Henley-Putnam's Intelligence Management Subject Guide

Congress enacts statutes (laws), called "Acts," which are the basis of the United States' Intelligence Community (USIC) authority and responsibility. These statutes are our touchstones as intelligence professionals. The USIC, as we know it today, as a result of the post-World War II reorganization of government to maintain a focus on national security and foreign policy matters.

• Congress passed the National Security Act of 1947 which:
  • established the National Security Council;
  • merged the War and Navy Departments into the Department of Defense; and
  • created the Central Intelligence Agency from the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a post-war civilian intelligence-gathering organization. 
• According to both the National Security Act of 1947 and the Defense Reorganization Act of 1958, the Secretary of Defense informs the President of the establishment of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
  •  Pursuant to the Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 5105.21, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was created on August 1, 1961, and officially organized on October 1, 1961. 

For more about USIC laws, see the statutes page.

Under what authority does US IC operate? 

The President of the United States issues operational guidance to the executive branch on how to execute faithfully the law through "Executive Orders." Many key Executive Orders exist that apply to the intelligence professional, including:

• Executive Order 12333 US Intelligence Activities
  • Status of Attorney General Approved U. S. Person Procedures Under Executive Order 12333 May 16, 2017

For more about authority see the Statutes and Executive Orders pages