Which term refers to the process of adjudicating an individual's eligibility for access to classified information?

• A. Adjudication
• B. Adjudicator
• C. Administrative Inquiry
• D. Adverse Information

Answer: (A)

Adjudication is the formal decision-making step that determines whether someone meets the requirements to access classified information. After a background investigation, this process weighs available information against the security criteria to decide if clearance should be granted or denied. An adjudicator is the person who conducts this evaluation and renders the decision, but the process itself is called adjudication. Administrative inquiry relates to gathering facts before the decision, while adverse information refers to data that could raise concerns and must be weighed during adjudication.