Part One: National Security Apparatus and Legal Regimes
International Legal Regimes and Security Organizations
This discussion topic looks at the pertinent principles of international law that must be understood to evaluate the significance, relevance, and efficacy of the structures governing the international use of force today. It focuses on the United Nations Charter and other aspects of customary international law in order to understand the manner in which international law shapes the options which are available to nations in responding to threats to their national security. It also considers what legal changes, if any, are needed to improve the effectiveness of international security organizations.
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National Security Authority and the U.S. Constitution
Recent events in prosecuting the “war on terror” have revived the debate regarding the roles of Congress, the President, and the Judiciary in ensuring the security of our nation. The purpose of this discussion topic is to identify the foundation for the federal government’s exercise of national security authority and to highlight some of the current conflicts between the branches of government for developing, implementing, and reviewing national security strategies, policies, and actions in response to the threat of terrorism.
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The National Security Apparatus in the United States
This discussion topic considers the general manner in which the federal government is structured to develop national security policies and execute national security operations. It focuses on three of the most significant governmental entities responsible for national and homeland security—the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community.
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