The Secretary of State is a high-ranking official in the United States government who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of State is the Presidents chief foreign affairs adviser and carries out the Presidents foreign policies through the State Department and the Foreign Service of the United States. The Secretary of States duties relating to foreign affairs include the following:

• Serving as the President’s principal adviser on U.S. foreign policy
• Conducting negotiations relating to U.S. foreign affairs
• Advising the President on the appointment of U.S. ambassadors, ministers, consuls, and other diplomatic representatives
• Advising the President regarding the acceptance, recall, and dismissal of the representatives of foreign governments

In addition to these foreign affairs duties, the Secretary of State also has domestic responsibilities that Congress entrusted to the State Department in 1789. These include the custody of the Great Seal of the United States, the preparation of some presidential proclamations, and the extradition of fugitives to or from the country.

It is important to note that the Secretary of States duties can vary depending on the state. For example, the Secretary of States Office in Minnesota oversees statewide elections and operates the statewide voter registration system.