# United States Government Glossary of Interagency and Associated Terms

United States Government Glossary of Interagency and Associated Terms
Washington DC, July 2017
PREFACE
1. Scope
The US Government Glossary of Interagency and Associated Terms (USG Glossary) identifies standard terminology experienced in cooperation activities of the Federal branches of government and their components. These organizational terms, together with their definitions, provide an overview of existing terminology for general use and understanding by all USG components when making policy, developing strategy and doctrine, delivering advice, or creating plans and facilitating training and exercises.
2. Purpose
This document was founded on the demand of the Joint Doctrine Interorganizational Clearinghouse participants/staff officers and guided by a subsequent interagency Terminology Working Group that become the Editorial Staff. As identified in multiple fora (e.g. conferences, workshops), interagency representatives expressed the need for terms with definitions that have useful, consistent, inclusive and exclusive meaning. Starting with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security Dictionaries, this document begins that discussion by inventorying organizational terms and definitions from both legislative (US Code) and executive branches of government (Department and Agency Strategic Plans). The purpose is to improve communication and mutual understanding within the federal government to increase efficiencies among and between workforces. This document is not intended to be an all-inclusive compilation of interagency terms, nor does it recommend one term over others. It is to be used as a guide only, and in no event will it become a vehicle for establishing or interpreting policy or doctrine for unified action of the work forces. It is published with the understanding that it not be definitive of the mission or function of any of department. The terms and definitions are not binding to the US Government. This document not intended to be used as a legal document nor reflect all the relevant statutory provisions, regulations or other guidance. Since definitions are presented without context, readers are advised to go to the original source listed for context.
3. Application
This document can be used as a primary glossary when preparing correspondence or documents (e.g. policy, strategy, doctrine, legal, advisory, and planning), or facilitating training, education, and exercises.
4. Format
The primary parts of the USG Glossary are:
a. Explanatory notes.
b. Part I - terms and definitions.
c. Part II - thematic lists
​5. Revision
Future editions of the USG Glossary will be updated based on upon new or modified material submitted by individual departments and agencies to supporting editors of the Admissions Committee and by annual reviews according to demand. This document contains approximately 12,500 terms selected from a larger preliminary list. Each term was chosen for its interagency significance. This document does not attempt to replace a list of similar terms with a single definition. This collection did identify redundant terms with multiple definitions. Our evaluation is that organizations should consider pursuing legislative changes to identify a single and useful USG definition for broad and informative terms.
6. Editorial Staff
    George Katsos, DOD
    Jerome Conrad, DHS
    Frank Disimino, FEMA
    Ted Liddy, FEMA
    Anna Necheles, FEMA
    Charles Oliver, USAID
    Christina Pham, DHS
    Basil White, DVA
7. Working Group/Content Contributors
USDA, DOC, ED, DOE, DHHS, HUD, DOI, DOJ, DOL, DOS, DOT, Treasury, CDC, FBI, DNI, EPA, GSA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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