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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.
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 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 National Security Council is chaired by the President. Its statutory
members, in addition to the President, are the Vice President and the
Secretaries of State and Defense. 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 Secretary of the Treasury, the
U.S. Representative to the United Nations, the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic policy,
and the Chief of Staff to the President are invited to all meetings of the
Council. The Attorney General and the Director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy attend meetings pertaining to their jurisdiction; other
officials are invited, as appropriate.
The NSC staff, headed by the Executive Secretary, serves as the
President's national security and foreign policy staff within the White
House. The staff receives its direction from the President, through the
National Security Advisor. The Executive Secretary assists the
President and the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs in preparing for meetings with
foreign leaders and in connection with the President's foreign travel.
The staff performs a variety of activities in advising and assisting the
President and the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs, including participating in
Presidential briefings, assisting the President in responding to
Congressional inquiries and preparing public remarks. The NSC staff
serves as an initial point of contact for departments and
agencies who wish to bring a national security issue to the President's
attention.
The NSC staff also prepares briefing materials for the President and
the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to assist
them in making decisions regarding national security policy and
operations, including preparation of meeting agendas, decision and
discussion papers. Staff members participate in inter-agency working
groups organized to assess policy issues in a coordinated fashion among
several agencies at an initial staff level; they prepare analysis and
recommendations for the Deputy Assistants to the President for
National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs and the President.
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