Madame Secretary :Hillary Clinton

Frm. First Lady and soon to be former Senator of New York, Hillary Clinton is Obama’s nomination for Secretary of State in his administration. Will she accept?

Reports have indicated that Clinton has already made a decision and will be accepting President elect-Obama’s new post. Although she has not confirmed it yet, it will come the day after Thanksgiving. She will give up her New York Senate seat to accept this position, which she serves at the pleasure of the President.

So what is the role of Secretary of State?
It is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence.

The Secretary performs such duties as the President requires. These include negotiating with foreign representatives and instructing U.S. embassies or consulates abroad. The Secretary also serves as a principal adviser to the President in the determination of U.S. foreign policy and, in recent decades, has become responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities of the U.S Government overseas, excepting certain military activities.

As the highest-ranking member of the cabinet, the Secretary of State is fourth in line to succeed the Presidency, coming after the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the President pro tempore of the Senate.