10. Freedom of Information Act

 Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act is an informational federal law created to ensure informed citizens, providing them with statutory rights to obtain access to government information in executive branch agency records. This act provides the public the opportunity of awareness of what occurs in the government. If any scandalous corruption happens, the government will be held accountable. This helps balance the functioning of a democratic society. 

Federal agencies are required to disclose any requested information under the FOIA, unless a request falls under any one of the nine exemptions that protect archival records with sensitive information. The nine exemptions recognize protection on personnel medical files (ex. 6), protection of commercial or financial information (ex. 4), and protection of geological and geophysical information(ex. 9). If not applicable to any of the nine exemptions, an individual is encouraged to make a FOIA request. 

Any "person" regardless of citizenship is allowed to make a FOIA request. This includes a foreign citizen, businesses, partnership, corporation, association, university, and state/local governments. However, this does not include foreign governments access to a request. Production or disclosure of material or information can be found in Title 28, Part 16, along with procedures of disclosure. Here is how to make a request through FOIA.

Firstly, it is encouraged that you research to see if the information you are seeking is already publicly available. Each agency's website will cover a multitude of topics and may already have the topic of your concern. If unavailable, you can make a FOIA request and send it to the FOIA office of the preferred federal agency. The request consists of you asking for specific records and the reason why you want to obtain them. Most agencies currently use electronic request submissions, but if preferred, you can submit to the agency via email or fax. 

"Protecting your right to open government" 

A common misconception is that journalists are the only ones with the ability to used the Freedom of Information Act, which is not true. this article specifies that the people have equal rights to FOIA as any reporter. National Freedom of Information Coalition is a resource organization that supports First Amendment organizations with the goal of protecting the public's right to know. This organization goes by the motto of "protecting your right to open government." There are many organizations that fight daily to honor this federal law. 

The Freedom of Information Act is something all citizens should be aware of, to know what is and isn't accessible to them. This movement allows a successful democratic society, in which the people know what they can and need to know.