Kevin K. answered 07/24/19
Criminal Justice Professional Specializing in Research and APA Style
Interestingly, the original idea was to create a "Department of Foreign Affairs" but there was no corresponding "Department of Domestic Affairs," so the Founders opted for a Department of State. The U.S. Constitution does not prescribe the organization of the Executive Branch and the first president, George Washington, established a cabinet consisting of Departments, each administered by a Secretary (an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department). The term state means "a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory especially: one that is sovereign" (Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state). Therefore, the Department of State represents the United States in its relations with other politically organized bodies - nation states. For information about the history of the State Department, see:https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/framework