U.S. Department of Defense: Difference between revisions

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imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(Considerable edits, corrected history of the services under the DoD)
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(Continued making consistent with NSAct of 1947, US oriented language)
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The '''United States Department of Defense''' (DoD) is a Department of the [[United States Government]].<ref name=GpoPresidentsCabinet>
The military forces of the United States, along with the civil servants supporting them, form the '''U.S. Department of Defense'''. It is led by a civilian Secretary of Defense appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.  
{{cite web
| url=http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/government/national/cabinet.html
| title=Ben's guide to the US Government: The Presiden't Cabinet
| publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]]
| accessdate=2007-11-17
}}</ref><ref name=USEmbassyLondon>
{{cite web
| url=http://london.usembassy.gov/rccabint.html
| title=U.S. Government Officials & Departments
| publisher=United States Embassy, London UK
| date=November 1, 2007
| accessdate=2007-11-17
}}</ref>
==Secretary of Defense==
==Secretary of Defense==
The '''United States Secretary of Defense''' is a member of the [[United States cabinet]]. The Secretary is responsible for four armed services, the [[United States Navy]] and its component, the [[United States Marine Corps]];the [[United States Army]]; the [[United States Air Force]]. He is also responsible for the civilian employees of DoD. In combination with the President, the Secretary constitutes the [[National Command Authority]]
The '''United States Secretary of Defense''' is a statutory member of the [[National Security Council]] and a member of the Cabinet.  
===National Command Authority===
The President and Secretary of Defense, or their successors, constitute the [[National Command Authority]] (NCA). Only the NCA can order the use of nuclear weapons.
 
 
==History==
==History==
Originally, the United States had a separate Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy.  
Originally, the United States had a separate Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy, heading separate cabinet-level departments.
 
With the passage of the [[National Security Act of 1947]]<ref name=StateNSA47>{{citation
| url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/17603.htm
| title = National Security Act of 1947
}}</ref>, the Department superseded the War Department|War Department and Department of the Navy. This Act created the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and established Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the equivalent rank of Assistant Secretary of Defense. The [[United States Marine Corps]] is a component of the [[United States Navy]].


With the passage of the [[National Security Act of 1947]], the Department superseded the War Department|War Department and Department of the Navy. This Act created the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and established Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the equivalent rank of Assistant Secretary of Defense.
This act also established the [[National Security Council]], [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], [[United States Air Force]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]].


This act also established the [[National Security Council]], [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], and [[Central Intelligence Agency]].




==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

Revision as of 23:10, 9 May 2008

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=U.S._Department_of_Defense&printable=yes
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

The military forces of the United States, along with the civil servants supporting them, form the U.S. Department of Defense. It is led by a civilian Secretary of Defense appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Secretary of Defense

The United States Secretary of Defense is a statutory member of the National Security Council and a member of the Cabinet.

National Command Authority

The President and Secretary of Defense, or their successors, constitute the National Command Authority (NCA). Only the NCA can order the use of nuclear weapons.


History

Originally, the United States had a separate Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy, heading separate cabinet-level departments.

With the passage of the National Security Act of 1947[1], the Department superseded the War Department|War Department and Department of the Navy. This Act created the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and established Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the equivalent rank of Assistant Secretary of Defense. The United States Marine Corps is a component of the United States Navy.

This act also established the National Security Council, Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency.


References

  1. ↑ National Security Act of 1947
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