Freedom Of Information
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Freedom of Information laws allow the public to know what our government is doing. Through these laws the public can examine how tax dollars are being spent, how government policies are created and enforced, and they allow the public access to records and documents pertaining to this information. The following quiz tests your working knowledge of the FOIA. ***Please note that Freedom of Information laws are NOT the same as local sunshine laws.
- 1.Is the right to access public documents and attend meetings in the Constitution?
- A.
Yes. Our Constitution outlines several very specific laws so the public can examine records and attend meetings.
- B.
No. Freedom of Information laws are policies each government agency started adopting in the 1920s, but the laws are strictly enforced by department heads.
- C.
Yes. The right to access public documents is in the United States Bill of Rights.
- D.
No. It is a right that was passed by Congress in the mid 60s. Some state consitutions, however, do include a right to examine records and attend the meetings of public entities.
- 2.Which of the following is true:
- A.
A Freedom of Information request must always be in writing.
- B.
Freedom of Information requests can be made in person, electronically, or in writing.
- 3.Under your state's freedom of information law, which of the following is likely to be off limits?
- A.
Salaries and overtime payments.
- B.
Correspondence sent by or received through a government e-mail address.
- C.
Police investigation records relating to a closed arson investigation.
- D.
The medical records of six individuals who died within a week of each other in a city-owned home for the elderly.
- 4.True or False? The federal government posts all public information on its agencies' Web sites. If the information is not posted, the information is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 5.True or False? Freedom of Information requests can be vague in description and even if the specific document is not requested, the government must make every effort to locate and provide every document that may include what the person is looking for.
- A.
True. A person can make a general request and an agency will make every attempt to locate and provide the information.
- B.
False. Freedom of Information requests must be specific and must reasonably describe the records being sought. This means that a request must be specific enough to permit a professional employee of the agency who is familiar with the subject matter to locate the record in a reasonable period of time.
- 6.True or False? When a Freedom of Information request is made, an agency must provide the records or documents along with a detailed explanation of the information within the records.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 7.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 8.True or False? When a person makes a Freedom of Information request, an agency must provide copies of the documents or records at no cost to the person making the request.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 9.True or False? If a requested document contains a portion of information that is considered exempt by the Freedom of Information Act, the entire request can be denied.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
- 10.True or False? If information or documents requested through a Freedom of Information request are maintained in a computer, an agency is required to retrieve the information even if the retrieving of information may result in the creation of a new document when the data is printed or written on an electronic device.
- A.
True.
- B.
False.
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