secretary of state of the united states

1 definition found

secretary of state of the united states - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, government. The principal officer 
  in the Department of State. (q.v.) He shall perform such duties as shall be 
  enjoined on or entrusted to him by the president, agreeably to the 
  constitution, relative to the correspondences, commissions or instructions 
  to or with public ministers or consuls from the United States, or to 
  negotiations with foreign states or princes, or to memorials or other 
  applications from foreign public ministers or foreigners, or to such other 
  matters respecting foreign affairs as the president of the United States 
  shall assign to such department. The secretary shall conduct the business of 
  his department in such manner as the president shall, from time to time, 
  order or instruct. Act of 27th July, 1789 act of 15th Sept: 1789, s. 1. 
  Besides these general laws, there are various, others which impose upon him 
  inferior and less important duties. 
       2. His salary is six thousand dollars per annum. Act of 20th Feb. 1819.