Madame Secretary is a show about the life and times of a contemporary American Secretary of State. The show focuses on a woman in this important position. Episodes tell the story of her accession to the position and then how she copes with the challenges it presents. The show follows her personal life and her interactions with her colleagues. It also focuses on her personal life and the lives of her friends and family. The main character is shown coping with issues ranging from international diplomacy as well as office politics and how her husband reacts to her professional career.