ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DOMESTIC POLICY REVIEW SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A002200100011-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: September 14, 1977
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2004/03/23 : CIA-RDP80M00165'02200100011-8
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 14, 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Establishment of the Presidential
Domestic Policy Review System
The Presidential Domestic Policy Review System is hereby
established to coordinate the work of the Departments and
Agencies in developing the Administration's position on
selected key domestic policy issues.
OBJECTIVES
This System was recommended in the Reorganization Project's
report on the Executive Office of the President as a means to
ensure greater Department and Agency participation in the
domestic policy decision process. The System's principal
objectives are to:
Ensure that the full resources of government
are brought to bear on particular domestic
issues in a timely manner;
Provide a full range of realistic and properly
staffed options on an issue;
Encourage advance planning and priority setting
to promote coordination among issues;
Establish procedures to ensure that Departments
and Agencies have the opportunity to comment on
issues relevant to their expertise and policy
responsibilities; and,
Provide for systematic follow-up on Presidential
decisions.
MEMORANDA AND PROCEDURES
The System will make use of the following memoranda and
procedures:
Issue Definition Memorandum
Issues for inclusion in the Domestic Policy
Review System will be selected through an Issue
Definition Memorandum submitted for Presidential
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approval by the Assistant to the President for
Domestic Affairs and Policy (at his initiative
or the request of a Department or Agency) after
full consultation with the Vice President, all
affected Departments, Agencies, and senior
Presidential advisers. The Issue Definition
Memorandum will briefly state the questions
to be covered and the Agencies to be involved,
and shall designate a lead Agency and the mem-
bership of a coordinating committee at the
Cabinet or sub-Cabinet level -- including
representatives of all participating Agencies.
The memorandum shall include a date for sub-
mission of a Response to the memorandum. Upon
Presidential approval, the Issue Definition
Memorandum will serve as a directive for analysis
to begin on the questions defined.
Response Memorandum
The lead Agency will take responsibility, in
coordination with the Domestic Policy Staff
and with the full assistance and cooperation
of participating Agencies, for development of
a Response Memorandum providing background,
analysis of decision options, and Agency
recommendations on questions identified in
the Issue Definition Memorandum. The Response
Memorandum should analyze the issues set forth
in the Issue Definition Memorandum and, in
doing so, reflect the views of all Agencies
represented on the review committee, as well
as any other Agencies affected by the Memorandum
Decision Memorandum
Where appropriate, a Presidential Decision
Memorandum summarizing decision options will
be prepared by the Domestic Policy Staff with
review by affected Departments and Agencies
and Senior Presidential advisers.
Domestic Presidential Directive
Where appropriate, Presidential decisions will
be set forth through a Domestic Presidential
Directive.
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ORGANIZATION
Because of the number of Departments and Agencies involved,
there will be no permanent standing committees associated
with the Domestic Policy Review System. There will, however,
be a coordinating committee established for each issue and
the composition of that committee will be defined in the
Issue Definition Memorandum.
A member of the Domestic Policy Staff will be assigned
responsibility for working with the appropriate lead Agency.
In addition, these committees will normally include repre-
sentatives from OMB and CEA.
ALTERNATIVES TO MEMORANDA PROCESS
Domestic issues which otherwise would be covered by the
Domestic Policy Review System may have to be handled
differently because of excessive time pressures or unusua?
policy sensitivity. And on some domestic policy issues,
extensive and formal interagency coordination will simply
not be required. However, in each of these circumstances,
the intent of the System is to establish early and extensive
involvement between the Domestic Policy Staff and the aff,~ct?C
agencies, whether through the Memorandum process or more
informal communication.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Use of this process will result in increased circulation =~f
domestic policy documents. Circulation of draft Memoranda
must be closely supervised by all parties to maintain
confidentiality and avoid premature disclosure.
IDENTIFICATION OF CURRENT ISSUES
As a first step in implementing the new System, I would like
each of you to submit a brief list of domestic issues (in-
dicating priorities among them) to Stu Eizenstat, for pos3ibc?
inclusion in the Domestic Policy Review System. The list
should be limited to those issues which have substantial imps}cr
on domestic policy and which require significant interagency
involvement. The list should be submitted by September 23.
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 A ION
INFO
DATE
INIT A
1
DCI
DDCI
X
3
D/DCI/IC
X
l
DDS&T
5
DDI
X
6
DDA
7
ODO
x
S
D/DCI/
GC
x
10
LC
X
1.1
IG
12
Compt
13
D/ Pers
14
D/S
T-
DTR
16
A/DCI/PA
X
IT
AO/DCI
is-
C/IPS
19
1, DCI/SS
2D
21
22
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tenjarks:
stxucure parallels the NSC/Policy Review
System. Doubt if it would be appropriate- for us
to. make an input to the list of domestic issues
ca .led for in~ the last' paragraph.
STAT
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