DESIGNATION OF AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING OFFICERS.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00261R000600030020-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: November 13, 1959
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2001/04/05: CIA-RDP81 002618000600030020-5
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DRAFT - - 1 Nov. 59
MLMORAHJ)IJM F a: Deputy Director (Intelligence)
Deputy Director (Plans)
SUBJECT : Designation of Authorizing and Approving Officers.
1. Present Agency egulatione require the designation of
authorizing or approving officers to exercise a variety of adminis-
trative functions such a%othe approval of the expenditure of funds
the approval of requisitions or requests for materials or ser-icesr
the release of dispatches( The Support Procedures Cozanittee
has pointed out that in most instances it is the practice to require
'iM these designations, or revocations thereof, be made by individual
none in writing, and in many oases specimen signatures are required.
This necessitates the preparation of several hundred copies of
memoranda, forms, and signature cards each year, and in the aggregate
represents a considerable expenditure of man-hours in connection
with the preparation, approval, filing, and routing of these docu-
ments* Attached as TAB A is a listing of the.types of delegations
in question, a reference to the pertinent egulations, and a brief
statement of the methods used in designating authorizing and
approving officers.
2. Agency RTegulations, in general., delegate to Deputy Directors
authority as authorizing or approving officers for all transaction
under their jurisdiction, with fall authority to redelegate unless
the authority is.spectfioally lizsited in individual instances. It
is recognized that each Deputy Director should have the authority
to determine the level at which he desires the various approving
authorities to be exercised, and to place limitations on approving
authority to the extent he deems necessary, It is also necessary
that custodians of Agency Rands, property, and documents have some
practical means of insuring that official transactions are approved
by competent authority. It is believed, however, that most of these
authorities are an inherent part of the line duties of individuals
occupying certain types of Positions (i.e., Office Heads, Staff
Chiefs, and Division Chief) and as such should be delegated by
title of position rather than by name. In this way an individual)(
upon assuming a position)( would have the authority to approve trans-
actions which are an'inherent part of the position, without executing
a variety of separate memoranda, forms, and signature cards,
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3. It is believed that we should take positive steps to eliminate
some of the excess paper work presently involved in the designation of
authorising; and approving officers* I have determined tha# insofar
as the requirements of the Support Components are oonc*rned,, all of
the signature cards and memoranda concerning name designations'.
required by the 1 g lations listed in TAB AID may be discontinued
immediately if you feel that you are in a podition to delegate these
authorities to your subordinates by title, using a single'.document
for that purpose and furnishing copies thereof to other Agency
components concerned. This would in effect enable Chiefs of Offices,
Divisions, and Staffs and their Deputies, or individuals acting in
those capacities to function as authorizing and approving offioers
for appropriate transactions under their ,jurisdiction as an inherent
part of their line duties.
4s If you concur in this proposal)( I would suggest that we
proceed as follows:
as ' at the DD/P, IUD/I, and DD/S each prepare
a single document entitled "Delegations of Authority"
which would delegate the appropriate authorities by
position titles?
b. t an Agency4tice be prepares amending
all ex eting4(sgulations by waif; the requirements
for name designations and signature cards. A copy of
the initial 'Delegations of Authority" woul be
attached to and distributed with the otice~
as Thet4following the initial distributior4jO
each Deputy Director change or amend his "Delegations
of Authority" by unilateral action, and send copies
of the changes to the Agency components concerned.
5. I would appreciate receiving yew reaction to this proposal
or any alternate suggestions you eight have for achieving the same
purposes
L. K. WHTZS
Deputy Director
(Support)
Approved For Release 2001/04/05: CIJRDP81-00261 R000600030020-5