What determines how classification levels are set? And who gets
to decide what information becomes classified?
The government’s classification levels are set by executive order,
straight from the President himself. The most recent order, Executive
Order 13292, was issued by President George Bush on March 25, 2003. In
particular, it focused on intelligence that could be used to stop terrorist
attacks, and, interestingly, it gave Vice President Dick Cheney presidential
powers to make more information classified.
Are there different levels of classification?
Yes. Information is categorized into 3 levels based on the amount of
damage it would do to national security if it were disclosed.
- Top Secret - Is the highest security level. Information includes
presidential security and location of nuclear warheads.
- Secret information, or Level 4, includes the identities of CIA
operatives, the locations of hidden bunkers, and most military info.
- Confidential - Level 3, is the lowest level of classified info. Information
from other countries is typically listed as confidential.
As citizens, what rights do we have to uncover unclassified
information? Let’s say that the EPA has conducted tests for toxic
chemicals at an industrial site near your home. Or you may have taken
part in government sponsored medical tests, but were never told the
results. How do your find out this information?
Big government needs to be held accountable.
So in order to make the operation of government as transparent as possible,
we have a right to request copies of federal government files under the
Freedom of Information Act.
How does someone go about filing a request under the Freedom
of Information Act?
Write a letter to the federal agency that you believe has the information
you are looking for. Clearly identify your name, address, social security
number, and specifically describe what you are requesting. Now remember,
that the government is entitled to charge you for its research time and
copies. So put a cap on what you are willing to pay.
The judge in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial recently said
that , "As a culture, we need to be careful not to be so wrapped
up in secrecy that we lose track of our core values and laws."
So we need to continue to strike a balance between secrecy and
our Freedom of Information.
