Title 50War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§1 Creation, purpose, and composition of council

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE › § 1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates Council of National Defense to organize industry and resources for national security and welfare, made up of six Secretaries.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A Council of National Defense is established, for the coordination of industries and resources for the national security and welfare, to consist of the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Labor.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Sections 1 to 5 of this title are from section 2 of act Aug. 29, 1916, popularly known as the Army Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1916.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, 61 Stat. 501. section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, was repealed by section 53 of act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 641. section 1 of act Aug. 10, 1956, enacted “Title 10, Armed Forces” which in sections 3010 to 3013 continued Department of the Army under administrative supervision of Secretary of the Army.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain membership functions, insofar as they pertain to Air Force, which functions were not previously transferred from Secretary of the Army and Department of the Army to Secretary of the Air Force and Department of the Air Force, see Secretary of Defense Transfer Order No. 40 [App. C(11)], July 22, 1949.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1

Title 50War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73