catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

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

  Department of State /dɪpˈɑːtmənt ɒv stˈeɪt/
  amerikanisches Außenministerium
     Synonym: State Department
  
   see: foreign office, ministry of foreign affairs, Swiss Foreign Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  

  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.