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U. S. Foreign Relations: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

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Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Publications from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its subcommittees are available in full text through the Proquest Congressional database, or in print copy in the library's government documents collection.

The Senate Foreign Relations committee was established as a standing committee of the Senate in 1816. Its most important responsibilities are those relating to the Department of State, The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the United States Information Agency, and the United Nations. It has jurisdiction over foreign aid, international financial institutions, treaties, and nominations to high positions in the State Department and related agencies. Many of the committee’s hearings and reports are on non-legislative subjects, such as the threat of foreign terrorism or major issues of U.S. policy in East Asia.

Since 1950, the Committee on Foreign Relations has maintained a series of subcommittees, corresponding generally to the organization of the Department of State. The subcommittee system is designed to foster more extensive consultations between the members of the Foreign Relations Committee and officers of the Department of State. Since 1950 these have been the established committees at various times (presented in alphabetical order):

  • Africa and Global Health (MERLIN)
  • African Affairs (MERLIN)
  • American Republics Affairs (MERLIN)
  • Arms Control, International law, and Organization
  • Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment
  • Canadian Affairs
  • Central Asia and the South Caucasus
  • Disarmament (MERLIN)
  • East Asian and Pacific Affairs
  • Economic and Social Policy Affairs
  • Europe and the Middle East
  • European Affairs
  • Far Eastern Affairs
  • Foreign Assistance and Economic Policy (MERLIN)
  • Genocide Convention (MERLIN)
  • Human Rights and International Organizations
  • International Economic Policy, Export, and Trade Promotion
  • International Economic Policy and Trade
  • International Economic Policy, Trade, Oceans, and Environment
  • International Organization Affairs (MERLIN)
  • International Organization, Human Rights, and oversight
  • International Operations
  • International Operations and Terrorism
  • International Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Human Rights
  • Investigate Activities of Nondiplomatic Representatives of Foreign Principals in the United States
  • Multinational Corporations (MERLIN)
  • Near Eastern Affairs
  • Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (MERLIN)
  • Oceans and International Environment (MERLIN)
  • Overseas Information Programs
  • Personnel
  • Public Affairs
  • South Asian Affairs
  • State Department Organization
  • State Department Organization and Public Affairs
  • Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Communications
  • United Nations Affairs
  • U.S. Foreign Aid to Free Europe
  • U.S. Security agreements and commitments abroad
  • West Hemisphere Affairs
  • Western Hemisphere and Peace Corps Affairs