Mark M. Lowenthal's trusted guide is the go-to resource for understanding how the intelligence community's history, structure, procedures, and functions affect policy decisions. In this Sixth Edition, the author highlights new challenges facing the intelligence community, examining NSA programs, UAVs, the impact of social media, and the effects of the Snowden leaks on collection and Congressional oversight. All transnational issues have been updated, especially to reflect changes in the war on terror. New analytic issues receive attention, including Big Data, multi-intelligence analysis, and shifting demands on the workforce. An expanded chapter on oversight scrutinizes the role of the FISA court, OMB, and GAO.