NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STRUCTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87B01034R000600050002-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 12, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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THE WHITE HOUSE
NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION January 12, 1982
DIRECTIVE NUMBER 2
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STRUCTURE
1. National Security Council "
The National Security Council (NSC) shall be the principal
foru-for consideration of national security policy issues
requiring Presidential decision.
The functions and responsibilities of the NSC shall be
as set forth in the National Security Act of 1947, as amended.
The NSC shall meet regularly. Those heads of Departments
and Agencies who are not regular members shall participate as
appropriate, when matters affecting their Departments or Agencies
are considered.
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs,
in consultation with the regular members of the NSC, shall be
responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing
national security policy as approved by me. He shall
determine and publish the agenda of NSC meetings. He shall
ensure that the necessary papers are prepared and -- except in
unusual circumstances -- distributed in advance to Council members.
He shall staff and administer the National Security Council.
Decision documents shall be prepared by the Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs, and disseminated
by him after approval by. the President.
II. NSC Responsibilities of the Secretary of State
The Secretary of-State is my principal foreign policy
advisor. As.such, he is responsible for the formulation of
foreign policy and for the execution of approved policy.
I have assigned to the Secretary of State authority
and responsibility, to the extent permitted by law, for the,
overall direction, coordination, and supervision of the
interdepartmental activities incident to- foreign policy
formulation, and the activities of Executive Departments and
Agencies of the United States overseas. Such activities do
not include those of United States military forces operating
in the field under the command of a United States area
military commander, and such other military activities as I
elect, as Commander-in-Chief, to conduct exclusively through
military or other channels. Activities that are internal to
the execution and administration of the approved programs of
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? nature as to affect signi,ti.caMUY the Ove.LcLJi. U~
program in a country or region are not considered to be
activities covered within the meaning of this Directive.
The Secretary of'.State is responsible for preparation
of those papers addressing matters affecting the foreign
policy and foreign relations of the United States for
consideration by the NSC.
':III. NSC Responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is my principal defense policy
advisor. As'such, he is responsible for the formulation of
general defense policy, policy related to all matters of
direct and primary concern to the Department of Defense, and
for the execution of approved policy. The Joint Chiefs of
Staff are the principal military advisors to me., the Secretary
of. Defense, and the NSC.
I have assigned to the Secretary of Defense authority
and responsibility, to the extent permitted by law, for the
overall direction, coordination, and supervision of the
interdepartmental activities incident to defense policy
formulation.
The Secretary of Defense is responsible for preparation
of those papers addressing matters affecting the defense
policy of the United States for consideration- by the NSC.
IV.. NSC Responsibilities of the Director of Central Intellige nce
The Director of Central Intelligence is my principal
advisor on intelligence matters. As such, he is responsible
for the formulation of intelligence activities, policy, and.
proposals, as set forth in relevant Executive Orders. I have
assigned to the Director of Central Intelligence authority and
responsibility, to the extent permitted by law and Executive
Order, for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision
of the interdepartmental activities incident to intelligence
matters-
The Director of Central Intelligence is responsible for
the preparation of those papers addressing matters affecting
the intelligence activities, policy, and proposals of-the
United States for consideration by the NSC.
V. Interagency Groups' -
To assist the NSC at large and its individual members
in fulfilling their responsibilities, interagency groups are
established as described herein. The focus of_ these interagency
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? groups is to establish policy objectives, develop policy
options, make appropriate recommendations, consider the
implications of agency programs for foreign policy or overall
national security policy, and undertake such other activities
as may be assigned by the NSC.
A. The Senior Interagency Group.- Foreign Policy
(SIC-FP)
To advise and assist the NSC in exercising its
authority and discharging its responsibility for foreign
policy and foreign affairs matters, the SIG--FP is established.
The SIG-FP shall be composed of the Director of Central
Intelligence;` the Assistant to the President for National
Security A ifairs; the Deputy Secretary of State (Chair-man);
the Deputy Secretary of Defense or Under Secretary of Defense
for Policy; and the Chairman,, Joint Chiefs of S ta.ff .
Representatives of other Departments and Agencies with
responsibility for specific matters to be considered will
attend on invitation by the Chairman.
When meeting to consider arms control matters, the Group
will be augmented by the Director, Arms Control and Disarmament
Agency.
1. Ensure that important foreign policy issues
requiring interagency attention receive full, prompt,-
and systematic consideration;
2. Deal with interdepartmental matters raised
by any member or referred to it by subordinate inter-
agency groups, or, if such matters require higher-level
consideration, report them to the Secretary of State
for decision or referral to the NSC;
3. Assure a proper selectivity of the foreign
policy/foreign affairs areas and issues to which the
United States applies its efforts;
4. Monitor the execution of approved policies
and decisions; and
5. Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of
interdepartmental overseas programs and activities.
A permanent secretariat, composed of personnel of the
State Department augmented as necessary by personnel provided
in response to the Chairman's request by the Departments and
Agencies represented on the SIG-FP, shall be established.
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B_ The Senior Interagency Group -- Defense Policy
(SIG-DP)
To advise and assist the.NSC in exercising its
authority and discharging its responsibility for defense
policy and defense matters, the SIG-DP is established.
.The SIG-DP shall consist of the Director of Central
Intelligence; the Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs; the Deputy or an Under Secretary of State;
.the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Chairman); and the Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff. Representatives of other Departments
.and Agencies with responsibility for specific matters to be
considered will attend on invitation by the Chairman..
.The SIG-DP will:
1. Ensure that important defense policy issues
requiring. . interagency attention receive full., prompt,
and systematic consideration;
2. Deal with interdepartmental matters raised
by any member or referred to it by subordinate inter-
agency groups', or if such matters require higher-level
consideration, repor-E them, to the Secretary of Defense
for decision or referral to the NSC; and.
3. Monitor the execution of approved policies
and. decisions. '-`
A permanent secretariat, composed of personnel of the
Department of Defense augmented as necessary by personnel
provided in response to the Chairman's request by the
Departments and Agencies represented on the SIG-DP, shall
be established.
C. The Senior Interagency Group ---. Intelligence' (SIG-I)
To advise and assist the NSC in exercising its
authority and discharging its responsibility for intelligence
policy and intelligence matters, the SIG-I is established. -
The SIG-I shall consist of Director of Central intelligence
(Chairman); the Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs; the Deputy Secretary of State; the Deputy
Secretary of Defense; and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of
Staff. Representatives of other Departments and Agencies
will attend on invitation by the Chairman when such Departments
and agencies have a direct interest in intelligence activities
under consideration:
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When meeting to consider sensitive intelligence collection
activities referred by the Director of Central Intelligence,
the membership of the Group shall be augmented, as necessary,
by the head of each organization within the Intelligence
Community directly involved in the activity in question.
When meeting to consider counterintelligence activities,
the Group shall be augmented by the Director, Federal Bureau
of Investigation and the Director, National Security Agency.
(1), Establish requirements and priorities for
national foreign intelligence;
(2) Review such National Foreign Intelligence
Program and budget proposals and other matters as are
referred to it by the Director of Central Intelligence;
(3) Review proposals for sensitive foreign
intelligence collection operations referred by the
Director of Central Intelligence;
(4) Develop standards and doctrine for the-
counterintelligence activities of the United States;
resolve interagency differences concerning the .
implementation of counterintelligence policy; and.
develop and monitor guidelines, consistent with
applicable law and Executive orders, for'Tthe maintenance
of central counterintelligence records;
.(5) Consider and approve any counterintelligence
activity referred to the Group by the head of any
organization in the Intelligence Community;
-(6) Submit to.the NSC an overall annual-assessment
of the relative threat to United States interests from
intelligence and security services of foreign powers
and from international terrorist activities, including
an assessment of the effectiveness of the United.States
counterintelligence activities;
(7) Conduct an annual review of ongoing sensitive
national foreign intelligence collection operations and
sensitive counterintelligence activities and report
thereon to the DISC; and
(8) Carry, out such additional coordination review
and approval of intelligence activities as the President
may direct.
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A permanent secretariat, composed of personnel of the
Central Intelligence Agency augmented as necessary by
personnel provided in response to the Chairman's request
by the Departments and Agencies represented on the SIC-I,
shall be established.
D. Regional and Functional Interagency Groups
To assist the SIG-FP, Interagency Groups (IGs)
shall be established by the Secretary of State for. each
geographic region corresponding to the jurisdiction of the
geographic bureaus in' the Department of State, for Poli ti cal
.Military Affairs, anz3 for International Economic Affairs.
Each.:IG shall be comprised of the Director of Central intelli-
gence,; the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs; the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; the appropriate
Assistant Secretary of State (Chairman); and a designated
representative of the Secretary of Defense. Representatives
of other Departments and Agencies with responsibility for
specific matters to be considered will attend on invitation by
the Chairman. The IG for International Economic Affairs will,
in addition to.the above membership, include representatives
of the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and
the U.S. Trade Representative..
IGs for arms control matters- will, in addition to the above
membership, include a representative of the Director, Arms
Cortral and Disarmament Agency. Arms control IGs will be
chaired by the representative of the Secretary of State or the
representative of the Director, Arms Control and Disarmament
Agency in accordance with guidelines to be provided by
the SIG-FP. -
To assist the SIG-bP, IGs shall be established by the.
Secretary of. Defense corresponding to the functional areas
within the Department of Defense. Each IG shall be comprised
of the appropriate Under or Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Chairman); a representative of the Secretary of State; the
Director of Central Intelligence; the Assistant to the
President-for National Security Affairs; and the Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff. Representatives of other Departments
and Agencies will attend on invitation by the Chairman.
Under and Assistant Secretaries, in their capacities
as Chairmen of the IGs, will assure the adequacy of. United
States policy in the areas of their responsibility and of
the plans, programs, resources, and performance for implementing
that policy. They will be responsible for the conduct of
interagency policy studies within the areas of their
responsibility for consideration by the SIG.
The Regional IGs also shall prepare contingency plans
pertaining to potential crises in their respective areas of
responsibility. Contingency planning W4 11 be conndccted in
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? coordination with the Chairman of the Political-Military
IG, with the exception of the military response option for
employment of forces in potential crises, which will remain
within the purview of the Department of Defense and will be
developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
To deal with specific contingencies, the IGs will establish
full-time working groups, which will provide, support to the
crisis management operations of the NSC. These groups will
reflect the institutional membership of the parent body, together
with such additional 'members as may be required to respond to
the contingency with the full weight of available expertise.
To assist the SIC-I, IGs shall be established tbey-the
Director of Central Intelligence. The IG -for Counter-
intelligence shall consist of representatives of the Secretary
of State; Secretary of Defense; the Director of Central
Intelligence; the Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation;
the Assistant to the President for- National Security Affairs;
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; 'the Director, National
Security Agency; and a representative of the head of any other
Intelligence Community organization directly involved in' the
activities under discussion.' The IG for Counterintelligence
will be under the chairmanship of the representative of the
Director of Central Intelligence or the Director, Federal
Bureau of Investigation in accordance with guidelines to be
provided by the SIG--I.
The operational responsibility or authorityoff manSecretary
or other Agency head over personnel from the Depa
Agency concerned serving on IGs -- including the authority.
to give necessary guidance to the representatives in the
performance of IG duties --.is not limited by this Directive.
Distribution=
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