Freedom of Information Act (United States) facts for kids
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, is a federal law. It allows for the full or partial of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. The law defines agency records subject to disclosure. It outlines mandatory disclosure procedures and grants nine to the law. It was originally signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, despite his doubts, on July 4, 1966 and went into effect the following year.
Images for kids
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An example of an E-FOIA request. This particular request concerns possible records the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have on the Polybius urban legend.
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Freedom of Information Act requests have led to the release of information such as this letter by J. Edgar Hoover about surveillance of ex-Beatle John Lennon. A 25-year battle by historian Jon Wiener based on FOIA, with the assistance of lawyers from the ACLU, eventually resulted in the release of documents like this one.
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U.S. Department of Justice headquarters
See also
In Spanish: Freedom of Information Act para niños
