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The White House
White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
 National Security Council (NSC) in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 is the principal forum used by the President
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
 for considering national security
National security

The late political scientist Hans Morgenthau, author of Politics Among Nations, defines national security as the integrity of the national territory and its institutions....
 and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief adviser to the President of the United States on national security issues....
s and Cabinet
United States Cabinet

The United States Cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, and its existence dates back to the first United States of America President of the United States, George Washington, who appointed a Cabinet of four people to advise and assist him in his dutie...
 officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States
Executive Office of the President of the United States

The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President....
. Since its inception under President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . As the List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States, he succeeded Franklin D....
, 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.






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Encyclopedia


The White House
White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
 National Security Council (NSC) in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 is the principal forum used by the President
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
 for considering national security
National security

The late political scientist Hans Morgenthau, author of Politics Among Nations, defines national security as the integrity of the national territory and its institutions....
 and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief adviser to the President of the United States on national security issues....
s and Cabinet
United States Cabinet

The United States Cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, and its existence dates back to the first United States of America President of the United States, George Washington, who appointed a Cabinet of four people to advise and assist him in his dutie...
 officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States
Executive Office of the President of the United States

The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President....
. Since its inception under President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . As the List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States, he succeeded Franklin D....
, 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 the national security council
National Security Council

A National Security Council is usually an executive branch government body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security....
s of many other nations.

History

The National Security Council was created in 1947 by the National Security Act
National Security Act of 1947

The National Security Act of 1947 was signed by United States President of the United States Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947, and realigned and reorganized the United States Armed Forces, Foreign policy of the United States, and United States Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II....
. The intent was to ensure coordination and concurrence among the Navy
United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
, Army
United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
, Air Force
United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Military of the United States and one of the uniformed services of the United States....
 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
    History of the United States National Security Council

    Since the end of World War II, each administration has sought to develop and perfect a reliable set of executive institutions to manage national security policy....
    • 1947-1953
      History of the United States National Security Council 1947-1953

      This is a history of the United States National Security Council during the Truman Administration, 1947–1953....
    • 1953-1961
      History of the United States National Security Council 1953-1961

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Eisenhower Administration, 1953-1961.Under President of the United States Dwight D....
    • 1961-1963
      History of the United States National Security Council 1961-1963

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Kennedy Administration, 1961-1963. The United States National Security Council 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 an...
    • 1963-1969
      History of the United States National Security Council 1963-1969

      This 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 Lyndon Johnson administration brought no dramatic change in the formal role of the United States National Security Council....
    • 1969-1974
      History of the United States National Security Council 1969-1974

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Nixon Administration, 1969-1974.U.S. President Richard Nixon and his United States National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, dominated the making of US foreign policy during the Nixon Presidency....
    • 1974-1977
      History of the United States National Security Council 1974-1977

      Gerald Ford assumed office at a very tense time for both American foreign relations and domestic politics. America's credibility in the world was imperiled by its humiliating withdrawal from Vietnam, and the Vietnam War was shortly to come to an end with the annexation of America's ally South Vietnam by the North....
    • 1977-1981
      History of the United States National Security Council 1977-1981

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Carter Administration, 1977-1981:...
    • 1981-1989
      History of the United States National Security Council 1981-1989

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Reagan Administration, 1981-1989....
    • 1989-1992
      History of the United States National Security Council 1989-1992

      This 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 Ronald Reagan administration, President George H....
    • 1993-2003
      History of the United States National Security Council 1993-2003

      This article is about the history of the United States National Security Council during the Clinton Administration, 1993-2000 and the early days of the George W....


Membership


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

The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office in the United States of America created by the Constitution of the United States....
, the Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's United States Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in United States presidential line of succession and United States order of precedence....
, the Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury

The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, concerned with finance and monetary matters, and, until 2003, some issues of national security and defense....
, the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense

File:USSecDefflag.PNGThe United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense , concerned with the Military of the United States and Military of the United States....
, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
National Security Advisor (United States)

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief adviser to the President of the United States on national security issues....
 (or National Security Advisor). The Chairman
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the Military of the United States, and the principal military adviser to the President of the United States....
 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a group of military leaders in the United States armed forces who advise the civilian government of the United States....
 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
White House Chief of Staff

The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President of the United States....
, Counsel to the President
White House Counsel

The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States....
, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
National Economic Council

The National Economic Council is a United States government agency in the Executive Office of the President. Created by President Bill Clinton in 1993 by Executive order , its functions are to coordinate policy-making for domestic and international economic issues, coordinate economic policy advice for the President, ensure that policy deci...
 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 the retired four-star general James L. Jones
James L. Jones

James Logan Jones Jr. is the current National Security Advisor and a retired United States Marine Corps 4-star rank General .During his military career, he served as Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2003 to 2006 and as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1999 to January 200...
. The NSC's somewhat ambiguous legal/administrative status was exposed by the Iran-Contra Affair
Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra affair was a American political scandals in the United States which came to light in November 1986, during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, over an arms-for-hostages deal with Iran and funding for the Nicaraguan Contras....
. The Marine
United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
 Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel

Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the army and most Marine and air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel....
 Oliver North
Oliver North

Oliver Laurence North is an United States best known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair. Currently, he is a political commentator, host of "War Stories with Oliver North" on Fox News Channel, and a New York Times best-selling author....
 was a member of the NSC staff. The NSC staff runs the White House
White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
's Situation Room
White House Situation Room

The White House Situation Room is a 5,000-square-foot conference room and Intelligence management center in the basement of the West Wing of the White House....
.

Structure of the United States National Security Council (Current)
Chair Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the List of Presidents of the United States and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office....
 (President of the United States)
Regular Attendees Joe Biden
Joe Biden

Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the List of Vice Presidents of the United States and current Vice President of the United States of the United States....
 (Vice President of the United States)
Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State)
Tim Geithner (Secretary of the Treasury)
Robert M. Gates
Robert Gates

Robert Michael Gates is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense. He took office on December 18, 2006. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States National Security Council, and under President of the United States George H....
 (Secretary of Defense)
James L. Jones
James L. Jones

James Logan Jones Jr. is the current National Security Advisor and a retired United States Marine Corps 4-star rank General .During his military career, he served as Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2003 to 2006 and as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1999 to January 200...
 (National Security Advisor)
Military Advisor ADM Michael Mullen
Michael Mullen

Admiral Michael Glenn "Mike" Mullen, United States Navy , is the 17th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Mullen previously served as the United States Navy 28th Chief of Naval Operations from July 22, 2005 to September 29, 2007....
 (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)
Intelligence Advisor Dennis C. Blair (Director of National Intelligence)
Additional Participants Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician currently serving as White House Chief of Staff to President of the United States Barack Obama. He served previously as Democratic Party member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 2003 until his resignation in 2009 to take up his current position in the Obama Admin...
 (Chief of Staff to the President)
Greg Craig
Greg Craig

Gregory Bestor Craig is a Washington, DC-based lawyer and current White House Counsel to President Barack Obama. He has represented numerous high-profile clients, including John Hinckley, Jr., who was acquitted of the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by reason of insanity....
 (Counsel to the President)
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers

Lawrence Henry "Larry" Summers is an American economist and the head of the White House's National Economic Council for President Barack Obama....
 (Assistant to the President for Economic Policy)
Mark Lippert
Mark Lippert

Mark W. Lippert is Chief-of-Staff for the United States National Security Council in the Obama administration....
 (Chief of Staff to the National Security Council)


Authority


The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947
National Security Act of 1947

The National Security Act of 1947 was signed by United States President of the United States Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947, and realigned and reorganized the United States Armed Forces, Foreign policy of the United States, and United States Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II....
 (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.
  • - - Article on US NSC in Turkish


External links



See also

  • National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counter-Terrorism
    PDD-62

    Presidential Decision Directive 62 ?Combating Terrorism? was signed on May 22, 1998 by President of the United States Bill Clinton in an effort to make the fight against terrorism a top national security priority....
  • National Security Medal
    National Security Medal

    File:Nationalsecuritymedal.jpegThe National Security Medal is a decoration of the United States of America which was first created in 1947 by order of the United States National Security Council....
  • Iran Contra
  • Tower Commission
    Tower Commission

    Commissioned on November 26 1986 by American President Ronald Reagan, the Tower Commission was in response to the Iran Contra scandal. Taking effect on December 1, Reagan appointed Senator John Tower, former Secretary of State Edmund Muskie, and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft....