Freedom of Information Act: Elements, Policies & Agency Efforts

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) enables any person to access, without explanation or justification, to certain existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records. Pursuant to FOIA, the public has presumptive access to requested agency records unless the material falls within any of the FOIA's nine categories of exemption from disclosure. Disputes over the accessibility of requested records can be appealed administratively or ultimately settled in court. FOIA is a widely used tool of inquiry and information gathering for various sectors of American society, including the press, businesses, scholars, attorneys, consumers, and activists. This book discusses FOIA's history, examines its implementation, and provides potential policy approaches for Congress

Preface; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Background & Policy Options for the 112th Congress; Freedom of Information Act: Additional Actions Can Strengthen Agency Efforts to Improve Management; Testimony of Miriam Nisbet, Director, Office of Government Information Services; Testimony of Rick Blum, Coordinator, Sunshine in Government Initiative; Testimony of Angela Canterbury, Director of Public Policy, Project on Government Oversight; Statement of Melanie Pustay, Director, Office of Information Policy, Department of Justice; Testimony of John D. Podesta, President & CEO, Center for American Progress Action Fund; Testimony of Sarah Cohen, Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism, Duke University; Index.