FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Freedom of Information Act.The federal statute that establishes guidelines for public

disclosure of documents and materials created and held by federal agencies. 5 USCA § 552. • The

basic purpose of the statute, or of a state statute modeled after it, is to give the public access to

official information so that the public will be better informed and the government will be more

accountable for its actions. — Abbr. FOIA. [Cases: Records 50–68. C.J.S. Records §§ 93–131.][Blacks Law 8th]