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National Security Council




A National Security Council is an executive body which coordinates national security issues and typically includes the heads of departments involved in diplomacy and defense with a small staff. The most famous NSC is the United States National Security Council , but they also exist in Russia , India , and the Republic Of China on Taiwan .

In some nations with a history of Coup D'etat s, a National Security Council allows for the
military to institutionally influence policy of a mostly civilian government. This has been the case in Turkey and Pakistan .


PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

An NSC structure has been controversially proposed for the People's Republic Of China to replace the situation in which the People's Liberation Army is controlled by a semi-autonomous Central Military Commission .


UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

The President Of The United States chairs the United States National Security Council . Other members typically include the Vice President Of The United States , Secretary Of State , Secretary Of Defense , Attorney General , and Secretary Of The Treasury . The Director Of National Intelligence and Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff advise the NSC, as may other top officials by request of the President; one of these officials includes the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center . The day-to-day affairs of the NSC are overseen by the Assistant To The President For National Security Affairs (currently Stephen J. Hadley --also known as National Security Adviser). The NSC's somewhat ambiguous legal/administrative status was exposed by the Iran-Contra Affair ; Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North was a member of the NSC staff. The NSC staff runs the White House 's Situation Room .