State Duties of the Secretary of State & Website for all US States

The following is a list of official Secretary of State or Department of State websites along with an explanation of the office.

Introduction: Secretary of State, Department of State

Most states in the United States have a "Secretary of State" who is an administrative officer that is responsible for certain governmental functions, frequently with relation to general business, corporation filings and requirements, regulation of professional licensing, overseeing state elections and other responsibilities specifically defined in the constitution and the laws of each particular state.

For example, in California, the Secretary of State is responsible for the following:
  • Serving as the state's Chief Elections Officer
  • Implementing electronic filing and Internet disclosure of campaign and lobbyist financial information
  • Maintaining business filings
  • Commissioning notaries public
  • Operating the Safe at Home Confidential Address Program
  • Maintaining the Domestic Partners and Advance Health Care Directive Registries
  • Safeguarding the State Archives
  • Serving as a trustee of the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts
In Texas, the Secretary of State is responsible for the following:
  • Serves as Chief Election Officer for Texas, assisting county election officials and ensuring the uniform application and interpretation of election laws throughout Texas
  • Provides a repository for official and business and commercial records required to be filed with the Office
  • Publishes government rules and regulations and commissions notaries public
  • Serves as keeper of the state seal and attestor to the Governor's signature on official documents
  • Serves as senior advisor and liaison to the Governor for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs
  • Serves as Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas

List of All State Secretary of State or Department of State Websites

Legal Topics
State Government
About author
Michael Wechsler
Michael M. Wechsler is an experienced attorney, founder of TheLaw.com, A. Research Scholar at Columbia Business School and of-counsel to Kaplan, Williams & Graffeo, LLC. He was also an SVP and chief Internet strategist at Zedge.net and legal consultant at Kroll Ontrack, a leading service e-discovery and computer forensics service provider.

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