A Constituição de estados de Timor Orientais que o Presidente é o xefe supremo da força de defesa e tem o poder para designar o xefe do F-FDTL e Chefe de Pessoal. O Council Oriental de Ministros e National Oriental é responsável para fundar o F-FDTL e fixar política relativo à segurança de Timor Oriental. Prime Minster Gusmão also serves as the current Minister of Defence and Security. A Superior Council for Defence and Security was also established in 2005 to advise the President on defence and security policy and legislation and the appointment and dismissal of senior military personnel. The council is chaired by the President and includes the Prime Minister, the defence, justice, interior and foreign affairs ministers, the heads of the F-FDTL and PNTL a national state security officer and three representatives from the national parliament. The council's role is not clear, however, and neither it nor the parliament served as a check against the decision to sack large numbers of F-FDTL personnel in 2006. A parliamentary committee also provides oversight of East Timor's security sector.