6.6: National Security

Directions: Refer to lesson 6.6 in your textbook to help you fill in the blanks of the lesson summary. Congress established the Department of Defense in the National Security Act of 1947. Headed by the secretary of defense, the Department of Defense accounts for about a fifth of all federal spending.The three branches of the military—the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force—are sub-Cabinet departments within the Department of Defense. The army, which is essentially a ground-based force, is the largest and oldest of the armed services. The navy is responsible for sea warfare. The air force has primary responsibility for military air and aerospace operations.In addition to the Departments of State and Defense, several government agencies are closely involved with U.S. foreign and defense policy. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) heads the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and controls the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA conducts worldwide intelligence operations through espionage, or spying.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created in 2002, is charged with protecting the U.S. against terrorism, the use of violence to intimidate a government or society, usually for political or ideological reasons. The DHS bears responsibility for border and transportation security, infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense, and intelligence. Why did the end of the cold war cause a decrease in the size of the armed forces? The Department of Homeland Security became the nation's primary defense agency. A large military was no longer needed since a major threat to the country had subsided. Lower taxes led to cuts for all parts of government, including defense. In what way was the creation of the DNI intended to change America's intelligence capabilities? to provide the President with greater access to military resources to improve communication among intelligence-gathering organizations to improve communication between the White House and the intelligence community What is one strategy used by the DHS to safeguard the nation's security? coordinating the efforts of all levels of government offering foreign aid to struggling nations commanding the Army, Navy, and Air Force