National Security Council

A National Security Council (NSC) is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security. An NSC is often headed by a national security advisor and staffed with senior-level officials from military, diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement and other governmental bodies. The functions and responsibilities of an NSC at the strategic state level are different from those of the United Nations Security Council, which is more of a diplomatic forum.

Occasionally a nation will be ruled by a similarly named body, such as "the National Security Committee" or "Council for National Security". These bodies are often a result of the establishment or preservation of a military dictatorship (or some other national crisis), do not always have statutory approval, and are usually intended to have transitory or provisional powers. See also: coup d'état.

NSCs by country
Armenia: National Defense Council
 * Brazil: National Defense Council
 * China, People's Republic: Central Military Commission (People's Republic of China)
 * Croatia: National Security Council (Croatia)
 * East Germany: National Defense Council of East Germany
 * Estonia: National Defence Council
 * Fiji: National Security Council (Fiji)
 * Georgia: National Security Council of Georgia
 * Germany: Bundessicherheitsrat, prior to 1969 Bundesverteidigungsrat
 * India: National Security Council (India)
 * Iran, Islamic Republic of: Supreme National Security Council
 * Israel: National Security Council (Israel)
 * Japan: Security Council
 * Malaysia: National Security Division
 * Korea, North: National Defense Commission (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
 * Korea, South: National Security Council (South Korea)
 * Pakistan: National Security Council (Pakistan)
 * Philippines: National Security Council (Philippines)
 * Romania: Supreme Council of National Defense (Romania)
 * Russian Federation: Security Council of the Russian Federation
 * Saudi Arabia: National Security Council (Saudi Arabia)
 * Sri Lanka: National Security Council of Sri Lanka
 * Taiwan (Republic of China): National Security Council (Republic of China)
 * Turkey: National Security Council (Turkey)
 * Ukraine: National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
 * United Kingdom: National Security Council (United Kingdom)
 * United States: United States National Security Council
 * Vietnam: Council for National Defense and Security