Last Updated: February 11, 2000

[ICON: Eagle] National Security Council
Function | Membership | Staff |
Speeches | Documents |
NSC History (1947-1997) | NSC 50th Anniversary
Samuel Berger - Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

James B. Steinberg - Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

Mara E. Rudman - Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs



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Establishment of the National Security Council

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.

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 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.

Membership of the National Security Council

 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. Under the Clinton Administration, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of Office of Management and Budget, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy 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.

National Security Council Staff

 The NSC staff serves as the President's national security and foreign policy staff within the White House. The staff receives its direction from the President and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The NSC staff carries out a variety of activities in assisting the President including:

The NSC staff is organized into the geographic, functional, and support offices listed below:



NSC Speeches

Documents

NSC 50th Anniversary