Which organization was established in 1947 to oversee U.S. national security efforts?

• A. National Security Council
• B. Department of Defense
• C. Central Intelligence Agency
• D. National Security Agency

Answer: (A)

The National Security Council is the body designed to oversee and coordinate U.S. national security policy across the whole government. Created by the National Security Act of 1947, it brings together key players from the defense, state, and intelligence communities to advise the president and ensure a unified approach to security challenges. While the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the later-created National Security Agency all contribute essential components of national security, their roles are more focused—DoD runs the armed forces, the CIA handles intelligence gathering and analysis, and the NSA handles signals intelligence—whereas the NSC’s purpose is to direct and harmonize policy across agencies.