FOIA/PA request - Freedom of Information/Privacy Act request. A FOIA request is
generally a request for access to records concerning a third party, an
organization, or a particular topic of interest. A Privacy Act request is a
request for records concerning oneself. Such requests are also treated as FOIA
requests. (All requests for access to records, regardless of which law is cited
by the requester, are included in this report).
Initial Request - A request to a federal agency for access to records under the
Freedom of Information Act.
Appeal - A request to a federal agency asking that it review at a higher
administrative level a full denial or partial denial of access to records under
the Freedom of Information Act, or any other FOIA determination such as a
matter pertaining to fees.
Processed Request or Appeal - A request or appeal for which an agency has taken
final action on the request or appeal in all respects.
Multi-track processing - A system in which simple requests requiring relatively
minimal review are placed in one processing track and more voluminous and
complex requests are placed in one or more other tracks. Requests in each track
are processed on a first-in/first-out basis. A requester who has an urgent need
for records may request expedited processing (see below).
Expedited processing - An agency will process a FOIA request on an expedited
basis when a requester has shown an exceptional need or urgency for the records
which warrants prioritization of his or her request over other requests that
were made earlier.
Simple request - A FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing
places in its fastest (non-expedited) track based on the volume and/or
simplicity of the records requested.
Complex request - a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track
processingplaces in a slower track based on the volume and/or complexity of
records requested.
Grant - An agency decision to disclose all records in full response to a FOIA
request.
Partial grant - An agency decision to disclose a record in part in response to a
FOIA request, deleting information determined to be exempt under one or more of
the FOIA exemptions; or a decision to disclose some records in their
entireties, but to withhold others in whole or in part.
Denial - An agency decision not to release any part of a record or records in
response to a FOIA request because all the information in the requested records
is determined by the agency to be exempt under one or more of FOIA exemptions
or for some procedural reason (such as because no record is located in response
to a FOIA request).
Time Limits - The time period in the Freedom of Information Act for an agency to
respond to a FOIA request (ordinarily 20 working days from proper receipt of a
perfected FOIA request).
Perfected request - A FOIA request for records which adequately describes the
records sought, which has been received by the FOIA office of the agency
component in possession of the records, and for which there is no remaining
question about the payment of applicable fees.
Exemption 3 statute - A separate federal statute prohibiting the disclosure of a
certain type of information and authorizing its withholding under FOIA
subsection (b)(3).
Median number - The middle number, not the average. For example, of 3, 7, and
14, the median number is 7.
Average number - The number obtained by dividing the sum of a group of numbers
by the quantity of numbers in the group. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the
average number is eight.