U.S. National Security Policy

U.S. National Security Policy is the set of adapted strategies and methodological approach to ensure national security implemented and monitored by the National Security Council (NSC). The NSC is an agency of the United States government that holds the crucial job of sustaining national peace and security for the nation, its citizens and the ruling body. The Security Council which was established in 1947 was added to the executive branch of the government in 1949 based on the National Security Act. The act itself is a conglomeration of decision making done by the President, the vice president, secretary of the state and the secretary of defense but at times the president can opt to have a representative on his behalf.

The above mentioned National Security Policy which is also referred to as the strategy of defense is a periodical document prepared by the executive branch. The document prepared for the country is submitted to the Congress for the committee to comprehend the situational factors affecting the country, underlining the important issues that threaten national security besides offering steps to be taken by the administration body. In legal terms, this national security strategy document is said in Goldwater Nicholas Act. While the strategic guide prepared for the military named National Military Strategy is concentrated on the actions to be taken by the armed services, NSC document is a general take on national security and relates directly with the Congress to immediate deployment of necessary bills.

As the National Security Council is governed directly by the president besides being an independent body from the three legislatures, its influence and viewpoint on U.S. National Security Policy had drastically changed from time to time according to the orders issued by the President. NSC has the responsibility to supervise the actions taken by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), besides discussing and implementing other policies such as domestic, military and foreign policy.

Also, NSC has to coordinate with the department of homeland security, office of drug control to exercise control over drug dealing, trafficking, especially keep high priority issues like terrorism under check. Compared to the policies adopted in the past, contemporary National Security policies have more power vested to prevent terrorism from infiltrating the nation and new policies like the Patriot Act were established enabling them to survey any suspected American national for illegal activities. NSC also monitors military intelligence aids, foreign policy decisions to assist themselves in implementing national security. 

Questions: 

• What are the major operations of the National Security Council?
• How are the National Security policies made?