Lesson Summary

Since 1789, the US has frequently responded, sometimes in an inconsistent or incomplete manner, to threats from numerous hazards, both man and nature caused. The US form of governance, comprised of a federal government with limited powers, shared among three branches, as well as with states and local governments, with many powers retained by the people, has resulted in a complex decision making environment for the strategist, often resulting in risk assumption and conflict management. The participation of numerous decision makers in the homeland security arena, coupled with the priority of protecting individual rights and liberties, has often resulted in imperfect responses, contributing to our vulnerability, and leading to the question of who is in charge.

Students should have gained familiarity with the development of homeland security perspectives over the past two centuries as threats have evolved and the ability of the government to respond has been frequently refined by successive statutory, and procedural fixes, and accompanying reorganizations. Since the beginning of the Republic, decision makers have been confronted with the challenge of how to reduce threats or how to recover from disasters while maintaining the freedom and lifestyle of its citizens.