The White House National Security Council (NSC) in the United States is the principal forum used by the President for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the President's Executive Office. Since its inception under President Harry S. 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 U.S. Council has counterparts in many other countries' National Security Councils.

History

The National Security Council was created in 1947 by the National Security Act. The intent was to ensure coordination and concurrence among the Navy, Army, Air Force and other instruments of national security policy (such as the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA, also created in the National Security Act).

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
  • 1947-1953
  • 1953-1961
  • 1961-1963
  • 1963-1969
  • 1969-1974
  • 1974-1977
  • 1977-1981
  • 1981-1989
  • 1989-1992
  • 1993-2003

Membership

The National Security Council is chaired by the President. Its regular attendees (both statutory and non-statutory) are the Vice President, 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 National Security Advisor, 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.

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.

Further reading

• David J. Rothkopf, Running The World: the Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, PublicAffairs; 2006, ISBN 978-1586484231.
• 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

References

• NSC page at the White House website
• Story on the NSC in Foreign Policy journal.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

National Security Council

• National Security Medal
• Iran Contra
• Tower Commission

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