Answer

1. Provide an overview of the President’s National Security System, including the role of the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the National Security Council (NSC)

The president’s national security system is inclusive of the United States of America’s defense, the safeguard of the constitutional government system, and the progression of the interests of the United States across the globe. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the nation security also depends on the opportunity of America to prosper in the global economy.[1] According to the amended National Security Act of 1947, the National Security Council was established to offer advice to the president with respect to the integration of the foreign, domestic and military policies associated with national security. The National Security Council has the obligation of offering the president with an advice and providing assistance about how to assimilate all the national security policy facets as it impacts the United States’ domestic, foreign, intelligence, military and economic aspects. [2]

            The National Security Advisor (NSA) plays the role of offering the president with different options associated with national security concerns. Additionally, the NSA plays an effective role in offering assistance in planning the president’s foreign travel plans and offering background memos and staffing for the president’s meetings. Moreover, the NSA is also responsible for planning the president’s phone calls with other leaders across the globe. It is also the duty of the national security advisor to assist in drafting the foreign policy speeches and those involving matters of national security. Moreover, the NSA responds the information requests generated by the president and also updates the president through current briefs on current issues.[3]

1. Describe how the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) exercise oversight of the Department of Defense (DoD).

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) exercises an oversight of the Department of defense as well as the subordinate agencies and departments through the activities which involve the full committee as well as the standing subcommittees. Each of the subcommittees will complete the oversight processes within its jurisdiction as specified by the rules governing the committee. The subcommittee on the Oversight and Investigations that pursue the constructive and coordinated oversight which will establish best practices, potential savings areas, and the areas which require reforms within the DoD.

The Committee on Armed Services, also referred to as the Senate Armed Services Committee is a committee within the United States Senate which is provided with the power to complete a legislative oversight of the region’s military, including the DoD. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) exercises an oversight of the DoD by promoting a thorough and aggressive oversight of the department’s activities and programs with an aim of ensuring that it complies with the relevant regulations and laws as well as an effective stewardship of the taxpayers’ contributions. Notably, the SASC is the most powerful of all the available senate committees. As a result, it has a broad mandate which enables the committee to report on extensive and revolutionary aspects. In comparison to other committees, McCain and Reed argues that the SASC has a tendency of making a bipartisan approach based on the fact that most of the members of the group have a history of operating in the military or have a significant defense interest in the United States.[4]

1. Explain the process by which a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requester appeals an agency denial decision to the U.S. District Court.

An FOIA requester appeals an agency denial decision by presenting the request in a handwritten form. This is further submitted through email or FOIAonline. Subsequently, the EPA will consider the requests as received. The requests are required to be specific in regards to the dates, names, places and subjects among others. This makes it easier for the request to be traced among the records easily. However, the first step of the process includes identifying the right agency which holds the information which one seeks. The second step includes providing a determination if the information that one seeks is already available on the agency’s site. After obtaining the information, the next step includes filing the request. This is where a letter is written in detail and sent to the appropriate FOIA agency. The next step includes waiting for the request to be processed.  The FOIA request processing time can take up to 20 business days to be processed. It is within this timeframe that a determination will be provided to establish if the request is granted. In the events when the request is denied, a detailed explanation is provided within the timeframe of 20 working days. If granted, applicable documents are delivered promptly and not necessarily within the deadline. When filing an appeal in court, one should seek the help of an attorney with the burden being on the government[5]. Subsequently, an updated list of the FOIA litigation recently completed is provided in detail before a determination is made.

[1] Federation of American Scientists. National Security Presidential Directive-1, 2001, p. 3. Accessed on 24 June, 2020 from https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-1.pdf

[2] Ibid. p. 4

[3] Lauren, Monsen. What does a National Security Advisor do? ShareAmerica, 2019. Accessed on 24 June, 2020 from https://share.america.gov/what-does-national-security-adviser-do/#:~:text=The%20national%20security%20adviser%20offers,phone%20calls%20with%20world%20leaders.

[4] John, McCain, & Jack, Reed. U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. NDAA, 2018, p. 1. Accessed from https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FY18%20NDAA%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

[5] Taylor, Holliday. How to File A FOIA Request. Freedom Forum Institute, 2009. https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/topics/freedom-of-the-press/freedom-of-information-overview/how-to-file-a-foia-request/