GSS 1972-2024 Cumulative Datafile - Release 3

In order to maintain America's leadership in the world, the 
government should maintain a high level of secrecy surrounding 
technology with military uses. Do you . . .

Given the world situation, the government protects too many documents 
by classifying them as SECRET and TOP SECRET. Do you . . .

When faced with a conflict between loyalty to one''s employer and 
loyalty to a co-worker who is violating rules for protecting SECRET 
and TOP SECRET information, a person should:

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
A. Financial and credit history

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
B. Criminal arrests and convictions

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
C. Illegal drug use

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
D. Mental health history

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
E. Foreign relatives and friends

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
F. Alcohol use

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
G. Sexual orientation

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
H. Foreign business contacts

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
I. Foreign travel

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should have the right to ask him or her detailed, personal 
questions in the following areas:
J. Illegal or unauthorized use of computers

When faced with the conflict between an individual''s right to 
privacy and the government''s need to collect personal
 background information before giving a SECRET or TOP SECRET 
clearance, the government should:
 1. Favor protecting an individual''s right to privacy by not 
gathering information.
 2. Favor the government''s need to protect security by gathering 
information.

Should or should not the government maintain a high level of secrecy 
surrounding: (READ A-D)
 A. Diplomatic initiatives

Should or should not the government maintain a high level of secrecy 
surrounding: (READ A-D)
 B. Military operations

Should or should not the government maintain a high level of secrecy 
surrounding: (READ A-D)
 C. Efforts to control domestic terrorism

Should or should not the government maintain a high level of secrecy 
surrounding: (READ A-D)
 D. The US intelligence budget

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should contact other people and verify information 
provided by the individual concerning his or her: (READ A-C)
A. Financial assets and liabilities

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should contact other people and verify information 
provided by the individual concerning his or her: (READ A-C)
B. Spouse's financial assets and liabilities

Before giving an individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the 
government should contact other people and verify information 
provided by the individual concerning his or her: (READ A-C)
C. Tax records

Please tell me which one of the statements on the card best describes 
what the government has the right to know. Before giving an 
individual a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance, the government should 
have the right to know:

Now I'm going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, 
indicate (Number 1-6) what you would consider the appropriate 
punishment for each case.
A. An army sergeant was convicted of stealing airplane parts, 
ammunition, explosives and other government property and selling them 
to civilians.

Now I''m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, 
indicate (Number 1-6) what you would consider the appropriate 
punishment for each case.
 B. A high-placed government official leaked sensitive information to 
a newspaper in order to influence public opinion about a 
controversial political issue. The official received no money.

Now I''m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, 
indicate (Number 1-6) what you would consider the appropriate 
punishment for each case.
 C. A Navy petty officer with the highest security clearance made 
copies of secret codes and other classified intelligence materials 
and sold them to an agent of a hostile foreign government.

Now I''m going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, 
indicate (Number 1-6) what you would consider the appropriate 
punishment for each case.
 D. What if the petty officer had sold these materials to an agent of 
a friendly foreign government?

Now I'm going to ask you about several offenses. For each case, 
indicate (Number 1-6) what you would consider the appropriate 
punishment for each case.
E. A government employee was convicted of stealing truck parts and 
tires from a military depot and selling them to civilians.