A '''state paper'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/state-papers-domestic-1547-1649/|title = The National Archives - Homepage}}</ref> is a document or file kept by a government to record discussions, options and decisions by government officials, departments and civil servants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gale.cengage.co.uk/state-papers-online-15091714.aspx|title = State Papers Online}}</ref> Some states follow a thirty year rule whereby state papers on an issue may be released to academic scrutiny thirty years after an original discussion or decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://go.galegroup.com/mss/About%20State%20Papers%20Online%20v5.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508122456/http://go.galegroup.com/mss/About%20State%20Papers%20Online%20v5.html |archive-date=2016-05-08 |title=About State Papers Online}}</ref>
State papers are often kept in a country's National Archives, State Paper Office or Public Record Office. All files are numbered using an alphanumeric code which academics may use as a reference in footnotes of books.
Some state papers are embargoed for reasons of national security or other sensitive reasons.
==See also== * British Public Record Office * French Archives nationales *National Archives of Ireland * United States National Archives and Records Administration * Vatican Secret Archives
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:State Paper}} Category:Government documents
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