US/Continuity of Government/Condition

Overview
Continuity of Government Condition, or COGCON (level), is a term used by the US government to refer to a "threat level matrix" relating to whether US Continuity of Government plans should be put into effect. COGCON level 4 is the lowest threat level; COGCON level 1 is the highest.

It is not clear whether this is the same as Continuity of Government Readiness Conditions, a term used in the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (NS/HSPD) of 2007-05-09. If it is the same thing, then the NS/HSPD seriously misrepresents COGCON as being more of a "readiness assessment" than a "threat level". It also may mean that the president has independent authority, under loosely-defined conditions, to declare a national emergency in which he would be granted greatly expanded powers.

Reference

 * 2007-04-20 DOE O 100.1D SECRETARIAL SUCCESSION, THREAT LEVEL NOTIFICATION, AND SUCCESSOR TRACKING