Diplomatic service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries.

The United States diplomatic service is sometimes referred to as the Foreign Service. The Foreign Service is a personnel system within the Department of State, created by the U.S. Congress for government positions that require service in foreign locations. Appointments in the Foreign Service are excepted service appointments under United States Code Title V, which also governs the Civil Service.

The British Diplomatic Service is formally called Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service. It was formed out of the amalgamation of the Colonial Service and the Foreign Service in the late 1960s.

See also diplomatic corps.