department of state

Department of State
    n 1: the federal department in the United States that sets and
         maintains foreign policies; "the Department of State was
         created in 1789" [syn: {Department of State}, {United
         States Department of State}, {State Department}, {State},
         {DoS}]
    

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, government. The laws of the United States provide that 
there shall be an executive department, denominated the department of state; 
and a principal officer therein, called the secretary of state. (q.v.) Acts 
of July 27, 1789; September 15, 1789, s. 1. There shall be in such 
department an inferior officer, to be appointed by the Secretary, and 
employed therein, as he shall deem proper, to be called the chief clerk of 
the department of state. (q.v.) Act of July 27, 1789, s. 2. 
     2. He may employ, besides, one chief clerk, whose compensation shall 
not exceed two thousand dollars. per annum; two clerks, whose compensation 
shall not exceed one thousand six hundred dollars; four clerks, whose 
compensation shall not exceed one thousand four hundred dollars each; one 
clerk, whose compensation shall not exceed one thousand dollars; two clerks, 
whose compensation shall not exceed eight hundred dollars each; one, 
messenger and assistant, at a compensation not exceeding one thousand and 
fifty dollars per annum; one superintendent of the patent office, whose 
compensation shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars; and, in the 
patent office, one clerk, whose compensation shall not exceed one thousand 
dollars; one machinist, at a compensation not exceeding seven hundred 
dollars; and one messenger, at a compensation not exceeding four hundred 
dollars per annum. Act of May 26, 1824; Act of April 20, 1818, s. 2. 
     3. By the Act of March 2, 1827, 3 Story's Laws, 2061, he is authorized 
to employ, in the state department, one additional clerk, whose compensation 
shall not exceed sixteen hundred dollars; two additional clerks, whose 
compensation shall not exceed one thousand dollars each; and one additional 
clerk for the patent office, whose compensation shall not exceed eight 
hundred dollars.