Who is more powerful the secretary of state or the secretary of defence?

Answer 1

The Secretary of State is extremely important, because after the President, this Secretary is the chief government officer in charge of dealing with foreign nations. In that sense, the Secretary of State is the only cabinet member that makes the United States part of the global community of nations. It is in charge of all diplomatic relations with other nations by overseeing all Ambassadors to other countries. The Secretary is like the point man of negotiating treaties and agreements with other nations. This position is the closest one the US has to a Prime Minister as many other countries have, although it is much different that a Prime Minister when compared directly. One chief difference is the Secretary answers directly to the President within the executive branch while a Prime Minister answers to a Parliament of other governing body. In addition to foreign duties, the Secretary has ones relating to a wide range of authority over domestic affairs on a national basis.

Answer 2

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State and 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 of State leads the State Department and its diplomatic corps, conducts foreign affairs for the United States, speaks for the President on foreign policy and serves at the will of the President. The framework established by the United States Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 puts the Secretary of State fourth in line after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore for succession to the President of the United States should that office fall vacant during its term. The United States order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the government of the United States. The order is established by the office of the President of the United States and can be changed by the President, though in practice it is fairly established and rarely modified. It has no legal standing; it does not reflect the presidential line of succession or the co-equal status of the Branches of Government under the Constitution, and is only used to indicate ceremonial protocol. The U.S. Department of State's Office of Protocol is responsible for enforcing matters of protocol in U.S. diplomacy. The Secretary of State is currently ninth on the order of precedence behind the President of the U.S. and the First Lady, the Vice President of the U.S. and the Second Lady, the Governor (while in his/her state), the Mayor (while in his/her city), the Chief Justice of the U.S., the former Presidents of the U.S., and Ambassadors of the United States (while at their posts). Given the Secretary of State's prominent position within the government, their role in presidential succession and order of precedence and the ability to both conduct foreign policy and represent the President to foreign governments, the Secretary of State could easily be considered a very powerful person.