Federal Records Act

E4671

The Federal Records Act is a U.S. law that establishes the framework and requirements for creating, managing, and preserving federal government records to ensure accountability and historical documentation.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
records management law
aimsTo promote transparency in federal government operations
support historical research and public access to government records
appliesTo federal agencies of the United States government
complements federal information policy and open government initiatives
country United States
designatesAuthority Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
enforcedBy National Archives and Records Administration oversight and guidance
excludes extra copies of documents preserved only for convenience of reference
library and museum material made or acquired and preserved solely for reference or exhibition
focusesOn accountability of federal officials through proper recordkeeping
preservation of records with long-term historical value
grantsPower authority to the Archivist of the United States to provide guidance and oversight for federal records management
includesConcept federal records schedules
non-record materials
permanent records
records disposition
records retention
temporary records
legalEffect establishes legal obligations for federal records creation and retention
obligates agency employees to protect and properly handle federal records
agency heads to ensure adequate and proper documentation of agency activities
agency heads to establish safeguards against the removal or loss of records
providesFor disposal of records that no longer have administrative, legal, fiscal, or historical value
transfer of permanent records to the National Archives
purpose to ensure accountability of the federal government
to establish a framework for the creation, management, and preservation of federal records
to preserve records of historical and evidentiary value
regulates creation of federal records
disposition of federal records
maintenance of federal records
preservation of federal records
relatedTo Freedom of Information Act
National Archives and Records Administration Act
Presidential Records Act
Privacy Act of 1974
requires cooperation of federal agencies with the National Archives and Records Administration
federal agencies to establish and maintain an active, continuing program for the economical and efficient management of records
federal agencies to make and preserve records documenting their organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions
scope covers documentary materials made or received by a federal agency under federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business
supports congressional oversight through availability of agency records
judicial review and litigation through preservation of evidentiary records
public access to information through orderly records management


Please wait…