DEPARTMENT OF STATE.—­The secretary of state is the head of the department of state, formerly called the department of foreign affairs.  His office is the highest rank in the cabinet, and is next in importance to that of the President.  He preserves the original draughts of all treaties, laws, public documents, and correspondence with foreign countries.  He keeps the great seal of the United States, and fixes it to all commissions signed by the President.  He furnishes copies of records and papers kept in his office, impressed with the seal of his department, and authenticates all proclamations and messages of the President.

He has charge of the negotiation of treaties and other foreign affairs, conducts correspondence with foreign ministers, issues instructions for the guidance of our ministers and other agents to foreign countries, and from time to time reports to Congress the relations of the United States with other governments.  He is the organ of communication between the President and the governors of the States.

He issues traveling papers, called passports, to citizens wishing to travel in foreign countries.  When foreign criminals take refuge in this country, he issues warrants for their delivery according to the terms of existing treaties.  He presents to the President all foreign ministers, and is the only officer authorized to represent him in correspondence with foreign governments.

The secretary of state has three assistants, called respectively, first assistant secretary of state, second assistant secretary of state, and third assistant secretary of state.

The department of state conducts the foreign affairs of the government chiefly through the diplomatic service and the consular service.

THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.—­The officers of the diplomatic service are called ministers, and represent the United States in a political capacity.  They negotiate treaties under the direction of the secretary of state, and maintain friendly relations between the United States and the countries to which they are accredited.  They are forbidden to engage in any commercial transaction, or to exercise any control over the commercial interests of the United States.

By the laws of nations, foreign ministers in all countries enjoy many rights and privileges not accorded to other foreign persons.  They are assisted by interpreters, who explain speeches made in foreign tongues; and by secretaries of legation, who keep the records, and attend to the minor duties of the ministers.

The diplomatic service consists of ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary, of envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, and of ministers resident.  These officials rank in the order named, but the duties are the same; the chief difference being in the rank and influence of the countries to which they are accredited.

The ambassadors and ministers of the higher rank receive salaries ranging from seven thousand five hundred dollars to seventeen thousand five hundred dollars each, the latter sum being paid to the ambassadors to such important countries as Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Mexico, Japan, etc.