Machinery of Government Needs a Tune-Up

This study examines the history, likes, and differences of the US National Security Council system and its organizational prototype, the pre-World War II British Committee of Imperial Defence. To comprehend the relationship between these organizations, the following questions will be posed: • Since the Committee of Imperial Defence was an advisory and policy coordinating mechanism that was also the organizational prototype for the NSC, what are the similarities and differences between the two and what are the substantive conclusions that can be drawn from such an examination? • What recommendations and implications, if any, can be drawn from these conclusions with respect to the ongoing performance and function of the NSC system? To answer the questions, corresponding assessments of each organization summarize their origins, the historical contexts leading to their creation, their organizational structures, purposes, functions, leadership, and the significant changes each experienced over time. Then, each organization is compared, contrasted, and subjectively examined, while bringing historical evidence to bear. The study concludes with insights that form the underlying bases for recommending modest changes to the NSC system. These recommendations include appropriately sizing the NSC staff and emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and others.