| • |
A record is created to document the organization,
functions, decisions, procedures, operations or other activities
of an agency. |
| • |
The record is maintained and used by those who
have a business requirement for it. |
| • |
The record is appraised by the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA) to determine its value, and thus
its final disposition, temporary or permanent. |
| • |
Temporary records are records appraised and
approved for disposal after a specified period of time according
to a NARA-approved records disposition schedule. |
| • |
Records determined to have permanent value by
NARA are reviewed for declassification when they reach 25 years
of age (systematic review) and transferred to the National Archives.
|
| • |
After 25 years a record may remain exempt from
disclosure. Concerns influencing this decision include national
security, statutory prohibitions and personal privacy. While a record
may be withheld longer than 25 years, the decision to withhold is
subject to re-review upon request. |
| • |
Once Department of State records have been accessioned
to the National Archives, they are no longer under the legal control
of the Department of State. |
| • |
For more information on Department of State
records at the National Archives, refer to Other Sites, or to Reference,
on the menu bar, and look up Department of State Records at the
National Archives. |
