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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

A guide intended for researchers who which to make FOIA requests or locate released documents from the federal government and state agencies

Open Government

Open government is a belief that government is accountable to the people it serves and therefore its workings should be transparent and its document made available to the public. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law intended to further government transparency and accountability but it is not the only mechanism to advance open government.

  • Open the Government is a coalition focused on policies to create a more responsive government; its site does include news related to FOIA.
  • U.S. Open Government Initiatives lists National Action Plans which include commitments to open science for the public.
  • Open Government Overview (U.S. General Services Administration) features initiatives focused on opening the activities of federal activities to the public.

Documents Released under FOIA & Open Data

Case Law: Selected US Supreme Court FOIA Cases