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Freedom of information in the United States relates to the public's ability to access government records, meetings, and other information. In the United States, freedom of information legislation exists at all levels of government: federal level, state level, and local level.

Federal level

Since the founding of the United States, the public's right to know the affairs of their government has been foundational democracy. James Madison wrote during the United States Constitutional Convention, "The right of freely examining public characters and measures and free communication, is the only effective guardian of every other right."

Several federal laws have strengthened the public's ability to access public records.

Federal legislation

The most important was the Freedom of Information Act, signed into law on July 4, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson.

• Administrative Procedure Act PL 79-404; 1946
• Freedom of Information Act PL 85-619; 1966
• Federal Advisory Committee Act PL 92-463; 1972
• Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act PL 93-344; 1974
• Government in the Sunshine Act PL 94-409; 1976
• Inspector General Act PL 95-452; 1978
• Ethics in Government Act PL 95-521; 1978
• Presidential Records Act PL 95-591; 1978
• Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments PL 104-231; 1996

Proposed legislation

• FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014 (H.R. 1211; 113th Congress) - would amend the FOIA to speed up the response time and ease of making a "FOIA request", among other changes.

Miscellaneous Authoritative Federal Sources

• Executive Order 13233, drafted by Alberto R. Gonzales and issued by George W. Bush on November 1, 2001, is used to limit the FOIA by restricting access to the records of former presidents.
• Executive Order 13392: Improving Agency Disclosure of Information.

U.S. Attorney General Memoranda

History

The Holder Memo is part of series of policy memos on how federal agencies should apply FOIA exemptions. Beginning in 1977 with Attorney General Griffin Bell, and continued by Attorney General William French Smith in 1981 and Attorney General Janet Reno in 1993, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced how the executive branch should approach FOIA, its application, and DOJ's defense of agency's actions. In other words, DOJ's position on when they would defend in a FOIA suit has seesawed for about the last three decades.

Reno Memo

The Reno Memo established a "presumption" in favor of disclosure by providing that "it shall be the policy of the Department of Justice to defend the assertion of a FOIA exemption only in those cases where the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by that exemption". It encouraged all government agencies to review FOIA requests in a manner most favorable to openness and to release information, even though it might fall within one of the nine exemption categories, if no "foreseeable harm" would result from the disclosure. The goal was to achieve the "maximum responsible disclosure".

Ashcroft Memo

On October 12, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a policy memorandum on FOIA to all federal executive agencies. The AG declared the Department of Justice (DOJ) would defend agencies' decisions to withhold documents from a FOIA requester under one of the statute's exemptions "unless they lack a sound legal basis or present an unwarranted risk of adverse impact on the ability of other agencies to protect other important records".

The Ashcroft Memorandum reversed the Reno standard. Agencies were told that in making discretionary FOIA decisions they should carefully consider the fundamental values behind the exemptions—national security, privacy, government's interests, etc.—and to lean in their favor whenever possible. The Ashcroft Memo with its "sound legal basis" standard encouraged (or at least seemed to support) greater use of FOIA exemptions by federal agency personnel.

AG Holder Memo

This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2018)

The Ashcroft Memo was rescinded by Attorney General Eric Holder on March 14, 2009. The AG Holder Memo appears to have reinstated the Reno Memo standard and extends the policy. The policy of the executive branch is to be open, responsive, transparent, and accountable. The current memo encourages the maximum disclosure possible in discretionary exemptions and to, whenever possible, reasonably segregate exempt information and release the rest.

State legislation

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All fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia also have freedom of information laws that govern the public's access to government records at state and local levels. These laws go by many different names including Sunshine Laws, Public Records Laws, Open Records Laws, etc. Additionally, Open Meeting Laws govern the public's access to meetings of public officials or appointed boards.

All Freedom of Information style laws supports the ideal that in a democracy, people have the right to know the business of their government. However, the laws vary in scope and strength among jurisdictions. For example, Florida's Sunshine Law creates both a statutory and constitutional right to access whereas many states only provide the statutory right. Additionally, while a state may have strong legislation the state's compliance with its own laws may negatively impact the public's ability to access records.

Freedom of Information laws by state

1. Originally Gov't Code §§ 6250 to 6276.48 until January 1, 2023.

See also

• Freedom of information laws by country
• Sunshine Week
• Open government
• Declassification

Individuals

• Jason Leopold
• Ryan Shapiro

U.S.

• Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy
• McBurney v. Young
• Muckrock
• National Archives and Records Administration
• NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
• Patriot Act
• U.S. reclassification program
• United States v. Reynolds

References

1. ^ Stewart, Daxton R. "Chip" (2010-07-08). "Let the Sunshine In, or Else: An Examination of the "Teeth" of State and Federal Open Meetings and Open Records Laws". Communication Law and Policy. 15 (3): 265–310. doi:10.1080/10811680.2010.489858. ISSN 1081-1680. S2CID 144106823.
2. ^ Edwards, K. (2003). "Freedom of information laws". Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications: 53–67. doi:10.1016/B0-12-387670-2/00100-X. ISBN 9780123876706 – via Elsevier Science & Technology.
3. Gold, Hadas (26 February 2014). "House unanimously passes FOIA bill". Politico (blog). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
4. FOIA (Act H.R. 1211). 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
5. "Freedom of Information Act". whitehouse.gov. 21 January 2009 – via National Archives.
6. "FOIA Update: Attorney General Reno's FOIA Memorandum". 13 August 2014.
7. "New Attorney General FOIA Memorandum Issued".
8. http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/foia-memo-march2009.pdf
9. "State Public Record Laws". FOIAdvocates.
10. Kaye, Janet (2008-06-05), "Open Meetings Law", in Donsbach, Wolfgang (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Communication, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. wbieco010, doi:10.1002/9781405186407.wbieco010, ISBN 978-1-4051-8640-7, retrieved 2023-03-16
11. "States Failing FOI Responsiveness – National Freedom of Information Coalition". 2007. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
12. ^ National survey of state laws. Richard A. Leiter, Wendy Leiter (9th ed.). Getzville, NY: William S. Hein & Co., Inc. 2022. pp. 807–816. ISBN 978-0-8377-4269-4. OCLC 1343162981.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
13. "Open Government Guide Alabama - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
14. "Open Government Guide Alaska - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
15. "Open Government Guide Arizona - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
16. "Open Government Guide Arkansas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
17. "California Public Records Act FAQs". post.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
18. "Open Government Guide Colorado - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
19. "Open Government Guide Connecticut - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
20. "Open Government Guide Delaware - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
21. Kalil, Earl L. (1975). "Florida Sunshine Law". Florida Bar Journal. 49 (2): 72–116 – via HeinOnline.
22. "Open Government Guide Georgia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
23. "Open Government Guide Hawaii - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
24. Younger, Cally (2015). "In Year 25 Idaho's Public Records Law Gets a Checkup by Idaho's Public Records Ombudsman". Advocate (Idaho State Bar). 58 (2): 32–34 – via HeinOnline.
25. "Open Government Guide Illinois - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
26. Office of the Public Access Counselor (2022). "Handbook on Indiana's Public Access Laws" (PDF). Access to Public Records Act. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
27. "Open Government Guide Iowa - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
28. "Open Government Guide Kansas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
29. "Open Government Guide Kentucky - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
30. "Open Government Guide Louisiana - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
31. "Open Government Guide Maine - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
32. "In new report, Maryland open-records officials urge greater transparency". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
33. "Open Government Guide Massachusetts - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
34. "Open Government Guide Michigan - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
35. "Open Government Guide Minnesota - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
36. "Open Government Guide Mississippi - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
37. "Missouri". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
38. "Open Government Guide Montana - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
39. "Outline of Nebraska Public Records Statutes". Attorney General Mike Hilgers. 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
40. "Open Government Guide Nevada - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
41. "Open Government Guide New Hampshire - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
42. "Open Government Guide New Jersey - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
43. "Open Government Guide New Mexico - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
44. "Open Government Guide New York - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
45. "Open Government Guide North Carolina - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
46. The State and Local Division, Office of Attorney General (2022). "Open Records Manual" (PDF). North Dakota Office of Attorney General. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
47. "Open Government Guide Ohio - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
48. "Open Government Guide Oklahoma - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
49. "Oregon". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
50. Pileggi, Dominic (2007). "Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law" (PDF). The Office of Open Records. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
51. "Open Government Guide Rhode Island - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
52. "Open Government Guide South Carolina - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
53. "Open Government Guide South Dakota - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
54. "Open Government Guide Tennessee - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
55. "Open Government Guide Texas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
56. "Open Government Guide Utah - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
57. "Vermont State Archives & Records Administration". Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
58. "Open Government Guide Virginia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
59. "Open Government Guide Washington - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
60. McGraw, Jr., Darrell V. (2011). "The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act" (PDF). Retrieved March 9, 2023.
61. "Open Government Guide Wisconsin - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
62. "Open Government Guide Wyoming - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
63. Office of Open Government. "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)". Open DC. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
64. "Open Government Guide District of Columbia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.

External links

• Sunshine Week
• The Open Government Guide of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press.
• The National Freedom of Information Coalition
• The Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications

• Freedom of information in the United States
• Law of the United States
• Classified information