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Encyclopedia entry: National Security Council
- Article from:
- The Oxford Guide to the United States Government
- Author:
Copyright© The Oxford Guide to the United States Government 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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National Security Council
The National Security Council (
NSC
) is the unit of the Executive Office of the President that assists the President in making and executing national security decisions. It was established by the National Security Act of 1947, according to which it consisted of the President, who chaired its meetings, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and the service secretaries of the army, navy, and air force. The Director of Central Intelligence was not a member but would serve as an adviser.
In 1949 Congress amended the law to change the composition of the council: the three service secretaries were dropped and the Vice President was added. The chair of the Joint ...