In 1966, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was passed explicitly to guarantee people access to public records. The law creates a presumption that most government records are open and available to the public, permits citizens to request records from the government, and allows the courts to review claims that the government is improperly withholding information from the public. Based on the premise argued by the Founders, that openness in government will assist citizens in making the informed choices necessary to a democracy, FOIA creates procedures whereby any member of the public may obtain the records from agencies of the federal government. The purpose of this guide is to help you understand your right to "open agency action to the light of public scrutiny."

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