National Security Council

US federal executive council that was established under the National Security Act of 1947. The statutory membership includes the president, vice-president, and secretaries of state and defence. Other officials, such as the directors of foreign operations administration and emergency planning, may attend by invitation of the president. Their special advisers include the head of the joint chiefs of staff and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The operations coordinating board also reports to the council. The special assistant to the president for national security affairs is the chief staff officer, and the national security adviser heads the council's staff.