ABSTRACT
A new period in American history started on September 11, 2001, when the United States was attacked from within its own borders. That event, referred to as 9/11, thrust homeland security to the top of the national agenda. In the American system of government, homeland security is now firmly a primary domestic public policy area, just like education, healthcare, the environment, national defense, and others.2 The subject of homeland security is quite broad. Although just about every citizen knows homeland security has to do with protecting the nation from harm, many do not truly understand what homeland security is. Thus, an important and necessary starting place is to understand what is meant by homeland security.
