Overton Index uses a comprehensive policy source taxonomy to classify all of its sources to help refine and analyse search results. Our taxonomy system comprises 3 levels, with each source being assigned a sector, an organisation type and functions.
Users will be able to interact with it primarily via the filters, which allows you to refine your results based on characteristics of the policy source. Additionally, this information will be available to users via our exports.
With a database like Overton, we need a taxonomy which accounts for the characteristics of our diverse policy sources, in order to fully support our users with their analyses. It must reflect how governments and other public bodies are structured in different countries, as well as scales of governance (local, regional, national, international). It must adequately reflect the nature of a policy source in a way that is understandable across languages and country contexts.
How is a source classified?
- Policy source sector: Our primary sectoral classification indicates which sector(s) our sources are classed as: public, private or third sector
- Policy source organisation: Our secondary classification system categorises our sources on the basis of whether they’re a government, think tank, NGO or IGO, in a similar way to our existing system.
- Policy source function: Our tertiary classification system is intended to act as a series of broad descriptors, which describe the core functions of or services provided by the organisation. This is our biggest change, and perhaps the one we hope will be most useful in terms of ‘drilling down’ into sources. There may be more than one classification applied at this level, to offer a more nuanced and detailed idea of what a source is or does.
For example, an independent government-funded research centre may now appear in the database as:
| Sector | Organisation | Function |
| Public Sector | Government | Arm’s Length Body National Body Research Centre |
Nuances of the classification system
The taxonomy has been designed to achieve a balance between being ‘globally agnostic’ and being descriptive of what the source is, does and adequately describing its position within the governance system. At present, Index hosts a wide range of more than 2400 organisations from 193 countries. We would strongly encourage users to familiarise themselves with the definitions and data model to understand the nuances within the system such as –
- University think tanks, research centres and so on, are classed as third sector think tanks due to their tendency to be non-profit, mission-oriented approaches.
- Not-for-profits, foundations, NGOs and the like are classed as third sector – even when self-described as a ‘private foundation’ or privately funded.
- Non-statutory bodies such as independent watch-dogs and regulators are classed as third sector, where these operate independently and are not a formal part of government itself.
- Private sector organisations specifically refers to commercial or for-profit organisations which are not part of government.
Definitions
Source sector
| Sector | Definition |
|---|---|
| Public Sector | A public sector organisation is a government-operated or funded entity responsible for delivering essential public services and administering public resources, serving the needs of society and citizens. |
| Private Sector | A private sector organisation is a profit-driven entity owned by individuals or corporations, operating independently in competitive markets. |
| Third Sector | A third sector organisation, also known as the non-profit sector, is a non-governmental entity dedicated to social or charitable missions, funded by donations, grants, and volunteers. |
Source organisation type
| Organisation Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Think Tank | Independent research organization providing policy analysis or seeking to influence policy through the dissemination of research outputs and recommendations to influence public discourse and decision-making. |
| NGO | Nonprofit entity working on social, humanitarian, or environmental issues, often reliant on donations and volunteers. |
| Government | Administrative body responsible for governing a specific territory, enacting and enforcing laws, and providing public services. |
| IGO | Multinational entity formed by governments to address global issues and promote cooperation, such as the United Nations. |
| Legislative Body | Lawmaking institution responsible for crafting and enacting laws. |
| Judicial Body | A judicial body refers to an institution within the policy-making framework that interprets, enforces, and applies laws through rulings and judgments in legal disputes, ensuring the legal system is upheld. |
Source function
| Source Function | Definition |
|---|---|
| International Body | Authority of more than one nation responsible for law making, governance, and public service delivery within its jurisdiction. |
| National Body | The central authority of a nation responsible for law making, governance, and public service delivery within its jurisdiction. |
| Regional or State Level Body | A government entity that administers a specific geographic region within a larger nation, with authority over regional policies and services. |
| Municipal Body | Government at the municipal or community level, responsible for local governance, services, and infrastructure. |
| Mixed Roles | Refers to ‘aggregator’ style policy sources or organisations whereby the source holds multiple ‘child’ organisations within its indexed documents – for example, large government websites housing documents published by several ministerial departments, agencies and committees. |
| Government Department | Administrative unit within government responsible for specific policy areas and services. |
| IGO Department or Agency | Administrative unit within government responsible for specific policy areas and services. |
| Arm’s Length Body | External government entity with specialised functions, often independent of direct ministerial control. |
| Government Agency | Administrative entity within the policy-making structure that is responsible for implementing, regulating, and enforcing specific laws, policies, or public programs as directed by legislative or executive authorities. |
| Public Service | Organization responsible for the delivery of essential services, such as healthcare or transportation, funded and operated by the government for the benefit of the public |
| Financial Institution or Bank | A financial institution or bank is an entity that manages financial transactions, advises on fiscal/monetary policy and works within the economic system by facilitating capital flow and providing financial services. |
| Top-Level Authority | Refers primarily to organisations with a specialised, international mandates that coordinates efforts, sets standards and/or provides expertise on global issues such as public health, environmental conservation or humanitarian aid. |
| Parliament, Senate or Congress | Legislative body responsible for creating and passing laws, representing citizens in governance, alternatively, upper house of a bicameral legislature, often representing regions or states or equivalent. |
| Professional Network, Association, Union or Cooperative | A collective organisation formed by professionals or workers to advance common interests, standards, or rights. |
| Cultural Institution | Refers to any organisation that preserves, promotes, and disseminates cultural heritage, arts, and knowledge, such as museums, libraries, theatres, and galleries. |
| Healthcare Service, Body or Agency | Organisations providing medical care, health management, and public health services. |
| Court | Legal institution responsible for adjudicating disputes and administering justice. |
| Research Centre | An institution dedicated to systematic study, investigation, and analysis of various subjects, generating knowledge and expertise. |
| Auditor | An organisation responsible for examining and verifying financial records, practices, or compliance with regulations to ensure transparency and accountability. |
| Archive | Historical archive of data or documents |
| Hansard or Legislative Transcripts | Official record of parliamentary proceedings, preserving debates, speeches, and decisions for historical reference. |
| Public Data Body or Statistics | Organisation responsible for collecting, managing, and providing access to public data, promoting transparency and informed decision-making. |
| Armed Forces | The armed forces are a nation’s military organisations responsible for defence, national security, and the execution of military operations, both domestically and internationally. |
| Committee | A committee is a source or organisation, often within a legislative or government context, tasked with evaluating specific issues, developing recommendations, or overseeing certain functions to inform decision-making processes. |
| Initiative, Programme or Project | A planned effort with specific goals and actions aimed at addressing a particular issue or achieving a set of objectives. |
| Food and Drug Safety | Food and drug safety refers to the regulatory framework and institutions responsible for ensuring that food products and pharmaceuticals are safe, effective, and compliant with health standards before reaching consumers. |
| Central Bank | National financial institution managing currency, monetary policy, and economic stability. |
| Development Bank | Financial institution focused on funding and supporting projects and initiatives aimed at economic and social development. |
| Research Council | A research council is a public or independent organization that funds, supports, and promotes scientific research and innovation in various fields to advance knowledge and inform policy or societal development. |
| Learned Society | Membership organisation of experts and scholars in a specific field, promoting knowledge sharing and research. |
| Citizen’s Assembly | Deliberative forum where citizens discuss and make recommendations on public policy. |
| Commission | A commission is a formal body established by a government, law or other organization to investigate, regulate, or oversee specific issues, often providing recommendations or decisions on policy matters. |
| Foundation or Charity | Nonprofit organisation with a mission to support causes, often through philanthropy. |
| Monitoring or Regulatory Body | An independent authority overseeing and enforcing rules and regulations within a specific sector or industry. |
| Consultancy | Professional service providing expertise and advice in various fields. |
| Religious Organisation | Source whose activities include promoting religious values, conducting research, and providing guidance on social, ethical, and policy issues from a faith-based perspective. |
| Policy Centre | A policy centre is an organisation focused on researching, analysing, and developing recommendations on public policy issues to inform decision-makers and influence legislative or governmental outcomes. |