How does the department of state function

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are of particular concern. It also provides analyses of black market activities such a narcotics, human trafficking, and terrorism. These activities are often perpetrated by global criminal organizations.

There is a huge service industry that supports these organizations. They include providers of false documents and money launderers. They also include legal, financial, and accounting professionals. These activities contribute between 8 percent and 15 percent of the global economy. The State Department assists small countries combat these global organizations. The State Department provides services, including passports, for citizens traveling and living abroad.

It provides visas for foreigners visiting the United States. It also provides expertise to U. It identifies opportunities for them. It works to achieve fair business practices for U. That includes intellectual property protection, intervening with local corruption and bribery, and promoting a climate for entrepreneurship.

The secretary of state is the president's principal adviser on foreign policy. The secretary is the person chiefly responsible for U. He or she is the highest-ranking member of the president's Cabinet. The secretary is fourth in line of presidential succession after the vice-president, senate majority leader, and speaker of the house. They coordinate international relations, intelligence, and defense under the president's supervision.

Jefferson, who had been Foreign Minister to France, began work on March 22, The State Department affects the U. First, it negotiates trade agreements. These increase export opportunities for U.

That's more than 10 percent of the nation's output. It boosts economic growth and creates jobs. Second, the State Department reduces the economic volatility associated with terrorism. It promotes economic stability within other countries throughout the world. That makes it easier for U. It also actively promotes opportunities for American businesses. This includes promoting US sanctions against Iran, which has continued to do business with numerous American corporations—including those with close ties to the Bush administration.

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs : OES is responsible for the integration of matters relating to the environment, science, and technology into United States foreign policy.

It works closely with the White House, Congress, US government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens, as well as other State Department bureaus. Among the specific areas OES addresses when representing the US in making agreements with other nations: Bio-terrorism, climate change, conservation, fisheries, forests, international health issues, oceans, the use of outer space, and wildlife.

Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation : VCI is responsible for ensuring that appropriate verification requirements and capabilities are fully considered and integrated into the development, negotiation, and implementation of new arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament treaties, agreements, and commitments. It also serves as the main liaison to the US Intelligence Community and other key policymakers for verification and compliance issues.

The DRL is perhaps best known for the annual country reports it generates on human rights practices around the globe. Starting with a congressional mandate and a humble pages in , these reports have become one of the most trusted and comprehensive sources of information for human rights advocates and officials.

The bureau also administers a multi-million dollar grant portfolio, including the Human Rights and Democracy Fund HRDF , financing a wide range of human rights and democracy programs worldwide.

Caddell Construction Co. Blackwater Lodge and Training Center, Inc. In addition to its almost special agents, DS employs private security contractors. This supplemental security force has been used largely in Iraq due to the extremely unstable climate in the country since the US invaded in Before the Iraq war, the use of private contractors by DS was limited to small efforts in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

Its staff includes former military, intelligence and law enforcement personnel. DynCorp International evolved from a company formed in that provided support and services to US military aircraft and weapons systems under Air Force contracts. DynCorp has personnel in Iraq are American to provide police training and related services in Iraq. It employs the largest number of private guards in Iraq, almost 1,, of whom only are American.

In March , embarrassed State Department officials admitted that three employees working for private contractors and one department employee had breached the passport files of Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and John McCain. The information could be used to access social security numbers and credit reports, as long with other private information.

Sixty percent of people who process passports are contractors. The contract employees worked for Stanley Inc. On September 22, , Lawrence Yontz, a fromer analyst for the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, pleaded guilty to reading the passport applications of about politicians and celebrities. By June , things had improved, with new embassies going up three years faster this decade than in the s or s, according to a GAO report PDF. A mortar shell smashed into the partially built embassy, damaging a wall and causing minor injuries to people inside the building.

It also exposed enormous problems in the management of the construction project. The contractor in charge, James L. Golden, attempted to alter the scene of the blast, according to government officials.

It was also discovered that OBO continued to use Golden on other projects. The embassy has been plagued by other deficiencies. The electrical system in the dining facility of a nearby guard camp malfunctioned when it was tested. Meanwhile, First Kuwaiti said it stood by the quality of its work.

State Dept. Strobel, McClatchy Newspapers. Criminal probe into U. Embassy in Iraq construction by Warren P. Strobel and Jonathan S. Landay, McClatchy Newspapers. The use of private security companies by the State Department in Iraq came under national scrutiny in September following a firefight in Baghdad involving a group of Blackwater armed guards.

While providing security for a convoy transporting US diplomats, the Blackwater guards opened fire in a traffic circle, killing 17 Iraqis. The company justified the deadly response by claiming the convoy had come under attack from insurgents. Iraqi officials and some US military personnel questioned the accounts of the Blackwater guards. A grand jury was convened in late to examine the shootings. However, federal prosecutors were not sure if the contractors could be prosecuted under US law because of a grant of immunity to Blackwater and other private security companies by the former US occupation government in Iraq.

Further complicating the matter was the limited immunity that State Department investigators offered Blackwater guards as part of their investigation into the shootings. The Blackwater controversy also exposed longstanding tensions between the State Department and the Pentagon over the use of private security companies by diplomats.

Prior to the September firefight, US military leaders had complained about a lack of coordination from State Department officials when companies such as Blackwater which the Pentagon also uses were out in the field providing security. Military officers argued they, not the State Department, should have control over the security guards, whose aggressive behavior interfered with military operations and undermined US efforts to win Iraqi hearts and minds.

Following the September incident, State and Defense officials agreed to a memorandum of understanding that gave US military leaders in Iraq more input over the use of the private guards, but still left the State Department in full control of its contractors. Prior to the September shooting incident, Blackwater was embroiled in controversy when one of its snipers killed three Iraqi guards.

The sniper opened fire from the roof of the Iraqi Justice Ministry, killing a year-old guard for the state-funded Iraqi Media Network, who was standing on a balcony across an open traffic circle.

A third guard was found dead more than an hour later on the same balcony. Eight people who responded to the shootings—including media network and Justice Ministry guards and an Iraqi army commander—and five network officials in the compound said none of the slain guards had fired on the Justice Ministry, where an American diplomat was in a meeting.

Griffin, was forced to resign after the report was released. In Assistant Secretary of State Bobby Charles advocated for the use of aerial spraying to combat poppy production in Afghanistan.

Charles wanted to use a version of Roundup to kill poppy plants, claiming the pesticide was safe to use. Afghanistan officials refused to accept the idea, and eventually INL backed off.

Committee members also cited concerns about corrupt Mexican military and police who might misuse equipment. Among the equipment to be sent to Mexico were helicopters for use in training military personnel.

Ellen Sauerbrey served almost two years as the assistant secretary of state in charge of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration—but that was only because President George W. Bush appointed the Christian conservative during a break in Congress. Prior to running PRM, Sauerbrey had had no experience managing a refugee program. Instead, she had served as ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women—where she opposed international programs that supported abortion or contraception.

Before that, the longtime Republican had worked as a TV talk show host and twice ran, unsuccessfully, for governor of Maryland. Salon: A disastrous appointment by Michelle Goldberg, Salon. Debate: Rewards for Justice. In the case of Rewards for Justice, the focus is on getting ordinary citizens either from the US or other countries to contribute information that leads to the capture or killing of terrorists.

At a time when the threat of terrorism is at its greatest in US history, ordinary citizens should be encouraged to aid in the battle to thwart those bent on harming American citizens or interests.

By doing so, the US government stands a greater chance of maintaining the safety and security of the country. It gives us millions of additional pairs of eyes and ears to be on the lookout. It puts potential informants in every place a terrorist might try to operate or to hide.

Terror war jackpot by Oliver North, Washington Times. Critics of the program say RFJ promotes reckless bounty hunting. There is also the concern that the financial motive may lead to questionable tips received by US officials.

Some wonder if any amount of money can overcome deep-seated ethnic loyalties in places like Afghanistan. The program was reauthorized for five years on July 30, The legislation wasconsidered a compromise, evidencing a response to critical feedback - albeit one critics find incomplete and counterproductive.

The Bill retains the anti-prostitution pledge requirement, and permits groups to use PEPFAR funding for HIV testing and education in family planning clinics - but not for contraception or abortion services. That is, the programs that are allowed to integrate HIV testing, counseling and education services with family planning must already receive U. Former Directors: Colin L. Powell Comments Robert Coxe 1 year ago. We were met at the train station in Cobh by a staffer after our arrival aboard the MV Britannic, bound for Dublin.

Paul 2 years ago. If the US wants to reduce refugees at it's southern boarders then the us should do all to put more pressure on dictatorial regimes especially The Paul BIyA regime of Cameroon that I'd systematically carrying out "holocous"on the peace loving people of southern Cameroons.

Please if the US does not intervene fast and sooner then be rest assured your boarders will be receiving this amount of refugees daily. I beg on the good office of the US state department to help put an end to this regime and crisis in the NOSO that is claiming innocent lives daily to the joy of the brutal military and irresponsible regime of your Yaounde.

I cannot imagine the world sits down and sees how a man as old as 86 years with a handful of his greedy friends are destroying lives and property and despising the entire international community by claiming Cameroon is a souverign state The lives of these innocent People will hold and put thier blames on great nation's like the USA.

Help make thier home comfortable then you will spend the money out n US citizen. I want to count on the US to press hard in the UN for a foreign intervention in the Anglophone crisis this sytember. Jahna Roth 3 years ago. So no military capacity for providing air cover. That's what I thought. Why did you break protocol in Bengazi and blame the State Dept. For something that the CIA was supposed to be in charge of? Let me know.

Pinky Claire Taduran 3 years ago. How come it takes so long to know the result for petitioning a spouse to come here six months is over and still waiting for the result. I hope consulate kindly please update my case. Many external factors affect U. A successful transition to country ownership depends on political stewardship by partner governments and the administrative and technical capabilities of numerous public and private institutions.

Fiscal pressures on traditional donor countries will likely continue to negatively affect their ability to support multilateral initiatives. Steady economic growth in many regions, and particularly in Africa, will create opportunities for countries to direct more domestic resources toward their health sectors. USAID supports increased access to reliable and sustainable water supply and sanitation through funding for infrastructure development and through institutional and capacity development, strengthening of community-based systems, facilitation of private supply of products and services, improved management and governance, and mobilization of additional financing.

Statement: Support the global effort to end preventable child and maternal deaths. By September 30, , U. Government-priority countries by 4 deaths per 1, live births as compared to a baseline. Government and the global community are committed to the goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths.

While many challenges remain, today, more than ever, we are equipped with the tools and knowledge to reach this goal. The health of mothers and children around the world is linked to improvements in maternal health, which inherently affect child health.

Over the past two decades, there has been a nearly 50 percent reduction in maternal deaths, from , in to , in Meanwhile, the annual number of under-five deaths declined from While under-five mortality is declining faster now than in the past two decades, with the annual rate of reduction more than tripling in compared to the rate in , 18, children still die every day.

Description: Addressing climate change successfully demands action at home and more intensive engagement with other countries. Domestically, by , the United States plans to meet its commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17 percent below levels.

In December , the countries party to the UNFCCC are to conclude a new agreement addressing the global climate response in the post era.

This will be a major milestone in the effort to combat climate change over the next two decades. Simultaneously, we will enhance engagement bilaterally, plurilaterally, and multilaterally to deliver results that will contribute to an ambitious and effective global response to climate change, through and beyond. External factors that could affect our efforts include negotiating stances of other countries and domestic actions some countries take to combat climate change.

The private sector plays a major role, as investment decisions such as the choice of technologies for new power generation and design of new cars and trucks can have a climate impact for years to come. Also, partnering with countries to encourage a low-emissions development path will be more successful when working with foreign governments that make combating climate change a priority.

Our efforts involve two major areas of engagement: 1 lowering the atmospheric accumulation rate of greenhouse gases that cause climate change; and 2 helping societies anticipate and incorporate plans for responding to potential climate change impacts. The United States is leading efforts to address climate change through international climate negotiations while enhancing multilateral and bilateral engagement with major economies. It is also enhancing partnerships with other key countries and regions.

These efforts deliver results that contribute to an ambitious and effective global response to climate change to the year and beyond. For example, the U. If implemented, this could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 90 gigatons of CO2 equivalent by This work includes assisting countries to increase their capacity for cross-sector planning and formulating sectoral policies for low-emissions growth.

Other efforts aim to expand clean energy generation and transmission and to increase energy efficiency while phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption. This requires mobilizing public and private investments in cleaner energy, implementing enhanced land-use practices, and building public-private partnerships that reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

State and USAID are also working to promote sustainable land uses, which combine climate change mitigation and resilience with long-term growth. Additionally, State and USAID support adaptation planning processes in vulnerable countries and communities by developing support tools that use climate science and improve access to data. These integrate climate data into planning decisions. They also strengthen public participation in climate change planning, especially by women, vulnerable populations, indigenous groups, and minorities.

State and USAID back actions that increase climate resilience with respect to water security, land management, disaster planning, financial risk management, and management of biodiversity and natural resources. The United States supports bilateral and multilateral programs by working with the most vulnerable communities, least developed and developing nations, and the major greenhouse gas emitters.

Through LEDS assistance, State and USAID seek to guide policy-makers in analyzing, formulating, and making policy decisions enabling them to develop along a lower emission pathway, which contributes to greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Statement: Enable economic growth concurrent with significant reductions in national emissions trajectories through and the longer term by supporting the development and implementation of low emission development strategies LEDS. By the end of , U. Also by the end of , at least 1, additional developing country government officials and practitioners from a baseline of 0 will strengthen their LEDS capacity through participation in the LEDS Global Partnership and that capacity will be meaningfully applied to 25 countries from a baseline of 0.

Description: The focus of this Agency Priority Goal APG is to enable economic growth concurrent with significant reductions in national emissions trajectories through and the longer term by supporting the development and implementation of low emission development strategies LEDS. Government team is working with partner countries to identify and advance effective economy-wide LEDS. The LEDS Global Partnership is a multilateral platform for enhanced coordination, information exchange, and cooperation among countries and international programs working to advance low emission climate resilient growth that the U.

State Department founded. Low-emission, climate-resilient sustainable economic growth is highlighted as a U. Description: The geopolitics of energy is being transformed, as traditional energy producers address the steeply rising demand from the developing world. Changes in production patterns, such as the Western Hemisphere becoming a larger fossil fuel producer, are altering the global dynamic.

The viability of new energy technologies, such as new ways to produce natural gas, and the steep fall in the cost of renewables, are changing energy market trade and consumption patterns. At the same time, worldwide nearly 1. Although Africa has abundant renewable and hydrocarbon potential, 69 percent of people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity.

According to the International Energy Agency IEA , global demand for electricity will grow 70 percent by , faster than any other final form of energy.

State and USAID are committed to working with our global partners to establish commercially viable energy sectors that can attract investment to expand access to energy, increase the use of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies, and ensure responsible, transparent, and effective stewardship of energy resources. Global access to reliable, affordable energy is vital to our economic, environment, foreign policy, and development priorities.

The Department of State and USAID join together our diplomatic and programmatic efforts to build sustainable, transparent, and predictable international energy markets that advance U.

Our prosperity and that of our international allies and partners depend on global markets for traded energy commodities such as oil and natural gas. While we must protect our energy security today, we must also foster international cooperation toward a global clean energy and energy-efficient future. Engaging developing nations, which will be the largest contributors to growth in global energy demand in coming decades, is essential to successful energy and climate diplomacy.

Expanding access to modern, affordable sustainable energy can be a win-win solution for the climate, the global economy, and development. It can curb greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, spur economic growth, and lower energy costs, while attracting private investment to emerging economies to improve national and regional power networks.

Strengthening energy sector governance, transparency, and accountability supports economic growth, improves democratic prospects, reduces the potential for resource-fueled conflict, and helps U. Renewables are expected to account for two-thirds of new investment in generation capacity. Investment opportunities in global power markets are enormous. We are working to ensure that American companies are well-positioned for these new markets, especially in the fast growing emerging economies.

We will continue to work for stable and transparent policy and regulatory frameworks to enable investments in national and regional markets. These markets offer economies of scale for U. The main external factor that could affect our work is whether the private sector can make the needed investments in energy infrastructure. This depends to a large extent on governments putting in place a sound energy sector regulatory framework and investment climate, but it also depends on market conditions and the capital that companies can commit.

On the diplomatic side, if countries decide not to engage with international energy organizations, it could complicate efforts to strengthen those organizations. To promote energy security, access to clean energy, and mitigate climate change by accelerating the transition to a cleaner global economy, State and USAID will support increased energy efficiency, better energy sector governance, improved energy access, stronger national and regional energy markets, and more public and private financing.

To make energy systems more efficient, commercially viable, and cleaner, State and USAID will support programs that enhance utility performance, reduce technical and commercial losses, and improve air quality. State and USAID will also support energy sector restructuring, increasing the global rate of energy efficiency, and expanding the contribution of renewable energy. This will require improved energy sector planning, including institutional capacity building, technical assistance and integrated resource planning.

It will also require expanded collaborations and public-private partnerships with other countries in science, technology, and innovation in clean energy. This work further includes policy and regulatory enhancement and reform efforts to strengthen the investment climate for clean energy projects.

State and USAID will also be responsive to changes in natural gas markets in order to increase global availability of this bridge fuel. Gaining access to energy can transform lives, State and USAID will seek to increase access to reliable, affordable energy services for underserved rural and urban populations across the world. This will require accelerating development and scaling-up appropriate business and financing models for energy access.

It also means supporting cross-sectoral development priorities, such as health, agriculture, and education. Strengthening national and regional energy markets is another key step toward reaching this objective. State and USAID will contribute by advancing Presidential initiatives in Asia, the Americas, and Africa to deploy clean energy and expand cross-border trade in electricity.

One initiative is Power Africa , which aims to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa, initially focusing on six countries — Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. We will also encourage international financial institutions and private sector companies to invest in power sector investments in sub-Saharan Africa. This requires mobilization of public and private sector finance.

State and USAID will push for transparent and streamlined processes for due diligence, tendering, and procurement to accelerate power projects to reach financial close. Protect Core U. Statement: Protect Core U. Description: For more than years, the State Department has focused its diplomatic engagement on other governments — and done so successfully. But since the late 20th century, international relations have not been about ties between governments.

The growth of new democracies, shifts in culture, rise of the middle class worldwide, and advances in technology have resulted in the diffusion of power from governments to citizens. Even in autocratic societies, leaders must increasingly respond to the opinions and actions of their people. Today, international relations are increasingly about the links between societies rather than governments.

Civil society can be a catalyst for social, political, and economic progress. Civic groups mobilize people and resources to fight disease and hunger. They work to strengthen rule of law and promote accountability and transparency. They are also critical to economic development, because in our global economy, trade and investment flow to countries that give citizens the freedom to create and develop new ideas.

Labor organizations are essential to set a floor on labor standards in a globalized marketplace. Strong civil societies uphold universal human rights and provide care to victims. Political systems that protect universal rights are more stable, successful, and secure. For the United States, strengthening and protecting civil society is not just a matter of good global citizenship; it is a more effective and efficient path to advancing key foreign policy objectives. As part of this agenda, the White House established an interagency process to coordinate overarching U.

The State Department and USAID continue to make efforts to strengthen and protect civil society, promote participatory and inclusive political processes, and increase connections between Americans and people around the world — through efforts ranging from public service and educational exchanges to increased commerce and public-private partnerships.

As a matter of policy, we oppose restrictions on civil society and engage when governments try to stifle civic activism. Through USAID and State programming, we strengthen the legal environment for civil society, promote politically engaged and informed citizenries, help develop open and sustainable media sectors, and support independent and democratic trade or labor unions.

We integrate religious engagement as a crucial element of our bilateral and multilateral efforts to promote religious tolerance, in line with the NSS Strategy for Integrating Religious Leader and Faith Community Engagement into U. Foreign Policy. And we provide civil society, independent media organizations, bloggers, and advocates with mentoring, tools, and techniques to enhance their advocacy skills, bolster their information technology capabilities, and protect their security, both online and offline.

At a time of budget austerity and growing restrictions on foreign assistance, we also work to foster domestic philanthropy abroad and address legal impediments to charitable giving. The State Department and USAID have developed new capabilities and partnerships that expand our capacity for engagement with civil society, and implement programs and policies to foster vibrant civic ecosystems worldwide. USAID is also working with local grassroots civil society organizations in an effort to increase local capacity.

The State Department is enhancing its people-to-people exchange programs and elevating youth issues as a policy priority. Through these efforts, the United States is building ties to young professionals and emerging leaders in a global economy. The Department of State engages a full range of tools, including diplomacy, foreign assistance and public-private partnerships, to optimize the Open Government Partnership OGP as a vehicle to support civic participation and make government more responsive, effective, and accountable.

The Department works through the Community of Democracies to coordinate diplomatic responses to actions, including pending legislation abroad, that threaten civil society or could increase restrictions on the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, online and offline. We also work multilaterally to provide targeted technical assistance to Civil Society Organizations CSOs and partner with 18 other governments and foundations through the Lifeline.

Embattled CSOs Assistance Fund to offer emergency financial assistance when civic groups are threatened. Defending Internet freedom is a central component of U. For example, the United States supports the Digital Defenders Partnership, which provides emergency assistance for activists, bloggers, citizen journalists, and common citizens who have been harassed, threatened, or arrested for exercising their human rights online.

We support the development of technologies for activists in highly repressive environments and provide training to protect activists in these environments from harm. In developing countries, we strengthen civil society role in Internet policymaking and support their participation in global Internet governance.

The Department of State and USAID will continue to strengthen civil society by providing training and offering tools for success while also working with partners in the philanthropic community to encourage domestic philanthropy and volunteerism abroad.

External factors, including competing U. And history shows us that countries whose policies respect and reflect these rights are far more likely to be more peaceful and more prosperous, far more effective at tapping the talents of their people, far more capable of being innovative and moving rapidly and innovatively in the marketplace, and they are better long-term partners.

Those rights also include dignity, tolerance, and equality among all people, including ethnic and racial minorities; religious minorities; women; youth; indigenous persons; displaced persons; stateless persons; persons with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

We are working with international partners to reverse the troubling trend of increasing restrictions on the freedoms of association and assembly, especially restrictions on civil society organizations, and to combat violence against religious minorities. We are broadening and diversifying multi-stakeholder initiatives that provide support for civil society organizations and human rights defenders, especially those under threat. We will continue our focus on advancing the ability of people worldwide to exercise freely their universal human rights through new technologies, safely, and without fear of retribution.

We will also continue to work with civil society and business partners to promote responsible business conduct in ways that reinforce our human rights objectives. Secretary Kerry has said, "Human rights are quite simply the foundation for a free and an open society. The United States works to promote and protect universal human rights worldwide, including an individual's right to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude, to speak one's own mind, to assemble without fear, to believe or not to believe in a religion, and to choose his or her own leaders.

Those rights also include dignity, tolerance, and equality among all people; including ethnic and racial minorities, religious minorities, women, youth, indigenous persons, displaced persons, stateless persons, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender LGBT people. Internationally-recognized labor rights are enshrined in the International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

In September , President Obama launched Stand with Civil Society , a global call to action to support, defend, and sustain civil society amid a rising tide of restrictions on its operations globally. Working in partnership with other governments, the philanthropic community, and multilateral initiatives, the U. Through U. Description: The United States supports the expansion of democracy abroad because countries with freely elected, accountable governments contribute to a freer, more prosperous, and peaceful world.

Democracies are our strongest partners on security, trade, energy, and the environment, in peace and conflict. Our support for democratic ideals supplies a lifeline for individuals striving for change, and is our greatest strength in combating violent extremism. Democratic governments work with the United States to build consensus and solve problems on the global stage.

Their respect for the pluralism of ideas, inclusiveness, and vibrant civil societies leads to innovation and entrepreneurship that benefits all. The United States works to promote and institutionalize the foundations of democratic accountability around the world — free and fair electoral processes, strong legislatures, rights-respecting constitutions and legal frameworks, civilian control of militaries, a vibrant private sector, and a robust civil society with independent NGOs and labor unions, and a free and independent media — online and off.

Democratic accountability also requires accountable civilian police, independent and fair judiciaries, commitment to proactively investigate and prosecute human rights violators, including human traffickers, and humane corrections systems.

Through diplomacy and development, we seek to end impunity and foster greater accountability of institutions and leaders to the people and the law. We encourage governments to pursue anti-corruption measures and thereby build accountability and support for democracy.

The United States works to build and sustain the capacity for all members of society, including women and under-represented groups, to participate fully in the democratic process and in the strengthening of democratic institutions. We encourage consensus building, and we promote the right of individuals, NGOs, and other civil society organizations to peacefully exercise their rights of expression, association, and assembly.

We support the leadership of emerging democracies as they assume a more active role in advancing basic human rights and democratic values in their regions and globally. In nascent or fragile democracies, we support governments and civil society as they build and strengthen institutions necessary for democratic development, rule of law, and delivery of tangible improvements for their people.

And in closed or restrictive societies, we support civil society, particularly human rights defenders and independent media. We will make clear that all people should have a say in how they are governed, that governments should be the collective power of the citizenry, and that leaders draw their legitimacy from those they govern. And we will emphasize the importance of including all members of society regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, caste, disability, or sexual orientation.

We reaffirm our commitment to encourage democratic governance as a force for stability, peace, and prosperity. Only the people of a nation can truly bring about sustainable democracy. Working with U. Many factors could affect achievement of these goals. Democratic progress can take decades, and setbacks are common.

It is difficult to quantify our impact in accomplishing our diplomatic objectives or our medium to longer-term programmatic impact, because success may not be apparent for years and is often the result of the efforts by many contributors. There will be voices that challenge and impede our multilateral democracy and human rights efforts.

In the short-term, authoritarian non-rights-respecting governments may oppose the U. These governments may balk at democracy-building measures and threaten to delay agreements or progress on other priorities, be they security, political, or economic priorities. Consistent engagement is necessary for success. Description: Twenty-first century diplomatic and development challenges demand innovative approaches to create transformational solutions.

In an era when information is disseminated instantaneously worldwide, our ability to engage quickly and effectively with the multitude of stakeholders, customers, and audiences is a core competency for our high-performing, motivated professionals.

To meet these challenges also requires a flexible, nimble and efficient support platform for our professionals who are representing the United States around the world. President Obama announced his commitment to attaining an unprecedented level of transparency and excellence in government, which is reflected in his second-term Management Agenda.

The State Department and USAID, in support of this Agenda, are spearheading new efforts to engage with the public, modernize information systems, streamline administrative processes, and ensure the prompt release of information to the public, while remaining cognizant of protecting our partners working in closed societies and other sensitive environments.

Several of our initiatives involve management innovations in an environment that encourages us to continuously improve our processes and procedures. These apply evidenced-based planning; acquisition and assistance reform; enhanced information technology platforms; and procedures for the strategic allocation, alignment, and assessment of our resources.

Other initiatives involve creating new approaches to diplomacy and development that embrace the power and role of individual citizens and publics as critical to achieving shared goals or for countering the influence of extremist and violent individuals and groups. In meeting all of these challenges, State and USAID are committed to ensuring that we use our resources in the most effective and focused ways possible while also adhering to U.

Reflecting a new model, we seek to apply the transformative power of science, technology, innovation, and partnerships to deliver more cost-effective, sustainable results. Improving customer service and coping with a projected 40 percent increase in passport applications through a new electronic application process; furthering sustainability of USAID development investments through a diversified partner base of local organizations, U.

At a time when changes in technology, demography, and political discourse are giving citizens around the world unmatched power to affect their societies and U. They will continue to explore balanced, smart, and lean approaches to addressing joint management issues.

Innovations at USAID make it possible to deliver results on a larger scale while simultaneously pursuing more strategic, focused, sustainable, and results-oriented approaches that maximize the impact of our development dollars. Evidence-based planning and increased operational efficiency and effectiveness are among the factors accounting for the impressive improvements in performance and results. USAID is also promoting sustainable development through building high-impact partnerships.

USAID is using, strengthening, and rendering accountable local partners so they can sustain their own development. For USAID, the power of science, technology, innovation, and partnerships are all being applied to the goal of delivering more effective, cost-efficient results for sustainable global development.

Description: The mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs CA is to provide consular operations that most efficiently and effectively protect U. Two core functions of this mission are the provision of passports and visas. Demand for passport and visa documents is inherently unpredictable in the long term, and this variability can greatly affect workload planning efforts. This is true especially with regard to the current Congressional discussion surrounding comprehensive immigration reform and the potential challenges the Department would face in implementing any reform legislation.

While the proposed reforms would have a major impact on consular operations and workload, CA will work closely with Congress, the Administration, and its interagency partners to be sure it has the human and financial resources to implement any changes to U. Domestically, the Department supports a significant presence across the country to respond to the consular service needs of the U.

The number of valid passports in circulation has doubled in the past decade. Approximately million U. In FY , CA issued