Laws & Statutes

This page includes information on Federal Records Management laws and regulations that must be followed when managing government records. These laws and regulations will provide guidance on how to develop policies and procedures to ensure the effectiveness and continuity of your records management program.

United States Code

5 U.S.C. Chapter 5, Subchapter II - Administrative Procedure

• § 552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings (Freedom of Information Act, as amended)
• § 552a. Records maintained on individuals (Privacy Act of 1974, as amended)
• § 553. Rule making (Administrative Procedure Act)

18 U.S.C. Chapter 101 - Records and Reports

• § 2071. Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally

18 U.S.C. Chapter 121 - Stored Wire and Electronic Communications and Transactional Records Access (Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986)

28 U.S.C. Chapter 115 - Evidence; Documentary

• § 1732. Record made in regular course of business; photographic copies
  [Uniform Photographic Copies of Business and Public Records as Evidence Act (UPA)]

31 U.S.C. Chapter 11 - The Budget and Fiscal, Budget, and Program Information (Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950)

40 U.S.C. Subtitle III - Information Technology Management  (Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, also known as the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996)

44 U.S.C. Chapter 21 - National Archives and Records Administration

44 U.S.C. Chapter 29 - Records Management by the Archivist of the United States and by the Administrator of General Services

44 U.S.C. Chapter 31 - Records Management by Federal Agencies (Federal Records Act)

44 U.S.C. Chapter 33 - Disposal of Records (Federal Records Disposal Act)

44 U.S.C. Chapter 35 - Coordination of Federal Information Policy (Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended; Paperwork Reduction Reauthorization Act of 1995; and Government Paperwork Elimination Act)

Code of Federal Regulations

5 CFR Chapter III, Subchapter B - OMB Directives

• Part 1320. Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public

36 CFR Chapter XII, Subchapter B - Records Management

• Part 1220. Federal Records; General
• Part 1222. Creation and Maintenance of Federal Records
• Part 1223. Managing Vital Records
• Part 1224. Records Disposition Program
• Part 1225. Scheduling Records
• Part 1226. Implementing Disposition
• Part 1227. General Records Schedule
• Part 1228. Loan of Permanent and Unscheduled Records
• Part 1229. Emergency Authorization to Destroy Records
• Part 1230. Unlawful or Accidental removal, Defacing, Alteration, or Destruction of Records
• Part 1231. Transfer of Records from the Custody of One Executive Agency to  Another 
• Part 1232. Transfer of Records to Records Storage Facilities
• Part 1233. Transfer, Use, and Disposition of Records in a NARA Federal Records Center
• Part 1234. Facility Standards for Records Storage Facilities
• Part 1235. Transfer of Records to the National Archives of the United States
• Part 1236. Electronic Records Management
• Part 1237. Audiovisual, Cartographic, and Related Records Management
• Part 1238. Microform Records Management
• Part 1239. Program Assistance and Inspections

Office of Management and Budget Circulars

OMB Circular No. A-123 - Management's Responsibility for Internal Control

OMB Circular No. A-130 - Management of Federal Information Resources

Also see Policies and Guidance