National Security Council of Georgeland
The National Security Council of the United Islands of Georgeland is a special committee of the Cabinet with special responsibility for policy and administration of national security issues.
Formation and Activities
The National Security Council was created in 1989. It replaced the Cabinet Security Committee. The Council's main brief was to conduct security affairs and make security-related decisions for which the entire Cabinet was not required. By legislation, the N.S.C.'s decisions require the ratification of the full Cabinet but only under certain circumstances. Directing and monitoring military operations usually does not require Cabinet approval. The Council members also receive identical intelligence briefings that other Cabinet members do not necessarily receive. The exact arrangements for the Council's briefings are confidential. However, because of the extra responsibilities inherent in a Security Council portfolio, the members of the Council are considered to be the most 'senior' members of the Government.
Membership
The President of Georgeland is the titular head of the N.S.C. by convention. However, the President rarely attends meetings of the N.S.C. The President can be invited to attend and will generally be present for directing military operations, as the President is Commander-in-Chief of the United Islands Defence Force.
Other members include:
- The Prime Minister of Georgeland (the de facto chairman of the Council): Tom Elderton
- The Deputy Prime Minister of Georgeland: Edwina Haggard
- The Minister for Defence: John Bedford
- The Treasurer: Natalie Smith
- The Attorney General: Lisa Foster
- The Minister for Foreign Affairs: Andrew Taylor
Other Cabinet members are occasionally invited to attend N.S.C. meetings. Members of the N.S.C. who are not part of the Cabinet include:
- The Chief Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister (also known as the Cabinet Secretary): Patrick Powers
- The Chief of the United Islands Defence Force staff: General Patrick Keegan
- The Chief of the United Islands Army staff: Lt. General George Depford
- The Chief of the United Islands Air Force staff: Air Marshal Janet Monroe
- The Chief of the United Islands Navy staff: Vice Admiral Chris Haley
- The Director of the Federal Information, Security and Intelligence Agency: Justine Loomis
The Residence Chief of Staff often attends N.S.C. meetings but is not officially part of the Council.