21st Century FOIA and Privacy Act Government Records Sourcebook: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act of 1974--Department of Justice Reference Guide, House Committee Citizens Guide, Your Right to Federal Records, Agency Contacts, Sample Reque

This is an up-to-date sourcebook providing important information from the U.S. Department of Justice and the House Government Reform Committee on obtaining government files and records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act of 1974. Your rights to obtaining vital government information are fully explained in this sourcebook. It includes three titles:

* U.S. Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide

* A Citizen’s Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records, Report by the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives

* Your Right to Federal Records – Questions and Answers on the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (GSA publication)

Contents include:

* Principal FOIA Contacts at Federal Agencies (Name, Address, Phone, Fax, Email)
* Scope of FOIA
* Description of FOIA Litigation
* Making a FOIA Request
* Fee and Fee Waivers
* Requirements for Agency Responses
* Expedited Processing
* Exemptions and Exclusions
* Agency Appeal Process
* Filing a Judicial Appeal
* Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act
* Sample Request and Appeal Letters
* Text of the Full Freedom of Information Act
* Text of the Privacy Act of 1974
* Justice Department Certification of Identity form

The Justice Department Reference Guide states:

"The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted in 1966 and generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information. All agencies of the Executive Branch of the United States Government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them, except for those records (or portions of them) that are protected from disclosure by the nine exemptions and three exclusions of the FOIA. This right of access is enforceable in court. The FOIA does not, however, provide access to records held by state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals."

"This Reference Guide is designed to familiarize you with the specific procedures for making a FOIA request to the United States Department of Justice. The process is neither complicated nor time consuming. Following the guidance below will make it more likely that you will receive the information that you are seeking in the shortest amount of time possible. This Reference Guide also includes descriptions of the types of records maintained by different parts of the Department, some of which are readily available through means other than the FOIA. Initially, it is important to understand that there is no central office in the government that processes FOIA requests for all federal agencies. Each agency responds to requests for its own records."