---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 8211"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "8211"
heading: "Democracy promotion at the Department of State"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/8211"
units:
  - "Chapter 89 — Advancing Democratic Values"
  - "Subchapter I — Activities to Enhance the Promotion of Democracy"
---

# §8211. Democracy promotion at the Department of State

- (a) **Democracy Liaison Officers—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Secretary of State shall establish and staff Democracy Liaison Officer positions. Democracy Liaison Officers shall serve under the supervision of the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=3). Democracy Liaison Officers may be assigned to the following posts:
    - (A) United States missions to, or liaisons with, regional and multilateral organizations, including the United States missions to the European Union, African Union, Organization of American States, and any other appropriate regional organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations and its relevant specialized agencies, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
    - (B) Regional public diplomacy centers of the Department of State.
    - (C) United States combatant commands.
    - (D) Other posts as designated by the [Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Responsibilities—** Each Democracy Liaison Officer should—
    - (A) provide expertise on effective approaches to promote and build democracy;
    - (B) assist in formulating and implementing strategies for transitions to democracy; and
    - (C) carry out such other responsibilities as the [Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=7) or the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=3) may assign.
  - (3) **New positions—** To the fullest extent practicable, taking into consideration amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection and personnel available for assignment to the positions described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the Democracy Liaison Officer positions established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be new positions that are in addition to existing positions with responsibility for other human rights and democracy related issues and programs, including positions with responsibility for labor issues.
  - (4) **Relationship to other authorities—** Nothing in this subsection may be construed as altering any authority or responsibility of a chief of mission or other employee of a diplomatic mission of the United States provided under any other provision of law, including any authority or responsibility for the development or implementation of strategies to promote democracy.
- (b) **Office related to democratic movements and transitions—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** There shall be identified within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the [Department](/usc/22/8203.md?p=5) at least one office that shall be responsible for working with democratic movements and facilitating the transition to full democracy of [nondemocratic countries](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) and [democratic transition countries](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6).
  - (2) **Responsibilities—** The [Assistant Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=3) shall, including by acting through the office or offices identified pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#b-1)—
    - (A) provide [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for Democratic Liaison Officers established under [subsection (a)](#a);
    - (B) develop relations with, consult with, and provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements that are committed to the peaceful promotion of democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms, including fostering relationships with the United States Government and the governments of other democratic countries; and
    - (C) assist officers and employees of regional bureaus of the [Department](/usc/22/8203.md?p=5) to develop strategies and programs to promote peaceful change in [nondemocratic countries](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) and [democratic transition countries](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6).
  - (3) **Liaison—** Within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=3) shall identify officers or employees who have expertise in and shall be responsible for working with nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements that develop relations with, consult with, and provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in [foreign countries](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2) that are committed to the peaceful promotion of democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms.
- (c) **Actions by chiefs of mission—** Each chief of mission in each [nondemocratic country](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) or [democratic transition country](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) should—
  - (1) develop, as part of annual program planning, a strategy to promote democratic principles, practices, and values in each such [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2) and to provide [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12), as appropriate, to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in each such country that are committed to democratic principles, practices, and values, such as by—
    - (A) consulting and coordinating with and providing [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) to such nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements regarding the promotion of democracy;
    - (B) issuing public condemnations of violations of internationally recognized human rights, including violations of religious freedom, and visiting local landmarks and other local sites associated with nonviolent protest in [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) of democracy and freedom from oppression; and
    - (C) holding periodic meetings with such nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements to discuss democracy and political, social, and economic freedoms;
  - (2) hold ongoing discussions with the leaders of each such [nondemocratic country](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) or [democratic transition country](/usc/22/8203.md?p=6) regarding progress toward a democratic system of governance and the development of political, social, and economic freedoms and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in such country; and
  - (3) conduct meetings with civil society, interviews with media that can directly reach citizens of each such country, and discussions with students and young people of each such country regarding progress toward a democratic system of governance and the development of political, social, and economic freedoms in each such country.
- (d) **Recruitment—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=7) should seek to increase the proportion of members of the Foreign Service who serve in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/22/8203.md?p=7) such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–53, title XXI, § 2111, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 529.)