The Imperial Security Council is a principle Imperial Cabinet-level forum established by the Constitution of the German Empire that is used by the Chancellor for considering national security and foreign policy matters with their senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Imperial Chancellory. Since Otto von Bismarck, the function of the Council has been to advise and assist the Chancellor on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the Chancellor's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The Council has counterparts in the national security councils of many other nations.