1.
FOIA request - Freedom of Information 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.
2.
Initial request - a request to a federal agency for
access to records under the Freedom of Information Act.
3.
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.
4.
Processed request or appeal - a request or appeal for
which an agency has taken a final action on the request or appeal
in all respects.
5.
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).
6.
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.
7.
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.
8.
Complex request - a FOIA request that an agency using
multi‑track processing places in a slower track based on the
volume and/or complexity of records requested.
9.
Grant - an agency decision to disclose all records in
full response to a FOIA request.
10.
Partial grant - an agency 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's exemptions; or a decision
to disclose some records in their entireties, but to withhold others
in whole or in part.
11.
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 the FOIA’s exemptions, or for some
procedural reason (such as: no record is located in response to a
FOIA request).
12.
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).
13.
"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.
14.
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).
15.
Median number - the middle, not average, number. For
example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7.
16.
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.