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memorandum

 
Dictionary: mem·o·ran·dum   (mĕm'ə-răn'dəm) pronunciation
 
n., pl. -dums or -da (-də).
  1. A short note written as a reminder.
  2. A written record or communication, as in a business office.
  3. Law. A short written statement outlining the terms of an agreement, transaction, or contract.
  4. A business statement made by a consignor about a shipment of goods that may be returned.
  5. A brief, unsigned diplomatic communication.

[Middle English, to be remembered (used as a manuscript notation), from Latin, neuter sing. gerundive of memorāre, to bring to remembrance. See memorable.]


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Business Dictionary: Memorandum
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1. Informal record.

2. Brief note, in writing, of some transaction.

3. Outline of an intended instrument.

4. Instrument written in concise summary.

 
Thesaurus: memorandum
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noun

    A brief record written as an aid to the memory: notation, note. Informal memo. See words.

 
Law Encyclopedia: Memorandum
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This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

An informal record, in the form of a brief written note or outline, of a particular legal transaction or document for the purpose of aiding the parties in remembering particular points or for future reference.

A memorandum may be used in court to prove that a particular contract was made. For instance, in a real estate transaction, a memorandum can be used to show that the parties to a sale have entered into an agreement to sell a particular parcel at an indicated price, in addition to other details of the agreement. This type of memorandum is also referred to as a binder.

An attorney might use a memorandum to explain and summarize a specific point of law for a judge or for another attorney.

A memorandum decision is a written decision, issued by a court, which reports the ruling, and the decisions and orders of the court. It does not, however, contain an opinion, which is an explanation of the rationale upon which the decision was based.

 
Word Tutor: memorandum
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. - A written proposal or reminder.

pronunciation I read the CEO's memorandum and wrote my response.

 
Wikipedia: Memorandum
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A memorandum or memo is a document or other communication that aids the memory by recording events or observations on a topic, such as may be used in a business office. The plural form is either memoranda or memorandums.

A memorandum may have any format, or it may have a format specific to an office or institution. In law specifically, a memorandum is a record of the terms of a transaction or contract, such as a policy memo, memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement, or memorandum of association. Alternative formats include memos, briefing notes, reports, letters or binders. They could be one page long or many. If the user is a cabinet minister or a senior executive, the format might be rigidly defined and limited to one or two pages. If the user is a colleague, the format is usually much more flexible. At its most basic level, a memorandum can be a handwritten note to one's supervisor.

Dean Acheson famously quipped that "A memorandum is not written to inform the reader but to protect the writer". Charles Peters wrote that "bureaucrats write memoranda both because they appear to be busy when they are writing and because the memos, once written, immediately become proof that they were busy." (Charles Peters. How Washington Really Works. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1983.)

Contents

Policy briefing note

A specific type of memorandum is the policy briefing note (alternatively referred to in various jurisdictions and governing traditions as policy issues paper, policy memoranda, or cabinet submission amongst other terms), a document for transmitting policy analysis into the political decision making sphere. Typically, a briefing note may be denoted as either “for information” or “for decision”.

Origins of term

The origins of the term “briefing” lie in legal “briefs” and the derivative “military briefings”.[1]

Purpose

The primary purpose of a briefing note “for decision” is to support decision making – to “help (or sometimes influence) a decision-maker to make a better decision in a particular problem situation than they might otherwise have made without the analysis”.[2]

Structure

As the communication mechanism of the policy analysis process, the briefing note should provide a coherent synopsis of a policy problem, identify different policy options for addressing the problem, articulate opposing perspectives and advocate a recommended option. The typical structure for a briefing note includes: a description of the proposed policy; relevant background information; a discussion of key considerations (including implementation concerns, financial considerations, stakeholder impacts, and possible unanticipated consequences), a summary of arguments for and against the policy and a recommended decision. Policy documents that start with a proposal and assemble an argument that position are more accurately referred to as a government white paper. A government green paper which raises a policy option and is meant to open a dialogue on the proposal is more similar in tone to a briefing note than is a white paper.

Quality criteria

There is no universal standard for a briefing note, but it is generally understood to be a concise, coherent summary of a public policy problem with a clearly articulated logic for following a recommended course of action. ”Next to a political nose, and a logical brain, the most important skill of the good treasury man resides in his fine drafting hand. The concise, coherent and penetrating note is the final expression of all other talents.”[3] In many Westminster / Whitehall governance settings, policy analysts are expected to analyze the issue and write the briefing note from a neutral public service perspective. However, the briefing note “for decision” must contain a recommendation, acknowledging that “to say anything of importance in public policy requires value judgments, which must be explained and justified”.[4]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Simpson, J.A. and E.S.C. Weiner (ed.) 1989. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. OED Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ Quade, E.S. 1975. Analysis for public decisions. New York: Elsevier. p. 13
  3. ^ Heclo, H. and A. Wildavsky. 1974. The Private Government of Public Money. Berkeley: University of California Press, p. 58
  4. ^ Majone, G. 1989. Evidence, Argument, and Persuasion in the Policy Process. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 21

 
Translations: Memorandum
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - memorandum, notat, optegnelse

Nederlands (Dutch)
memorandum

Français (French)
n. - (Admin) note de service, (Pol) mémorandum

Deutsch (German)
n. - Notiz, Mitteilung, Memorandum

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μνημόνιο, υπόμνημα, σημείωμα, σημείωση

Italiano (Italian)
memorandum

Português (Portuguese)
n. - memorando (m)

Русский (Russian)
меморандум, письмо с напоминанием, докладная записка

Español (Spanish)
n. - memorándum

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - meddelande, PM, minneslista, diplomatisk (not), avhandling

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
备忘录, 买卖契约书, 便笺

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 備忘錄, 買賣契約書, 便箋

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 메모, 각서

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 覚え書き, メモ, 連絡メモ, 定款, 摘要

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مفكرة, تقرير قصير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תזכיר, מזכר, ממורנדום‬


 
 
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