The explosion is deafening. Dust swirls through the air. Screams follow as people run from the site of the nuclear attack. The president quickly declares a “national emergency,” then, in accord with NSPD-51, assumes all governmental power without ever having to go to Congress.

President Bush signed National Security Presidential Directive 51 (NSPD-51) into effect in May 2007. In its bureaucratic and bloated language, it outlines emergency protocol should the country encounter a “catastrophic emergency.”

The directive has now evolved into a full-blown conspiracy theory online. Blogs such as the Huffington Post, columns on SFgate.com and slate.com, and a spate of Youtube videos are all hyping the potential scenarios that the NSPD-51 could create—from a Bush coup on Election Day, to the suspension of the Constitution.

So how does a savvy citizen break down a conspiracy theory like NSPD-51 for herself? Here’s a walk through.

Step 1: Find a reliable source who believes the conspiracy and identify his key reasons why.

In an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal program in May, Jerome Corsi, Ph. D, a columnist for worldnetdaily.com, said that NSPD-51 was concerning because it:

• Defines a “national emergency” very broadly
• Gives the president the ability to declare whether a “national emergency” exists
• Assumes the president can take up the following powers for continuing the continuity of the government: directing all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations

“This is the most broad definition of emergency power I’ve ever seen a president award [himself],” Corsi explained. “It’s really virtually dictatorial power to be able to take over and manage all levels of government including private sector organizations. And the directive has no indication that to get these powers the president has to go to Congress.”

Step 2: Find a reliable source who is taking an opposite stance on the theory and look at why.

The Washington Post reported on the directive in a much less inflammatory manner in a May 10 article by Spencer Hsu. Hsu explained that the directive is a natural response to the threat of an immediate and unexpected nuclear attack on our capital—a threat that security analysts have been concerned about since the September 11 terrorist acts. Older emergency plans worked off the assumption that should the United States face a big-ass-mega-attack, we would at least get a few minutes warning since it would be carried out with long-range weapons such as missiles.

As Hsu points out, NSPD-51 directly responds to this fact, reading:

“"As a result of the asymmetric threat environment, adequate warning of potential emergencies that could pose a significant risk to the homeland might not be available, and therefore all continuity planning shall be based on the assumption that no such warning will be received." Translation: Washington D.C. go boom from the inside.

Step 3: Find the text of the actual directive or piece of legislation and look at it yourself. Whitehouse.gov is an easy place to find executive orders and presidential directives.

The NSPD-51 outlines what the White House considers to be the “National Essential Functions” that “shall be the primary focus of the Federal Government leadership during and in the aftermath of an emergency,” including:

“Ensuring the continued functioning of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of government,” as well as “Defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and preventing or interdicting attacks against the United States or its people, property, or interests.”

Step 4: Look for a neutral expert to comment on an issue, suggests David Greene, a First Amendment lawyer. He says that law schools are a good resource, as most of them have faculty services you can call that are able to refer you to the right person. “But still, you have to be careful who you talk to,” he says. “You want someone who’s not going to talk just for the sake of talking.”

Step 5: Form your own opinion on the issue—democracy starts with each individual thinking freely for herself.