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Listen In!
Staff Attorney Adina Rosenbaum talks about why FOIA is vital to our democracy (mp3)

The Freedom of Information Clearinghouse is a joint project of Public Citizen Litigation Group and Ralph Nader's Center for Study of Responsive Law. We provide technical and legal assistance to individuals, public interest groups, and the media who seek access to information held by government agencies.

Freedom of Information Act Guidebook (pdf)
a citizen's guide to making requests for federal agency records and appealing agency decisions

Public Citizen's Open Government Litigation

Drafting FOIA Requests

• Aids for Drafting FOIA Requests
• Sample FOIA Request
• FOIC Agency FOIA Links Database
  • Federal Agency FOIA Sites on the Internet
  • Agency FOIA Regulations
  • Agency FOIA Contacts
• Links for Online Submission of FOIA Requests
• Information on Federal Agency Reports on FOIA Processing
• Requesting Records from State Governments

Legal Research & Litigation Resources

• Resources for FOIA Legal Research On the Internet
• Text and Legislative History of the Electronic FOIA Amendments of 1996
• Significant Judicial Decisions Interpreting the FOIA
• Sample FOIA Litigation Documents
• Summary of the Electronic FOIA Amendments
• Briefs From PCLG FOIA Litigation
• Highlights of the Electronic FOIA Amendments

Speeches, Reports, Comments and Articles

• Comments on CIA Proposed Rule on FOIA Processing Fees (2/7/2007)
• Obtaining Access To Government Records Since 1972: Highlights of Public Citizen's Advocacy Efforts Against Government Secrecy
• Comments on Proposed Procedures for Handling Critical Infrastructure Information
• FOIA Annual Report Statistics
• Comments on Proposed OFAC Rule Concerning Disclosure of Enforcement Information
• Comments of Public Citizen on FERC's Plans to Restrict Access To Critical Energy Infrastructure Information
• Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Experience with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, by Amanda Frost in Georgia, 2000
• The United States Freedom Of Information Act by Lucinda Sikes in Japan, 1997
• Petition to Repeal Department of Justice FOIA Rule
• Comments on Proposed Department of the Interior FOIA Regulations

Contact Information

Freedom of Information Clearinghouse
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

foia@citizen.org

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.