New Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord finds herself amid a complex political vortex as an international hostage crisis unfolds that demands tough decisions and prompts her to question whether she made the right decision in accepting the position.
A new crisis erupts in Elizabeth's life as she seeks to resolve the crisis in Yemen, as her eldest daughter makes headlines for protesting her university's new policy.
Elizabeth confronts a journalist who threatens to reveal secret State Department documents. Henry is forced into complicated international negotiations when his wife uses his position to secure a deal with Pakistan.
Elizabeth tries to broker a peace treaty between China and Japan, but the presence of a Chinese student seeking political asylum threatens to undermine her efforts. Meanwhile, tensions rise at home between Alison and Stevie.
Elizabeth faces a daunting challenge as she negotiates with Iran over its escalating nuclear program, striving for a peaceful solution, away from the military options the president favors.
Elizabeth reaches out to the President to ask for his help with a dire humanitarian crisis in West Africa, before tensions escalate and the crisis takes an unexpected turn, forcing the Secretary to face enormous challenges.
Elizabeth and her daughter Alison travel to India on an official visit, before a violent and tragic earthquake strikes the country. Moreover, Elizabeth loses track of her daughter in the chaos.
Henry is recruited into the NSA with the president's permission and keeps the fact that he is still working as an intelligence officer from Elizabeth. On the other hand, Matt and Daisy's relationship becomes tense.
Elizabeth begins an investigation with Henry and Isabelle to uncover the mystery of the plane crash that killed former Foreign Secretary Vincent Marsh. However, they discover secrets that may change everything they previously knew about the incident.
Elizabeth finds herself trapped with an Iraqi delegation inside the ministry building, by an armed man, while the delegation's translator threatens to reveal her secrets from her days working for the CIA.
Elizabeth, Henry, and Isabelle team up to find former Secretary of State Vincent Marsh's secret bank account, but they soon discover that a member of Elizabeth's staff already has access to the account.
Elizabeth makes an extradition deal before her annual vacation after a Texas police officer is killed by a Mexican drug trafficker, but things get complicated, forcing her to cut her vacation short and return.
Elizabeth seeks to sue a diplomat after he is caught by the police holding his maid captive in his home, while her father-in-law Henry visits the family and encounters many situations with them.
Elizabeth is humiliated at a public hearing when her team fails to uncover corruption in her micro-loan program, while the investigation into Vincent Marsh's death continues.
Elizabeth boards a plane to Turkey on a mission to mend strained relations after a video leak that could damage the CIA's reputation, and Jason faces expulsion from school after a fight with a bully.
Elizabeth embarks on a secret trip to Iran, seeking to prevent a military coup that could threaten Dalton's presidency in the United States, and updates her staff on the latest developments in the investigation into the death of Vincent Marsh.
Elizabeth struggles with her emotions as she tries to prevent an environmental disaster and prepares for her appearance on Face The Nation, before clashing with Henry over how to handle Jason at school.
Elizabeth seeks a diplomatic solution to a religious sect crisis in Bolivia, but things get complicated when a congressman is kidnapped, and Stevie introduces her new lover to Elizabeth and Henry, causing some tension in the family.
Elizabeth works with President Dalton to resolve the Greek debt crisis, but the agreement faces strong opposition. Meanwhile, Henry considers a new job offer, and Stevie reconnects with her childhood friend, the president's son.
A Russian nuclear submarine mysteriously disappears in American waters, putting Secretary Elizabeth in an awkward position, forcing her to find solutions before the crisis affects the fate of the world.
Elizabeth prepares to welcome the Iranian president and sign a nuclear treaty but discovers a plot to assassinate him on American soil, before facing mass protests over Iran's plans to kill one of its gay citizens.
Elizabeth reminisces about a job offer from the then-CIA director that would change her life, while Stevie begins a new romance with the president's son, Dalton.