How are U.S. Ambassadors elected?

Question

Ok, I meant appointed. And what's the difference between ones that are career State Department employees and one's that are directly appointed but not State Department.

Answer 1

Many are big donors to the Presidential election campaign. They have not graduated from the School of Foreign Service, nor taken the foreign service exam as the career diplomats have.  The career diplomats work their way up the ladder taking hardship assignments every 2 years to finally make it to a better embassy in later years.

Answer 2

Hi Keith -- to answer the actual meaning of your question, about 2/3 of Ambassadors are career Foreign Service -- i.e . they rise through the ranks of the Diplomatic Corps.

The remaining third are presidential appointees -- campiagn contributors, political hacks, PR appointees, etc

Answer 3

Not elected. Another political plumb.

Answer 4

They are not elected. They are nominated by the President of the U.S.of A. for the appointment to a particular country, and the nomination then goes before the U.S. Senate where, after a period of vetting and review, it is ratified.

Answer 5

US Ambassadors are appointed by the President who careers are connected with foreign diplomacy being partymates or career officers.

Answer 6

What the 1st person said.

Answer 7

we have presidents over here

Answer 8

They arent elected, their appointed by the president.

Answer 9

appointed, usually as political favours.

Answer 10

They are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate.

Answer 11

They are appointed.

Answer 12

appointed by president and confirmed by senate

Answer 13

ambassadors are appointed by the seating president and must be confirmed by Congress.