Definition: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has oversight over the foreign policy agencies of the U.S. government, including the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Peace Corps. The Committee reviews and considers all diplomatic nominations and international treaties, as well as legislation relating to U.S. foreign policy.
The committee, begun in 1816, typically has 21 members split proportionately between political parties. Members form a variety of subcommittees covering various regions of the world (such as African Affairs, European Affairs) and functional issues (such as international operations and foreign assistance).
Also Known As: U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations