Freedom of information in the United States

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In the United States, there are a number of individual pieces of freedom of information legislation, as well as a number of other sunshine laws intended to increase the openness and transparency of government. The most significant piece of legislation is the federal Freedom of Information Act

Specific legislation may require that all government meetings be open to the public, or that written records be released upon request. The usual intent of these laws is to enable citizens and journalists to examine government activity to detect political corruption, or to allow them to have input into government decisions that affect them. Many consider strong laws guaranteeing freedom of information to be vitally important to journalism.

The first open records law was passed in Wisconsin shortly after it became a state in 1848. All of the other states have a similar law that requires the release of information held by the state government. Florida was the first state to pass an open meetings law in 1967. While all of the other states also have such a law, their exact provisions vary; 41 states require advance notice of meetings, 37 states are required to take and publish minutes of every meeting, and in 31 states actions or decisions are only recognized as official if decided upon during an open meeting.

[edit] Federal legislation

The federal government is bound by several laws intended to promote openness in government. However, these normally apply only to federal bodies, leaving many institutions exempt compared to their counterparts in other countries.

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

Executive Order 13233, drafted by Alberto R. Gonzales and issued by George W. Bush on November 1, 2001 shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, is used to limit the FOIA by restricting access to the records of former presidents.

[edit] State legislation

All fifty states have some form of freedom of information legislation, as well as the District of Columbia and some of the territories.

According to the Now with David Brancaccio website, The Freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri and the Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project, from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, keep information on freedom of information laws in each state (see links in External Links below).