Editing National Security Act of 1947 (section)

=== Provisions ===
The legislation's definition of covert action was vague, limiting oversight over the CIA's activities. It was only in the 1990s that Congress attempted to regulate covert action by prohibiting certain forms of it and enacting substantive and procedural rules for covert action.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Haas |first=Melinda |date=2022 |title=Origins of Oversight: Covert Action Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/08850607.2022.2119446 |journal=International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1080/08850607.2022.2119446 |s2cid=252612436 |issn=0885-0607}}</ref>

==== Title I – Coordination for National Security ====
Title I worked to establish the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], an advisory council to the [[President of the United States|president]] for matters relating to national security in the realm of "domestic, [[Foreign policy of the United States|foreign]], and military policies" with the intent of allowing for the military departments to communicate with more efficiency.<ref name=":1">National Security Act of 1947, Pub. L. No. 80-253, 61 Stat. 495 (1947). https://catalog.archives.gov/id/299856</ref> It also established the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) under the National Security Council, led by the [[Director of Central Intelligence]].<ref name=":1" /> The role of the director of Central Intelligence, and the CIA as a whole, is as an advisory unit to the National Security Council and as a coordinator of [[Military intelligence|intelligence]].<ref name=":1" /> Finally, Title I worked to establish the [[National Security Resources Board]], an advisory board to the President on matters relating to "the coordination of military, industrial, and civilian [[mobilization]]."<ref name=":1" />

==== Title II – The National Military Establishment ====
Outlined the establishment of the [[National Military Establishment]] (NME), which consists of the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], the Department of the Navy, and the [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]] (DAF) and is led by the secretary of defense.<ref name=":1" />

Designated the Department of War to be renamed the Department of the Army, led by the [[secretary of the Army]].<ref name=":1" /> 

Established the Department of the Navy and outlined it to consist of the [[United States Marine Corps]], the [[United States Navy]], and the [[United States Coast Guard]].<ref name=":1" /> The role of the United States Marine Corps was further outlined.<ref name=":1" />

Established the DAF, led by the [[secretary of the Air Force]], and allowed the secretary of defense to designate any and all functions that they deem fit to be under the DAF.<ref name=":1" /> 

Created the [[United States Air Force]] as an agency of [[Military aviation|aviation]] offense and defense under the DAF, led by a [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Chief of Staff, United States Air Force]], who in turn is directed by the secretary of the Air Force.<ref name=":1" /> The chief of staff, United States Air Force, was designated as having equal authority as the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff, United States Army]], and the [[Chief of Naval Operations]].<ref name=":1" />

Established the [[Council of war|War Council]] as an advisory council to the secretary of defense within the NME.<ref name=":1" /> The War Council consists of the secretary of defense, the secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, the chief of naval operations, and the chiefs of staff of the United States Army and the United States Air Force.<ref name=":1" />

Title II established the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] within the NME as consisting "of the Chief of Staff, United States Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force; and the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief]], if there be one" with the role of being "the principal military advisers to the President and the Secretary of Defense."<ref name=":1" /> It also created a Joint Staff under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref name=":1" />

Created a Munitions Board within the NBE, which replaced the Joint Army and Navy Munitions Board, led by a chairman and consisted of [[United States Under Secretary of State|under secretaries]] or assistant secretaries [[United States Under Secretary of the Army|from the Department of the Army]], [[United States Under Secretary of the Navy|the Department of the Navy]], and [[United States Under Secretary of the Air Force|the Department of the Air Force]].<ref name=":1" />

Established a Research and Development Board within the NME, which replaces the Joint Research and Development Board, and that consists of a chairman with two representatives from each military department.<ref name=":1" /> The Research and Development Board acts as an advisory unit on matters relating to and the conducting of [[military research]].<ref name=":1" />

==== Title III – Miscellaneous ====
Designated compensation for each of the positions created under the act, designate relative [[Security clearance|classification statuses]], and specify the transfer of funds and resources. <ref name=":1" />

Defined "function" as including "functions, powers, and duties", and defines "budget program" as "recommendations as to the apportionment, to the allocation and to the review of allotments of appropriated funds".<ref name=":1" />

Specified [[Severability|separability]] and established the timeline of when provisions of the act would be in effect.<ref name=":1" />

Amended the July 18, 1947, [[Presidential Succession Act]]<ref>Presidential Succession Act, Pub. L. No. 199, 61 Stat. 380 (1947). https://congressional.proquest.com/legisinsight?id=PL80-199&type=LEG_HIST{{subscription required}}</ref> to remove "Secretary of the Navy" and to replace "Secretary of War" with "Secretary of Defense".<ref name=":1" />