EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. Updates
Per guidance founded in the Joint Doctrine Interorganizational Clearinghouse directed Terminology Working Group, terminology changes to the USG Glossary (additions, modifications, or deletions of interagency terminology) are approved using one of the following methods:
- a. USG terminology proposals approved by the Editorial Staff from federal agencies and the National Security Council that include dictionaries, lexicons, and glossaries.
- b. USG terminology captured in senior level executive branch specific memoranda
- c. Approved administrative changes/ updates by the Senior Editor.
2. Criteria
The USG Glossary reflects terms and definitions in Federal department dictionaries and other senior-level documents with standard terminology for interagency and associated use as well as in dedicated sections of laws and other relevant documents. Accordingly, the following standing operating procedure criteria determine the acceptability of terminology for inclusion in the USG Glossary:
- a. The term and definition are singled out in a dedicated section of organizational material.
- b. The term and definition does not cross reference other terms nor references/ sends the reader to other locations for clarity outside of the term.
- c. It is understood that the reader will look beyond the term and definition at the original source to determine context.
- d. The terms and definition exist in organizational documents approved at a senior level of management.
- e. Terms and definitions must be unclassified and from unclassified sources so that all users can access original documents.
3. Structure
The USG Glossary is separated into two parts (I - alphabetization of terms, and II thematic lists.) The requirement is on the reader to analyze individual terms by viewing the original source placed in the document following each term and definition before comparing with similar terms or using in other documents.
- a. Part I – Alphabetized list of generic and/ or organizational terms of primary dictionary like sources (e.g. DOD Dictionary, DHS Lexicon). Lists of terms from all
