ABSTRACT
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the premier open government statute in the U.S. federal government. FOIA works to ensure a more transparent federal administration. The openness afforded by FOIA has become a central aspect of federal administration. After a long debate, FOIA was passed by Congress in 1966 and has been amended periodically. FOIA allows individuals or organizations to request documents from a federal agency. While not all documents are releasable, many are. Federal agencies may withhold documents that fall into nine broad exemption categories. Included within this entry is an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of the act, a legislative history of FOIA, and a short description of the major provisions of the act.
