A Citizen's Guide On Using The Freedom Of Information Act And The Privacy Act of 1974 To Request Government Records
First Report by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, March 20, 1997

[ FOIA Sites and Links ] [ Source Information ]

CONTENTS

I. Preface

II. Introduction

III. Recommendations

IV. How to use this guide

V. Which act to use

VI. The Freedom of Information Act

A. The scope of the Freedom of Information Act

B. What records can be requested under the FOIA?

C. Making a FOIA request

D. Fees and fee waivers

E. Requirements for agency responses

F. Reasons access may be denied under the FOIA

1. Exemption 1.--Classified documents

2. Exemption 2.--Internal personnel rules and practices.

3. Exemption 3.--Information exempt under other laws.

4. Exemption 4.--Confidential business information.

5. Exemption 5.--Internal Government communications

6. Exemption 6.--Personal privacy

7. Exemption 7.--Law enforcement

8. Exemption 8.--Financial institutions

9. Exemption 9.--Geological information

G. FOIA exclusions

H. Administrative appeal procedures

I. Filing a judicial appeal

VII. The Privacy Act of 1974

A. The scope of the Privacy Act of 1974

B. The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act

C. Locating records

D. Making a Privacy Act request for access

E. Fees

F. Requirements for agency responses

G. Reasons access may be denied under the Privacy Act

1. General exemptions

2. Specific exemptions

3. Medical records

4. Litigation records

H. Administrative appeal procedures for denial of access.

I. Amending records under the Privacy Act

J. Appeals and requirements for agency responses

K. Filing for judicial appeal
 

APPENDIXES

Appendix 1.--Sample request and appeal letters

A. Freedom of Information Act request letter

B. Freedom of Information Act appeal letter

C. Privacy Act request for access letter

D. Privacy Act denial of access appeal

E. Privacy Act request to amend records

F. Privacy Act appeal of refusal to amend records

Appendix 2.--Bibliography of congressional publications on the Freedom of Information Act.

Appendix 3.--Bibliography of congressional publications on the Privacy Act of 1974.

Appendix 4.--Text of the Freedom of Information Act

Appendix 5.--Text of the Privacy Act of 1974