, and negotiates treaties and agreements. The Department of State is in charge of the U.S. Foreign Service, which maintains some 280 diplomatic and consular offices. The secretary of state is a senior member of the president's cabinet.