United States National Security Council

The National Security Council was "established by the National Security Act of 1947also (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."[1]

Membership of the National Security Council

"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. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military advisor to the Council, and the Director of Central 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 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."[2]

Current NSC Members[3]

• Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
• Stephen J. Hadley, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
• Gen. John A. Gordon, USAF (Ret.), Deputy Assistant to the President for Combating Terrorism
• Gregory L. Schulte, Executive Secretary (2003)
• Franklin C. Miller, Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control
• Robert G. Joseph, Senior Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation, and Homeland Defense (Update: Now Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. 2006)
• William J. Luti, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy. (2005)
• Dr. Michael Green, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council. (2004)

National Security Council's Function

"The National Security Council is the President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. 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."[4]

Source: White House web site.

Related SourceWatch Resources

• National Defense Strategy
• Office of Global Issues
• Stephen E. Biegun - former COO

External links

• Overview of National Security Structure.
• 50th Anniversary of the National Security Act of 1947.
• The National Security Council as Created in 1947, Congressional Research Service.
• National Security Legislation (1995-2000, National Security Institute.
• S.266 Antiterrorism Intelligence Distribution Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate) 108th Congress 1st Session, January 30, 2003. "To provide for the access and handling by personnel of State and local governments of classified information to facilitate preparation and response to terrorist attacks, and for other purposes."
• Douglas Jehl and David E. Sanger, "Plan Called for Covert Aid in Iraq Vote", New York Times, July 17, 2005.