Dictionary definition(s) for: agency

• n., An administrative body having the delegated authority to act competently on behalf of a higher body. Every agency is a juridical person, composed of juridical persons.
  [ Archives - Preservation of the Integrity of Electronic Records , Page: 108 ]
  Duranti, Luciana, Terry Eastwood, and Heather MacNeil. Preservation of the Integrity of Electronic Records. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002.
  See Also:

  • corporate body
  • organization
• n., A business that provides services by acting on behalf of or as representative of another party.
  [ General Dictionaries - A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology (The Society of American Archivists) ]
  Pearce-Moses, Richard. A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2005. http://www.archivists.org/glossary/index.asp
• n., A unit of governement that has major policy reponsiblities and that performs regulatory functions.
  [ Government - The Public Policy Dictionary ]
  Kruschke, Earl R, and Byron M. Jackson. The Public Policy Dictionary. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1987.
• n., A unit of government authorized by law to perform a specific function.
  [ Archives - A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology (The Society of American Archivists) ]
  Pearce-Moses, Richard. A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2005. http://www.archivists.org/glossary/index.asp
• n., An organization entity whose name and legal existence are established by an act, which defines its position in an administrative hierarchy. Such a body possesses powers defined by law or regulations and a head with decision-making authority at his/her hierarchical level. Usually each agency has its own recordkeeping system.
  [ Archives - A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology (The Society of American Archivists) ]
  Pearce-Moses, Richard. A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2005. http://www.archivists.org/glossary/index.asp
• n., The business carried on by an agent.
  [ Government - A Dictionary of Law ]
  A Dictionary of Law. Ed. Elizabeth A. Martin. Oxford University Press, 2002. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. University of British Columbia. 4 August 2006 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t49.e125
• n., The proposition that human beings think about the intentional actions they perform and the resources they need to achieve ends.
  [ Sciences - The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology ]
  The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. Timothy Darvill. Oxford University Press, 2002. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. University of British Columbia. 4 August 2006 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t102.e50.
• n., The relationship between an agent and his principal.
  [ Government - A Dictionary of Law ]
  A Dictionary of Law. Ed. Elizabeth A. Martin. Oxford University Press, 2002. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. University of British Columbia. 4 August 2006 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t49.e125