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The National Security Council (NSC) 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. 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.1 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 (known colloquially as the "national security advisor"). 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 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.
- 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 1961-1963This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Kennedy Administration, 1961-1963 . President John F. Kennedy, who was strongly influenced by the report of the Jackson Subcommittee and its severe critique of the
- History of the United States National Security Council 1963-1969This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Johnson Administration, 1963-1969 . The abrupt transition of power to the Johnson administration brought no dramatic change in the formal role of the National Secu
- History of the United States National Security Council 1969-1974This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Nixon Administration, 1969-1974 . President Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger, dominated the making of US foreign policy during the Nixon Pr
- History of the United States National Security Council 1974-1977This is article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Ford Administration, 1974-1977 . President Ford, who assumed office in August 1974, was relatively inexperienced in foreign affairs. He therefore relied almost
- History of the United States National Security Council 1977-1981This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Carter Administration, 1977-1981 Jimmy Carter began his term determined to eliminate the abuses he ascribed to the Kissinger National Security Council under Richar
- History of the United States National Security Council 1981-1989This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Reagan Administration, 1981-1989 . Haig's initiative, which he repeated on several occasions, was never responded to. Senior members of the White House staff, Coun
- History of the United States National Security Council 1989-1992This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the first Bush Administration, 1989-1992 . After serving eight years as Vice President and participating in the momentous foreign affairs events of the Reagan administ
- History of the United States National Security Council 1993-2003This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Clinton Administration, 1993-1997 . President William J. Clinton on January 20, 1993, the day of his inauguration, issued Presidential Decision Directive l to depa
