United States Secretary of State

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/united-states-secretary-of-state

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the year of establishment?1789
2. What is the inaugural office holder?Thomas Jefferson
3. What does the U.S. Secretary of State do?The Secretary of State is the President’s top helper for talking to other countries. They advise the President on global strategy, lead diplomatic efforts, and help shape international alliances.
4. How does someone become Secretary of State?The President picks a person with lots of foreign‑affairs experience and asks the Senate to confirm them. Senators ask questions in hearings and then vote to approve.

Foreign Affairs: The conduct of relations between the United States and other nations, encompassing diplomacy, international law, and global policy.
Department of State: The U.S. federal executive department responsible for international relations, foreign policy, and diplomatic operations.
Presidential Succession: The established order of who would assume the presidency in the event of the President's death, resignation, or removal from office.
Foreign Service: The corps of professional diplomats and officers who represent the U.S. abroad in embassies and consulates.