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I'd like to get a better understanding of the role of the Department of State when viewed as a citizen, a resident of one of the 50 US states, and as a non-US political entity.
I conflate the term state with its use in "United States", and "Department of State", an individual state (Pennsylvania) and likely many other usages.
This confusion is compounded when I consider that states themselves can't directly participate in war (what I understand to be the primary function of the Dept of State)
Can anyone help me clarify terms, roles, and scope of duty?
Perhaps even a historical account of how this department and name came to be would help