How to Use the Federal Freedom of Information Act
(Separate Website)
This booklet is designed as a general "do-it-yourself" guide to using the federal Freedom of Information Act. This is the ninth edition of the guide, which was originally published in 1976 and has been updated and expanded to include recent court opinions that affect the FOI Act. This booklet was researched and edited by The FOI Service Center, a project of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. It describes how to use the Act as an effective investigative tool, and provides sample letters, forms and directories to assist you in dealing with the government promptly and effectively.
By: The Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Information Act Requests from the U.S. Department of Justice
(Separate Website)
This web site contains information about how to use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information from the Department of Justice.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Using the Freedom of Information Act: A Step-by-Step Guide
(Separate Website)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was passed by Congress in 1966 and amended in 1974. FOIA creates procedures so that any member of the public may obtain the records of the agencies of the federal government. The purpose of this Guide is to help you exercise your right to "open agency action to the light of public scrutiny." This document contains detailed information, instructions and sample letters designed to help you make an effective FOIA request.
By: American Civil Liberties Union
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