= Freedom of Information Act = The '''Freedom of Information Act''' ('''FOIA''') requires the disclosure of information upon request. <> ---- == Description == The act requires executive agencies to disclose information upon request. Nominally this must be done within 20 days but this is rarely an effective deadline. There are a number of exemptions which may lead to only partial disclosure or complete nondisclosure. ---- == History == The original act was signed by [[UnitedStates/LyndonBJohnson|Johnson]] in 1966 and effective one year thereafter. A slight modification of the law was passed (and the original was repealed) in that interim year. Following the [[UnitedStates/RichardNixon|Watergate scandal]], Congress expanded disclosure requirements in the [[UnitedStates/InformationLaw/PrivacyAct|Privacy Act]]. [[UnitedStates/GeraldFord|Ford]] vetoed the bill in late 1974 but Congress overrode him. Ford nonetheless succeeded in imposing exemptions on FOIA in the '''Government in the Sunshine Act''' of 1976. In 1982, [[UnitedStates/RonaldReagan|Reagan]] imposed further limits on FOIA through an executive order. These remained in place until 1995, when [[UnitedStates/BillClinton|Clinton]] vacated the order. The '''Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments''' of 1996 requires many categories of information to be made available online. [[UnitedStates/GeorgeWBush|Bush]] again imposed limits on FOIA in 2001, which were lifted by [[UnitedStates/BarackObama|Obama]] in 2009. ---- CategoryRicottone