Foreign Service Act of 1946

E63383

The Foreign Service Act of 1946 is a U.S. federal law that reorganized and modernized the United States diplomatic service, establishing the framework for the professional career Foreign Service.


Statements (44)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
foreign relations law
amended earlier statutes governing the U.S. diplomatic and consular services
appliesTo Department of State Foreign Service personnel
branchOfGovernmentAffected executive branch of the United States
country United States
defines categories of Foreign Service personnel
conditions of employment in the Foreign Service
duties and responsibilities of Foreign Service officers
enactedBy United States Congress
establishes framework for a career Foreign Service
personnel categories within the Foreign Service
promotion and selection‑out procedures for Foreign Service officers
retirement provisions for Foreign Service personnel
salary and rank structure for Foreign Service officers
focusesOn merit‑based recruitment and promotion in the Foreign Service
professionalization of U.S. diplomatic personnel
historicalContext post‑World War II reorganization of U.S. foreign affairs institutions
historicalSuccessor Foreign Service Act of 1980
jurisdiction United States federal government
languageOfDocument English
legalForm public law
modernized United States diplomatic service
presidentAtEnactment Harry S. Truman
providesFor a system of ranks and classes for Foreign Service officers
competitive examinations for entry into the Foreign Service
retirement and disability benefits for Foreign Service personnel
training and development of Foreign Service officers
purpose to establish a professional career Foreign Service
to improve the efficiency of the conduct of U.S. foreign relations
to reorganize and modernize the United States Foreign Service
regionOfImpact U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide
regulates United States Foreign Service
personnel system of the U.S. Foreign Service
relatedTo United States Department of State
United States foreign policy
reorganized United States Foreign Service
replaced Rogers Act of 1924 in major respects
signedBy Harry S. Truman
status largely superseded by the Foreign Service Act of 1980
subjectMatter conditions of service for U.S. diplomatic and consular officers
organization of the U.S. Foreign Service
personnel administration in the Foreign Service
yearEnacted 1946


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