OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MAINTENANCE OF BASIC INFORMATION DATA BANK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01737A001000070004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 2, 1973
• Content Type: REGULATION

Approved For R& a 2O V17 t1dA I' P 0YV 'YA00 R( -7
40070004-0
OCI NOTICE OPERATIONS
N 50-99 2 August 1973
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
MAINTENANCE OF BASIC INFORMATION DATA BANK
1. With the NIS going out of business, the
feeling may arise among some of us that we can now
reduce our store of basic political and sociological
information. We must guard against this feeling.
The closing down of the NIS in no way lessens the need
for maintaining and improving OCI's reservoir of basic
information about each country of intelligence interest
to the U.S. This need stems from OCI's primary analytical
and reporting mission. It existed before OCI was in the
NIS business, and it continues to exist now that we are
closing out the NIS function.
2. The requirement for an adequate bank of basic
data cannot be satisfied by merely maintaining a
file of incoming documents. The analyst must work
actively to update his material in a systematic and
structured way. He must seek out information to fill
gaps, he must put relevant bits and pieces together
into coherent segments, and he must put his results in
a form readily accessible to anyone who might be called
upon to pinch hit or take over on the particular country.
3. Meeting White House and other government demands
for more rapid reporting and analysis will undoubtedly
place additional strains on the office for basic and
background information. We will be expected to provide
quick explanation and perspective to events of intelli-
gence interest. The time element will require that basic
data be assembled, systematically updated, and in a form
readily available for use. All hands should give atten-
tion to ways and means of accomplishing this objective.
Approved For ReIe 0XO4 C 4A'R 8 79W01000070004-0
 Approved For Release b 1`7 ~' tA- 6 7 O A001000070004-0
OCI NOTICE OPERATIONS
N 50-99 2 August 1973
4. Although the NIS as a program is being
abolished, publication of the Basic Intelligence
Factbook will be continued on an interagency basis.
As in the past, OCI analysts will contribute the
sociological and political information for it.
5. The task of providing basic political, so-
ciological, and other data, as required, is a line
responsibility. Branch and division chiefs will
take appropriate measures to ensure that this task
is performed with respect to all countries and organ-
izational entities for which they are responsible.
6. A listing of some of the kinds and cate-
gories of basic material that analysts should have
readily available is appended. The list is not
exhaustive, nor are all items appropriate for every
country. It is intended to be illustrative, hope-
fully a useful guide to the development of the kind
of data bank of basic information OCI needs and will
continue to need to fulfill its responsibilities.
STATINTL
Acting Director
Current Intelligence
Attachment: a/s
Approved For ReI P4;' W : A P 1 f 001000070004-0
 Approved For Releggit%4 I1Z.VC 4~ R fZPERV3jAV1000070004-0
Some examples of the kinds and categories of basic
information on a country needed by OCI in the fulfillment
of its current intelligence mission.
1. Current constitution and, where appropriate, earlier
constitutions for comparison and perspective.
2. Other organic laws.
3. Provisions for invoking martial law and state of
siege; powers and restrictions under each.
4. Provisions for transfer of authority from the chief
executive for disability or other reasons.
5. Major legislative acts or executive decrees.
6. Major policy pronouncements by government and oppo-
sition spokesmen.
7. Biographic profiles of major political and other
figures.
8. Requirements for registration of political parties
and restrictions on their activities.
9. Organization and leadership of political parties
and factions, their antecedents, general philosophy and
major objectives, intervals at which important units of
each party are convened; data on size, voting strength,
influence.
10. Electoral laws and suffrage requirements.
11. Intervals at which periodic elections occur and
conditions under which non-periodic elections can be called.
12. Data on elections: total vote, percent of electorate
voting, vote of each party, seats won in legislative elec-
tions; voting patterns by region, age, sex.
13. Structure of government, both at the national and
major subordinate levels.
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO01000070004-0
 Approved For Rel [ .v2f@ f1i! ::1& $@Q1 a 7,,q-OO1 000070004-0
14. Data on police and security organizations, lines of
control and areas of responsibility of each, basic political
outlook and traditions of each.
15. Data on politically relevant organizations or move-
ments of youth, women, occupational groups, caste or social
strata.
16. Labor relations laws; data on labor unions and
organizations of industrial and commercial interests.
17. Ethnic, tribal, and religious divisions and animosi-
ties; data on size of elements, cohesion within them, lead-
ership, etc.
18. Membership in international organizations and major
regional organizations.
19. Major alliances and mutual defense treaties.
20. Agreements with the U.S., especially status of
military force agreements, extradition treaties and narcotics
control agreements.
21. Laws pertaining to foreign investment, repatriation
of earnings and capital, and expropriation.
22. Countries with which subject country maintains dip-
lomatic relations; types of missions; size of missions,
particularly of the major powers within the subject country.
23. Nationality laws, especially those relating to the
question of dual citizenship.
24. Dates of recent population censuses and scheduling
of future censuses; reliability of census data.
25. Population size, growth rate (natural increase and
migration), distribution, and density.
26. Major fields of employment, shifts in employment
patterns, and unemployment statistics.
27. Data on the educational system, particularly with
respect to the quality of education and its relevance for
the country's trained manpower needs.
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO01000070004-0
 Approved For Releeaaseg 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO01000070004-0
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY
28. Data on information media, including circulation
(or audience), ownership and political complexion or bias;
censorship laws and other means of political control of the
media.
Note: Most statistical data should include figures for
several years to show trends and provide data for compari-
sons and perspective.
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79BO1737AO01000070004-0