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]