Cyberspace Policy Research Group
Notes on Coding

Policy Sectors

Every entry must have a policy sector.  Use your best judgement as to which function is most relevant.  If there are clearly multiple functions, then make a separate entry for each function.  Policy sectors are listed below.

Site Levels (formerly "Headquarters Sites")

Distinguishing the level and structural position of an organization in the overall hierarchy of a government is important.  Previously we have coded for Headquarters or "HQ" sites as the main functional organizational site for a sector.  This has been confusing to some of us, so the coding criteria are being clarified. 

"Level 1" sites are those run by organizations that are at the President's or Prime Minister's Cabinet Table.  They are at the peak of the governmental structure.  Examples would be the Ministry of Defense or Ministry of Finance. 

"Level 2" sites are those that are under a Level 1 site, but that have a separate identity and scope of operation.  The Department of the Army, the Internal Revenue Service, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation are examples for the United States.  These are the "Significant Sub-sites" mentioned in a Level 1 site and whose URLs are noted that column.

 "Level 3" sites are likewise those that have a separate identity and scope of operation under a Level 2 site.  They are also those sites that are not otherwise classifiable as part of a national-level organization. 

Umbrella Sites

Umbrella websites contain more than one main functional site, for example in Belgium the Ministry of Social Security and the Ministry of Public Health are located together.  In such cases, score a decimal fraction (e.g. 0.5, 0.33) in the "Level 1" column for each separate entry.  List each unit separately.

Significant Sub-sites 

As noted above, list the URLS of significant sub-sites in the "Significant Sub-sites" column for later tracking and analysis.

Gateway Sites

Gateway sites provide links to other sites.  If a site lists too many URLs to keep track of in the "Significant Sub-sites" field, then put a "1" in the "Gateway Site" field.  However, do try to use the "Significant Sub-sites" field as much as possible.

 
Policy Sector Listing

1. Agriculture
2. Communications (ministries of information or telecommunications, independent regulators, broadcasting, post offices, phone companies)
3. Culture (including museums, archives)
4. Defense (including Coast Guard)
5. Education
6. Energy
7. Environment (environmental protection, quality of water generally)
8. Executive (monarch, prime minister, president, cabinet office, council of state, budget office
9. Finance
10. Foreign
11. Government Operations (gateway sites, civil service, auditing, purchasing or procurement)
12. Health
13. Industry & Trade
 

 14. Interior (police and internal security, control of territory, including land management, population control, immigration)
15. Justice (prosecutorial function, courts, Supreme Court)
16. Labor (unemployment, apprenticeship programs, retraining, targeted education for employment)
17. Legislative (parliament, including economic and social councils if elected)
18. Library
19. Meteorology or Weather
20. Regional/Local (states, municipalities, national ministries exclusively concerned with regions)
21. Science & Technology (science-based activities)
22. Social Services (pensions, transfer payments, income support, assistance to disadvantaged groups, housing provision but not construction)
23. Transportation & Infrastructure (roads, railroads, airports, housing construction, water facilities
 

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