Читать книгу Food Regulation - Neal D. Fortin - Страница 33

A popular Government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.

James Madison

Federal executive branch agencies are required under the FOIA to disclose most records requested in writing by any person. Agencies may withhold information under nine exemptions and three exclusions in the statute.

FOIA litigation is a complex area of law with thousands of court decisions interpreting the act. However, this should not intimidate you from understanding the fundamentals of the law or from making a request yourself. More information on FOIA is found in Chapter 20 infra.