Documents and other data are often the building blocks of a great investigative report. So understanding and using laws that give you access to such information are necessary tools of the trade.

The United States passed its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), giving the public the right to access certain government documents, in 1966. Thirty years later, the act was amended to address electronic forms of data. From a global perspective, the public’s right to access government records is a privilege in some countries and an ongoing, heated debate in others.

Here is an overview of your rights under the U.S. federal FOIA, including its most recent changes.

• General Instructions for Filing Requests
• Exemptions under the FOIA
• Suggested FOI Resources
• Sample FOIA Request Letter

What is the FOIA?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a U.S. law that gives the public a right to obtain copies of certain documents from federal government agencies. The FOIA applies to records held by agencies in the executive branch of the federal government. The executive branch includes cabinet and military departments, government and government-controlled corporations, and other offices, such as independent regulatory agencies. Every U.S. state and some cities have passed laws similar to the federal FOIA that permit the public to request records.

Anyone can request records under the federal FOIA. You do not have to be a United States citizen. Some state FOI laws, however, limit access to public records to citizens of that state.

Two U.S. federal laws give you the right to access certain government information:

• The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. Section 552), enacted in 1966, amended in 1974, 1986, and 1996
• The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a)

If you have any questions about the law or need general guidance for filing federal requests, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Information and Privacy (OIP)
Suite 11050
1425 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530USA
(202) 514-3642

Although the Freedom of Information Act is intended to provide greater access to information, delays and certain restrictions are common. The agency may provide the records if you simply call and explain what you need. File a FOIA request as a last resort.