Critical Nuclear Weapon Design InformationCritical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI, often pronounced SIN-widdy or SIN-wuh-dee) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) category of Top Secret Restricted Data or Secret Restricted Data that reveals the theory of operation or design of the components of a thermonuclear or fission bomb, warhead, demolition munition, or test device.
Born secretBorn secret (also known as born classified) is a legal doctrine in the United States where certain information is automatically classified from the moment it is created, regardless of author or location. Scholars describe the doctrine as unique in U.S. law because it can criminalize the discussion of information that is already publicly available.
Classified information in the United StatesThe United States government classification system is established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic of classified information beginning in 1951. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the regulations codified to 32 C.F.R. 2001.
Special nuclear materialSpecial nuclear material (SNM) is a term used by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to classify fissile materials. The NRC divides special nuclear material into three main categories, according to the risk and potential for its direct use in a clandestine nuclear weapon or for its use in the production of nuclear material for use in a nuclear weapon.
Classified informationClassified information is confidential material that a government, corporation, or non-governmental organisation deems to be sensitive information, which must be protected from unauthorized disclosure and that requires special handling and dissemination controls. Access is restricted by law, regulation, or corporate policies to particular groups of individuals with both the necessary security clearance and a need to know.
Atomic Energy Act of 1954The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2011–2021, 2022-2286i, 2296a-2297h-13, is a United States federal law that covers for the development, regulation, and disposal of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States. It was an amendment to the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and substantially refined certain aspects of the law, including increased support for the possibility of a civilian nuclear industry.
Q clearanceQ clearance or Q access authorization is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance required to access Top SecretRestricted Data, Formerly Restricted Data, and National Security Information, as well as Secret Restricted Data. Restricted Data (RD) is defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and covers nuclear weapons and related materials.
United States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees national energy policy and energy production, the research and development of nuclear power, the military's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy-related research, and energy conservation. The DOE was created in 1977 in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.
L clearanceAn L clearance is a security clearance used by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission for civilian access relating to nuclear materials and information under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. It is equivalent to a United States Department of Defense (DOD) Secret clearance. The DOE L clearance provides less access than the agency's Q clearance.
Nuclear weaponFor other uses, see Nuke (other).From top, left to right MIRV design of modern ICBM nuclear warheadsSubmarine-launched ballistic missile test, a standard nuclear warhead delivery optionFat Man nuclear bomb in Tinian before use on NagasakiCloud following atomic bombing of NagasakiF-35 drops a dummy B61 nuclear bomb during testingAssortment of US nuclear ICBMsA nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion.Prior restraintPrior restraint (also referred to as prior censorship or pre-publication censorship) is censorship imposed, usually by a government or institution, on expression, that prohibits particular instances of expression. It is in contrast to censorship that establishes general subject matter restrictions and reviews a particular instance of expression only after the expression has taken place.
Born secretBorn secret (also known as born classified) is a legal doctrine in the United States where certain information is automatically classified from the moment it is created, regardless of author or location. Scholars describe the doctrine as unique in U.S. law because it can criminalize the discussion of information that is already publicly available.Classified information in the United StatesThe United States government classification system is established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic of classified information beginning in 1951. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the regulations codified to 32 C.F.R. 2001.Special nuclear materialSpecial nuclear material (SNM) is a term used by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to classify fissile materials. The NRC divides special nuclear material into three main categories, according to the risk and potential for its direct use in a clandestine nuclear weapon or for its use in the production of nuclear material for use in a nuclear weapon.Classified informationClassified information is confidential material that a government, corporation, or non-governmental organisation deems to be sensitive information, which must be protected from unauthorized disclosure and that requires special handling and dissemination controls. Access is restricted by law, regulation, or corporate policies to particular groups of individuals with both the necessary security clearance and a need to know.Atomic Energy Act of 1954The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2011–2021, 2022-2286i, 2296a-2297h-13, is a United States federal law that covers for the development, regulation, and disposal of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States. It was an amendment to the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and substantially refined certain aspects of the law, including increased support for the possibility of a civilian nuclear industry.Q clearanceQ clearance or Q access authorization is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance required to access Top SecretRestricted Data, Formerly Restricted Data, and National Security Information, as well as Secret Restricted Data. Restricted Data (RD) is defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and covers nuclear weapons and related materials.United States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees national energy policy and energy production, the research and development of nuclear power, the military's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy-related research, and energy conservation. The DOE was created in 1977 in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.L clearanceAn L clearance is a security clearance used by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission for civilian access relating to nuclear materials and information under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. It is equivalent to a United States Department of Defense (DOD) Secret clearance. The DOE L clearance provides less access than the agency's Q clearance.Nuclear weaponFor other uses, see Nuke (other).From top, left to right MIRV design of modern ICBM nuclear warheadsSubmarine-launched ballistic missile test, a standard nuclear warhead delivery optionFat Man nuclear bomb in Tinian before use on NagasakiCloud following atomic bombing of NagasakiF-35 drops a dummy B61 nuclear bomb during testingAssortment of US nuclear ICBMsA nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion.Prior restraintPrior restraint (also referred to as prior censorship or pre-publication censorship) is censorship imposed, usually by a government or institution, on expression, that prohibits particular instances of expression. It is in contrast to censorship that establishes general subject matter restrictions and reviews a particular instance of expression only after the expression has taken place.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.