Which statement best captures CDM Step Three's purpose?

• A. Collect information.
• B. Assess the situation.
• C. Explain the policy after the action.
• D. Consider powers and policy: includes legal authority and agency policy.

Answer: (D)

CDM Step Three is about grounding your planned action in the authority you have and the policies you must follow. After you’ve gathered information and begun to assess the situation, the next priority is to check your legal authority and agency rules before acting. This means confirming applicable laws, departmental orders, and agency policies that govern what you can do in this scenario. By ensuring you operate within these boundaries, you protect rights, stay lawful, and act consistently with established procedures.

That’s why the option describing considering powers and policy—including legal authority and agency policy—is the best. It directly captures the purpose of Step Three: verify the authority and rules that shape your response. The other ideas align with earlier steps or mis-timing—collecting information is the initial data-gathering stage, assessing the situation is the analysis that follows, and explaining policy after action is too late to influence what you do.