ACCESS. The ability and opportunity to obtain knowledge or possession of classified information. An individual does not have access to classified information merely by being in a place where such information is kept, provided the security measures that are in effect prevent him from gaining knowledge or possession of such classified information.
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. Official information that has been determined to require, in the interests of national security, protection against unauthorized disclosure and that has been so designated.
CLASSIFIED MATTER. Any matter, document, product, or substance on or in which classified information is recorded or embodied.
CLASSIFIER. (1) An individual who is designated as an original classification authority and who determines that official information, not known to be already classified, currently requires, in the interests of national security, a specific degree of protection against unauthorized disclosure and, having the authority to do so, designates that official information as Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential; or (2) an individual who, in the performance of his or her official duties, determines that official information is in substance the same as information known by him to be already classified by an original classification authority as Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential and marks it accordingly.
CLEARANCE. An administrative determination by competent authority that an individual is eligible, from a security standpoint, for access to classified information of a specified category. COMMAND. Any organizational entity under one individual authorized to exercise direction and control. This term includes unit, base, squadron, activity, or any other indication of organizational integrity.
COMPROMISE. A violation of security that results from an unauthorized person obtaining knowledge of classified information. As used in this case, the term unauthorized person means any person not authorized to have access to classified information.
DECLASSIFY. To remove the classification from classified information. Notification to holders of this information is part of the process. Decisions concerning declassification or downgrading are based on the loss of sensitivity of the information with the passage of time or on the occurrence of an event that permits declassification or downgrading.
DISCLOSURE. An officially authorized release or dissemination by competent authority whereby the information is furnished to a specific individual, group, or activity.
DOCUMENT. Any recorded information, regardless of its physical form or characteristics, and including but not limited to the following:
1. Written material, whether handwritten, printed, or typed
2. All painted, drawn, or engraved material
3. All sound or voice recordings
4. All printed photographs, exposed or printed film, and still or motion pictures
5. Data processing cards and tapes
6. All reproductions of the foregoing by whatever process reproduced
DOWNGRADE. To determine that classified information requires a lower degree of protection against unauthorized disclosure than currently provided, coupled with a changing of the classification designation to reflect such lower degree.
HANDLING. The preparation, processing, transmission, and custody of classified information.
MARKING. The physical act of indicating on classified material the assigned classification, changes in classification, downgrading and declassification instructions, and any limitations on the use of the classified information. It serves to inform and to warn the holder of the classification of information involved, of the degree of protection against unauthorized disclosure that is required, and to facilitate extracting, para-phrasing, upgrading, downgrading, and declassification actions.
NEED TO KNOW. The necessity for access to, knowledge of, or possession of classified information in order to carry out official military or other governmental duties. Responsibility for