Word list

Plain-English meanings of words you will see on this website and in public records.

Public records

Documents kept by government offices that the public can ask to see, such as budgets, meeting minutes, contracts, and permits. Some private details, like personal information, can be kept back or blacked out (redacted). (FOIA.gov)

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)

A federal law, in place since 1967, that gives the public the right to ask any federal agency for records. Generally any person can ask. There is no special form, but the request must be in writing and describe the records you want. (FOIA.gov)

Public Records Law (state law)

Each state has its own law for state and local records, such as from townships, cities, counties, and school boards. The federal FOIA does not cover them. (NTIS) The names differ: in Michigan it is also called FOIA; in Arizona it is the Public Records Law. See our sample letter.

Redact

To black out private or protected parts of a document before it is released. (FOIA.gov)

Inspector General (IG)

An independent watchdog office inside a government agency. Its job is to prevent and find waste, fraud, and abuse in that agency's programs. Inspectors General are picked without regard to political party. (Oversight.gov)

Docket

The list of everything filed and done in a court case, in date order. (U.S. Courts glossary) Some government agencies also use docket or case numbers to keep track of their own cases.

Grant

Money or property the government gives to a group, such as a town, school, or nonprofit, to carry out a public purpose. A grant is not a loan. (Grants.gov) You can look up federal grants on USAspending.gov.

Contract

An agreement that legally binds both sides. (U.S. Courts glossary) A government contract is when a government pays a business to provide goods or services, such as building a road.

Subsidy

Help from the government that lowers costs for a business, group, or person. It can come as payments, low-cost loans, or tax breaks.

Tax credit

An amount subtracted from the tax someone owes. Some credits can even give money back. (IRS) Businesses can get tax credits too.

Whistleblower

A person, often an employee, who reports wrongdoing to the authorities. (HHS-OIG) Some laws protect certain whistleblowers from being punished for reporting. The rules depend on the situation, so check with the office you report to.

Form 990

The yearly tax form that most tax-exempt groups, such as charities, file with the IRS. It is public: you can see many of them free on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. (IRS: public disclosure)

Attorney general

The top legal officer in your state. (USA.gov) Your state attorney general's office is often a place to report scams, consumer problems, and fake charities.

Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)

A notice, not a bill, that people with Original Medicare get in the mail. It lists the services and supplies billed to Medicare, what Medicare paid, and the most you may owe. Checking it is a good way to spot billing errors or fraud. (Medicare.gov)

Phishing

Fake emails or text messages that try to trick you into giving away passwords, account numbers, or your Social Security number. They often look like they come from a company you trust. (FTC)

Scam

A trick to get your money or your personal information. See our Protect yourself page.

Fraud, waste, and abuse

Fraud means getting something of value by lying on purpose. Only investigators and courts decide that fraud happened. Waste means spending public money carelessly or without a good purpose. Waste and abuse are not always against the law. (GAO)

USAspending.gov

The official website that shows federal grants, loans, and contracts. You can search by company name or ZIP code. (USAspending.gov)

Meeting minutes

The written record of what was discussed and decided at a public meeting, such as a township board meeting.