Major State Department Publications

Publications are listed in alphabetical order.  Those marked with  most-requested publications flag  are our most-requested publications. 

Battling International Bribery
Annual report by the Department of State on enforcement and monitoring of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

most-requested publications flagBackground Notes
These handy guides provide information on a country's leaders, politics, economy, and relations with the U.S.  Note: Background Notes are no longer available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Budget Requests
Provides information about the International Affairs category of the federal budget, called Function 150, which includes funding for the programs and activities of four cabinet departments, seven independent agencies, three foundations, and numerous other international organizations. Budget in Brief provides more specific information about the Department of State budget. Congressional Budget Justification provides detailed information about the Foreign Operations portion of Function 150.

Chiefs of Mission
Chiefs of Mission are the principal officers in charge of U.S. diplomatic missions and U.S. offices abroad, which the Secretary of State has designated as diplomatic in nature. This publication is updated several times annually.

most-requested publications flag Congressional Testimony 
Collection of transcripts from testimony by Department Officials appearing before the Congress.

Consular Notification and Access
Instructions for Federal, State, and other Local Law Enforcement and Other Officials Regarding Foreign Nationals in the United States and the Rights of Consular Officials to Assist Them.

Country Commercial Guides
Country Commercial Guides are available in the Market Research Library on the U.S. Commercial Service website (select "Report Type: Country Commercial Guides). These guides present a comprehensive look at countries' commercial environments using economic, political, and market analysis.

most-requested publications flagCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices 
Country Reports submitted annually to the Congress by the Department of State regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights practices.

most-requested publications flagCountry Reports on Terrorism 
Country Reports submitted annually to Congress by the Department of State on countries where terrorist acts have occurred, the status of cooperation against terrorism between the United States and selected countries, a report on state sponsorship of terrorism, and assessments of terrorist groups.

Diplomacy: The U.S. State Department at Work [PDF]
This publication explains the State Department's role with foreign governments, international organizations, and the people of other countries. It also explains the Department's main goals: protecting the U.S. and Americans; advancing democracy, human rights, and other global interests; promoting international understanding of American values and policies; and supporting U.S. diplomats, government officials, and all other personnel at home and abroad who make these goals a reality.

Diplomatic List
This annual publication contains the names of the members of the diplomatic staffs of all missions and their spouses. Members of the diplomatic staff are the members of the staff of the mission having diplomatic rank. These persons, with the exception of those identified, enjoy full immunity under provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Foreign Consular Offices in the U.S.
This annual publication contains a complete and official listing of the foreign consular offices in the United States, and recognized consular officers.

Foreign Relations of the United States
This historical record of American foreign policy is produced by the State Department's Office of the Historian. First published in 1861, Foreign Relations of the United States preserves a key part of American history in more than 350 individual volumes. Each volume documents the major foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activity of the U.S. Government and contains declassified records from the White House, the Department of State, and other foreign affairs agencies.

Great Seal of the United States [pdf] 
A publication on the history and official use of The Great Seal of the United States. [Note: You will need to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this 980KB .pdf file.] This publication, No. 10411, also is available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Guide to Doing Business With the U.S. Department of State
Lists useful information concerning the Department's procurement opportunities, points of contact, subcontracting opportunities, etc. This can be obtained in hard copy from the Superintendent of Documents.

most-requested publications flagHuman Rights Reports (Country Reports on Human Rights Practices) 
Country Reports submitted annually to the Congress by the Department of State regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights practices.

most-requested publications flagInternational Religious Freedom Report 
The Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom describes the status of religious freedom in each foreign country, and government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. It is submitted in compliance with P.L. 105-292 (105th Congress) and is cited as the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts
This directory lists key officers and their telephone and fax numbers from the Departments of State and Commerce, and other U.S. agencies at Foreign Service posts who assist American business representatives around the world. This publication is updated periodically during the year.

most-requested publications flagNarcotics Control Strategy Report 
Annual report submitted to the Congress by the Department of State, in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act, which describes the efforts of countries, including those that received U.S. assistance, in the fight against drugs, and on Presidential narcotics certification determinations on drug producing and transit countries.

Performance and Accountability Report
The Performance and Accountability Report combines detailed information on the Department's audited financial statements and performance results achieved. The Report is submitted to the President, Congress, and members of the public to inform on how well the Department performed in managing its programs and finances. (Note: Beginning with FY 2002, the Program Performance Report and Accountability Report were combined into one.)

most-requested publications flagReligious Freedom Report (International Religious Freedom Report)  
The Annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom describes the status of religious freedom in each foreign country, and government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. It is submitted in compliance with P.L. 105-292 (105th Congress) and is cited as the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

State Magazine
Published monthly by the Department to facilitate communication between management and employees at home and abroad and to acquaint employees with developments that may affect operations or personnel.

 Supporting Human Rights and Democracy 
An annual report submitted to Congress highlighting actions taken by the U.S. Government to encourage respect for human rights. This report complements the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

most-requested publications flagTrafficking in Persons 
The Secretary of State submits this annual report to Congress. It covers "severe forms of trafficking in persons" defined as: "(a) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or (b) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery."

U.S. Participation in the United Nations
This report  is a survey of the activities of the U.S. Government in the United Nations and its agencies, as well as the activities of the United Nations and those agencies themselves. More specifically, this report seeks to assess UN achievements, the effectiveness of U.S. participation in the United Nations, and whether U.S. goals were advanced or thwarted and is submitted to Congress yearly.