National Security Council
Representing military, diplomatic, and intelligence interests, the experts and trusted presidential advisors
that comprise the NSC formulate policy to defend the security of the United States. They are also responsible
for coordinating these policies, an often difficult task when several government agencies are involved. Created
by the National Security Act of 1947, the NSC has become increasingly influential in policy matters over the past
60 years. The day-to-day activities of NSC members remain elusive aside from news releases, which are usually
issued when the President signs relevant legislation or meets with world leaders.
The National Security Council is chaired by the President. Its regular attendees (both statutory and non-statutory)
are the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, and the Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 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,
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.
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 at HMCE
Students in the NSC learn about international affairs while they develop their skills in strategic thinking and
decision-making. From the moment the selected National Security Council members receive their briefings, developments
and proceedings remain top secret. During the conference, they will hold committee in secret closed session;
elaborate schemes may be needed to dodge reporters desperately trying to uncover privileged information. The NSC must
remain prepared to manage the nation's security under any circumstance, as a crisis may break out at any time during
the conference. Delegates should be sure to examine the
National Security Strategy of the United States; it will be these interests that the council seeks to defend.
For more details, see the 2009 Guide to the NSC.
2009 Staff and Topics
Committee Chair:
Laura Dean
Committee Vice-Chair:
Ben Leibowicz
Topic 1:
Chinese-African Relations
Topic 2:
Homeland Security
Topic 3:
Nuclear Proliferation
Committee message board:
http://hmce.activeboard.com
Relevant Links
Use these links to learn more about the history and role of the National Security Council in the United States government.
These links present essays on various security-related topics from the Council on Foreign Relations.