security, would be prejudicial to the interests or prestige of the Nation or any governmental activity thereof, or would cause unwarranted injury to an individual, or would cause serious administrative embarrassment or difficulty, or would be of advantage to a foreign nation.

10. Restricted.-The term "restricted" as used herein applies to information, other than top secret, secret, or confidential, which requires protection to the extent that it not be published or communicated to anyone outside the Government without adequate clearance. The use of the term "restricted" to describe a classification is not to be confused with the term "restricted data" as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (Public Law 585, 79th Cong., 2d sess.).

11. Unclassified information. The term "unclassified information" as used herein applies to information requiring no protection and therefore not included in one of the aforementioned classifications.

12. Crytographic system. The term "cryptographic system" as used herein applies to any document, product, or method employed to change information from plain-language form to unintelligible form or to change the resulting cryptographed information into plain-language form.

13. Cryptographic security.-The term "cryptographic security" as used herein applies to the proper use and careful safeguarding of cryptographic systems and the adequate protection of information which has been cryptographed.

14. Telegram.-The term "telegram" as used herein applies to any document recording information for transmission by telegraph, telephone, cable, radio, or other electrical means of transmission.

15. Classifying. The term "classifying" as used herein means determining the need for and the degree of protection necessary for safeguarding classified information.

16. Classification. The term "classification" as used herein applies to the category into which information falls after being classified; i. e., a document may carry a classification of top secret, secret, confidential, or restricted.

17. Declassifying.—The term "declassifying" as used herein means determining that there is no further necessity for maintaining the information in a classified status.

18. Downgrading.-The term "downgrading" as used herein means determining that a lower classification than that previously assigned provides adequate protection for the information.

19. Upgrading. The term "upgrading" as used herein means determining that a classification or a higher classification than that previously assigned is necessary to provide adequate protection for the information.

20. Classifying authority. The term "classifying authority" as used herein includes the head of an agency, those he has authorized to classify information as top secret and secret, and in the case of confidential and restricted information the originating or drafting officer or higher authority.

21. Marking. The term "marking" as used herein means the physical act of indicating on classified material the assigned classification or change therein together with such additional information as may be required to show authority for the classification or change and any special limitation on use of such material. 22. Record material.-The term "record material" as used herein applies to all books, papers, maps, photographs, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by an agency of the United States Government in pursuance of Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriate for preservation by that agency or its legitimate successor as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, operations, decisions, procedures, or other activities of any agency of the Government, or because of the informational value of the data contained therein. 23. Nonrecord material.-The term "nonrecord material" as used herein refers to extra copies and duplicates preserved solely for convenience of reference, the use for which is essentially temporary, shorthand notes, used carbon paper, preliminary drafts, and other material of similar nature.

24. Record copy.-The term "record copy" as used herein applies to the original signed copy of incoming documents in any agency or the official permanent file copy of any document prepared within the agency and designated as the record copy by the agency concerned.

SECTION II. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. All employees of the executive branch

A. The responsibility for the maintenance of the security of classified information rests upon each employee of the executive branch having knowledge thereof, no matter how that information was obtained.

B. Each employee in the executive branch is directly responsible for familiarizing himself with and adhering to all regulations applicable to him issued to govern the security of information.

2. Heads of agencies

The head of each agency shall be responsible for enforcing the minimum standards established herein and for providing such implementation thereof by supplemental regulations as may be necessary in his agency to provide for:

A. Such additional restrictions on the handling and dissemination of classified information as operational requirements in his agency may dictate.

B. Security of messenger-courier systems for transmission of classified material. C. An outline or explanation of the types of information originating in his agency which fall within each classification category.

D. Authorization of certain officials within his agency to classify information as top secret or secret. Such authorizations must be held to the minimum necessary for the performance of required activities, must be maintained at a high level within the agency and must be restricted to those officials whose functional requirements are such that they must have that authority. The authorizations to classify information as top secret should be substantially more limited in number than those for secret.

E. Designation of those authorized to receive top secret material.

F. Designation of officials responsible for top secret control.

G. Cryptographic security within his own agency, including cryptographic systems and other facilities used therefor, as well as security regulations governing handling, disseminating, changing the classification of, or referring to telegrams.

H. Maintenance within his agency of a continuing review of the use of classifications to insure uniform and proper application.

I. Dissemination of classified information outside his agency.

J. Procedures for the destruction of classified material.

K. Thorough indoctrination of all employees of his agency in security regulations and procedures.

SECTION III. RULES GOVERNING CLASSIFICATION, UPGRADING, DOWNGRADING, AND DECLASSIFICATION

1. General classification principles

A. Need for classification.-Official information is of varying degrees of value to all nations, including any potential enemies of the United States, both internal andex ternal, and, therefore, requires corresponding degrees of protection. Information must be examined to determine the need for a classification, and, if protection is required, classified in accordance with the degree of protection necessary B. Uniformity of classification is a requirement for the proper safeguarding of classified information. Lack of uniformity will cause inconsistencies in the handling of such information and a consequent loss of security.

C. Use of lowest consistent classification.-Information shall be assigned the lowest classification consistent with its proper protection.

D. Overclassification must be avoided. It depreciates the importance of properly classified information and causes unnecessary delay in the handling and transmission of documents.

E. Date of classification.-Unless otherwise specified in writing, the effective date of the classification assigned to any particular item of information shall be deemed to be that of the date of issue of the first document prepared thereon. 2. Authority to classify

A. Only those officials specifically authorized to do so by the head of the agency may classify information as top secret or secret.

B. The drafting or originating officer may classify information as confidential or restricted.

3. Special classification rules

A. Change in classification of information, extract, or paraphrase.-No change may be made in the assigned classification of information without the consent of the classifying authority; extracts from or paraphrases of classified documents must likewise be maintained in the assigned classification unless the consent of the classifying authority to downgrade or declassify such extract or paraphrase is secured.

B. Classified telegrams may be referred to, extracted from, paraphrased, downgraded, declassified and disseminated only in accordance with special regulations issued by the head of each agency.

Classified telegrams transmitted over cryptographic systems of other agencies must be handled in accordance with the regulations of the transmitting agency.

C. Information originated by a foreign government. Information of a classified nature originated by a foreign government shall be placed in a classification category which will assure a degree of protection equivalent to or greater than that required by the classification assigned by the originating government.

D. Documents in general.—Subject to the provisions of "A" above, documents shall be classified according to their own content and not necessarily according to their relationship to other documents.

E. Physically connected documents. The classification of a file or group of physically connected documents shall be that of the most highly classified document therein. Documents separated from the file or group will be handled in accordance with their individual classification.

F. Multiple classifications.-A document, product, or substance will bear a classification at least as high as that of any of its components. Pages, paragraphs, sections, or components may bear different classifications, but the document, product or substance will bear only one over-all classification.

G. References to classified material (except telegrams) which do not reveal classified information should not be classified.

H. A Letter of transmittal shall be given the highest classification carried by any of its enclosures unless the letter of transmittal contains information warranting a higher classification.

4. Upgrading

A. If the recipient of information believes that its assigned classification is not sufficiently protective, he shall safeguard it in accordance with the classification he deems appropriate and shall bring his reasons for such belief to the attention of the classifying authority with a request for upgrading.

B. When information is upgraded, the classifying authority shall so notify all recipients of the information.

5. Declassification and downgrading

A. Automatic.-Wherever practicable, the classifying official will place a notation on classified material, except telegrams, that after a specified event or date, the classification will be reduced or canceled.

A classified letter of transmittal which does not in itself reveal any classified information should always bear a notation (either in the body of the letter or typed or stamped on the letter itself) that it automatically becomes declassified when the enclosures are removed.

B. Nonautomatic.-Except in the case of telegrams, the classifying authority may cancel or lower the classification of information when circumstances no longer warrant its retention in its original classification. When material is declassified or downgraded the custodian of the record copy, in the case of a document, or the custodian of the products or substances shall be so informed; and, when practicable, the other recipients of the material shall be similarly advised.

C. Review of assigned classifications. It is the responsibility and obligation of every Government official to keep classified information in his custody constantly under review and to initiate action toward downgrading or declassification as soon as conditions warrant.

1. General.

SECTION IV. DISSEMINATION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

No person is entitled solely by virtue of his office or position to knowledge or possession of classified information. Such information shall be entrusted only to those individuals whose official duties on behalf of the executive branch require such knowledge or possession.

The safeguarding of classified information is the responsibility of every individual to whom entrusted.

Care must be exercised at all times not only to refrain from discussing classified information with or in the presence of unauthorized personnel, but also to prevent inspection of or access to classified information by unauthorized personnel. 2. Limitations on dissemination

A. Within the executive branch—(1) Top secret.-The dissemination of top secret information shall be held to the absolute minimum. Only that portion of top

secret information necessary to the proper planning and appropriate action of any organizational unit or individual will be released to such unit or individual.

(2) Secret and confidential.-The dissemination of secret and confidential information shall be limited to personnel whose assigned duties require knowledge of such information.

(3) Restricted information shall be disseminated only for official purposes.

B. Information originating in another agency.-Classified information originating in another department or agency shall not be disseminated outside the receiving agency without the consent of the originating agency.

C. Dissemination outside the executive branch.-(1) Classified information shall not be released for dissemination outside the executive branch by any person or agency having access thereto or knowledge thereof except under conditions and through channels authorized by the head of the releasing agency.

(2) Classified information or material accumulated or developed in the pursuit of official Government business is the property of the Government and cannot, under any circumstances, be considered the personal property of any individual, even though such individual may have been solely or partly responsible for its production.

D. Unofficial correspondence.—Classified information shall not be discussed in unofficial correspondence.

E. Telephone conversations.—Information classified higher than restricted shall not be discussed over the telephone. It is permissible to make references by telephone to material in the higher categories if such references do not, in the course of the conversation, reveal the substance of those portions of material under discussion which are so classified. Reference to file numbers, dates and subject (provided the subject itself is not classified higher than restricted) may be made over the telephone, but great care must be exercised not to reveal substantive matter classified higher than restricted.

3. Loss or subjection to compromise

Any employee of the executive branch who may have knowledge of the loss or possible subjection to compromise of classified information shall promptly report the facts, either directly or through appropriate channels, to the originating office or agency for such action as may be appropriate.

SECTION V. RULES GOVERNING HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL

(Including marking, transmission, storage, and destruction.)

1. Marking

After determination of the classification to be assigned, classified material shall be marked in accordance with the procedures set forth below:

A. Documents (1) Bound documents.-The assigned classification on bound documents, such as books or pamphlets, the pages of which are permanently and securely fastened together, shall be conspicuously marked or stamped on the outside of the front cover, on the title page, on the first page, on the back page and on the outside of the back cover.

(2) Unbound documents.—The assigned classification on unbound documents, such as letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, and other similar documents, the pages of which are not permanently and securely fastened together shall be conspicuously marked or stamped at the top and bottom of each page, in such manner that the marking will be clearly visible when the pages are clipped or stapled together.

(3) Charts, maps, and drawings.-Classified charts, maps, and drawings shall carry the classification marking under the legend, title block, or scale in such manner that it will be reproduced on all copies made therefrom.

(4) Photographs, films, and recordings.-Classified photographs, films, and recordings, or their containers, shall be conspicuously and appropriately marked with the assigned classification.

B. Products or substances.-The assigned classification shall be conspicuously marked on classified products or substances, on their containers, or written notification of the assigned classification shall be furnished to recipients thereof. C. Additional markings—(1) Top secret and secret documents. In addition to the assigned classification marking or stamp, the originating agency's record copy of top secret and secret documents shall bear an appropriate indication of the authority for the classification, the identity of the classifying officer and the date of classification.

(2) Material furnished persons not in Federal service.-When classified material is furnished authorized persons other than those in the Federal service, the following notation, in addition to the assigned classification marking, shall be placed on the material, on its container or on the written notification of its assigned classification:

"This material contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Act (50 U. S. C., 31 and 32), as amended, or information of vital interest to the Federal Government and is transmitted for official use only."

(3) Downgraded, declassified, or upgraded material.-When the classification of material is changed by proper authority the classification marking will be marked out and a notation made as follows: "Classification canceled or changed to

by authority of (official authorized to change), date, by ------ (name and position of person making the change)."

In the case of classified documents, the original classification will be marked out and the above note inserted on the first page of unbound documents or on the cover, title page, or first page of a bound document.

2. Transmission

A. Preparation of classified information for transmission.-(1) Outside an agency:

(a) Top secret and secret material: (1) Top secret or secret material shall be enclosed in opaque inner and outer covers.

(2) The inner cover shall be a sealed wrapper or envelope plainly marked with the assigned classification.

(3) The outer cover shall be sealed and addressed with no indication of the classification.

(4) There shall be attached to the inner cover an unclassified receipt form identifying the addressor, addressee, and the document; such receipt will be signed by the addressee and returned to the sender.

(5) Written material will be protected from direct contact with the inner cover by a cover sheet or by folding inward.

(b) Confidential material: (1) Confidential material shall be prepared for transmission in the same manner as that indicated for top secret and secret material, except that it will be covered by a receipt only when the sender deems it necessary.

(2) When no receipt is deemed necessary the complete address will be shown on the inner cover.

(c) Restricted material: (1) Restricted material may be enclosed in one cover only.

(2) No receipt is required for restricted material.

(2) Within an agency: Preparation of classified information for transmission within an agency will be governed by regulations issued by the head of the agency to insure à degree of security equivalent to that outlined above for transmission outside an agency.

B. Transmission of classified material.—(1) Top secret material:

(a) The head of each agency, or his duly authorized representative, shall designate, and maintain control lists of persons within that agency who are authorized to receive top secret material.

(b) The head of each agency shall also designate top secret control officers who will maintain registers of top secret material received or disseminated by that agency.

(c) The transmission of top secret information will be effected by direct contact wherever practicable, by specifically designated personnel or by a messenger-courier system especially cleared for that purpose by the head of the agency.

(d) It is mandatory that transmission and custody of top secret material be covered by a receipt system.

(e) Under no circumstances will top secret material be transmitted by mail. (2) Secret and confidential material shall be delivered by one of the means established for top secret material, by a messenger system specifically authorized for the purpose by the head of the agency, by registered United States mail within the continental United States, or by registered Army or Navy postal service outside the continental United States.

(3) Restricted material shall be delivered by any means authorized for higher categories of classified material, or by ordinary mail within the continental United States.