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Simple English definitions for legal terms
public record
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A quick definition of public record:
A public record is a document that the government is required to keep and make available to the public. This can include information, files, accounts, and meeting minutes. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was created to help people learn more about their government, and public records are a result of this law. Each state has its own rules about public records, and sometimes there is a fee to access them.
A more thorough explanation:
Public records are documents that the government is required to keep and make available to the public. These records can include information, minutes, files, accounts, and more. The purpose of public records is to keep citizens informed about their government.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was created in 1967 to ensure that citizens have access to public records. Each state in the United States has its own laws and regulations regarding public records.
While public records are generally accessible to the public, there may be a fee for obtaining them. This fee varies by state.
- Meeting minutes from a city council meeting
- Police reports from a local police department
- Property records from a county assessor's office
These examples illustrate how public records can vary in content and come from different government agencies. Meeting minutes provide information about decisions made by a city council, police reports document incidents that occurred in a community, and property records show who owns a particular piece of land.