United States National Security Council
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The White House National Security Council (NSC) in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President. Since its inception under President Harry Truman, the function of the Council has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The United States NSC has counterparts in many other countries' National Security Councils.
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[edit] History
The National Security Council was created in 1947 by the National Security Act. The context was a bureaucratic concurrence between the Navy and Army.
The decision process inside the structure has become less and less formal, but influence of the Council has become stronger and stronger. Detailed history of the National Security Council under each Presidential administration since its inception can be found at:
- History of the United States National Security Council
- History of the United States National Security Council 1947-1953
- History of the United States National Security Council 1953-1961
- History of the United States National Security Council 1961-1963
- History of the United States National Security Council 1963-1969
- History of the United States National Security Council 1969-1974
- History of the United States National Security Council 1974-1977
- History of the United States National Security Council 1977-1981
- History of the United States National Security Council 1981-1989
- History of the United States National Security Council 1989-1992
- History of the United States National Security Council 1993-2003
[edit] Membership
The National Security Council is chaired by the President. Its regular attendees (both statutory and non-statutory) are the Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (or National Security Advisor). The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military advisor to the Council, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor. The Chief of Staff to the President, Counsel to the President, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy are also invited to attend any NSC meeting. The Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget are invited to attend meetings pertaining to their responsibilities. The heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC when appropriate.
The day-to-day affairs of the NSC are overseen by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, currently Stephen J. Hadley. The NSC's somewhat ambiguous legal/administrative status was exposed by the Iran-Contra Affair; Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North was a member of the NSC staff. The NSC staff runs the White House's Situation Room.
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Chair | George W. Bush (President of the United States) |
Regular Attendees |
Richard B. Cheney (Vice President of the United States) |
Military Advisor | General Peter Pace, USMC (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) |
Intelligence Advisor | Michael McConnell (Director of National Intelligence) - Note: prior to April 21, 2005 this position was filled by the Director of Central Intelligence |
Additional Participants |
Joshua Bolten (Chief of Staff to the President) |
[edit] Authority
The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947 (PL 235 - 61 Stat. 496; U.S.C. 402), amended by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 579; 50 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). Later in 1949, as part of the Reorganization Plan, the Council was placed in the Executive Office of the President.
[edit] Further reading
- David J. Rothkopf, Running The World: the Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, ForeignAffairs; 2005, ISBN 1-58648-248-3
- Journey to the Center of the World: U.S. National Security Council - Arzın Merkezine Seyahat: ABD Ulusal Güvenlik Konseyi - Article on US NSC in Turkish
[edit] References
[edit] See also
White House Chief of Staff
Deputy White House Chief of Staff • White House Press Secretary • White House Counsel • White House Office of Presidential Communications • White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting • White House Office • White House Office of the Executive Clerk • Office of Management and Budget • National Security Council • Homeland Security Council • Office of the United States Trade Representative • Office of National Drug Control Policy • Council of Economic Advisers • Council on Environmental Quality • Domestic Policy Council • National Economic Council • Office of Administration • Office of Advance • Office of Scheduling • White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives • United States Office of National AIDS Policy • Office of Science and Technology Policy • President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board • President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board • USA Freedom Corps • White House Military Office