Legal Definitions - agency records

Agency records refer to documents that are created or obtained by a government agency and are under the agency's control at the time an information request is made. These records are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which allows individuals to request access to government information.

Examples of agency records include:

• Internal memos and emails
• Reports and studies
• Meeting minutes and agendas
• Contracts and agreements

For instance, if a journalist wants to know more about a government agency's decision-making process, they can file a FOIA request for agency records. The agency would then have to provide any relevant documents that fall under the FOIA guidelines.