public records act requests

The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the main federal law defining what federal government records are open to public inspection.

The U.S. Freedom of Information Act is 5 U.S.C., section 552 et seq. See below for accessing the most recent version of the FOIA

Help with the Freedom of Information Act

A number of private organizations have posted guides on the web to help reporters understand the different provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and how to file formal requests for accessing records.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

The RCFP has an open records & Mmeetings guide at its website that covers the federal FOIA.

First Amendment Project

The First Amendment Project in Oakland, CA, has on Freedom of Information Act guide on its website.

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform

The committee published a comprehensive Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act.

Sample FOIA Request Letter

sample letter from the Federal Citizen Information Center

Text of the Freedom of Information Act

The text of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act is available online at the:

Cornell University Law School's U.S. Code Web page

In the search boxes type in title 5, section 552.