President George W. Bush meets with the Homeland Security Council, including Vice President Dick Cheney, Homeland Security Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend, center, and members of his Cabinet, Friday, June 1, 2007, to discuss the federal government's preparedness for this year's hurricane season in the White House Situation Room. The President received briefings from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Guard Bureau on initiatives for what is expected to be an active hurricane season, which begins today, June 1st. White House photo by Eric Draper 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. Membership of the National Security Council 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. 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.

February 11, 2008 Remarks by the National Security Advisor, Stephen Hadley, to the Center for International Security and Cooperation February 4, 2008 Remarks by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace January 3, 2008 Briefing by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the President's Upcoming Trip to the Middle East November 28, 2007 Remarks by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the Middle East and Freedom Agenda September 14, 2007 Benchmark Assessment Report More » March 20, 2006 Dr. J.D. Crouch on Progress in Iraq November 14, 2005 Dr. Crouch on Pre-War Intelligence Dr. Crouch on Iraq The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006 In Focus: National Security National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction Released (PDF) The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2002