
                                Introduction


           This program  provides basic guidance about  the Freedom of
         Information  Act  (FIOA)  and  the  Privacy  Act  of  1974. A
         question-and-answer  format  is  used  to present information
         about these laws in a  clear, simple manner to assist members
         of the public in exercising their rights. This program is not
         intended  to  be  a  comprehensive  treatment  of the complex
         issues associated with the FIOA and the Privacy Act.

           The questions answered in this program are those frequently
         asked by  persons who contact the  Federal Information Center
         (FIC) throughout the country for  information on the FIOA and
         the Privacy Act. The answers were compiled by the FIC and the
         Consumer  Information Center  (CIC) of  the General  Services
         Administration.  They  were  reviewed  by  the  Department of
         Justice,    the   agency    responsible   for    coordinating
         administration of the FIOA and encouraging agency compliance.
         The  Office  of  Management  and  Budget, which has a similar
         responsibility for  the Privacy Act, reviewed  the answers to
         the questions on the Privacy Act.

           The  FIOA, enacted  in  1966,  generally provides  that any
         person has a right of  access to federal agency records. This
         right  of  access  is  enforceable in  court except for those
         records  that  are  protected  from  disclosure  by  the nine
         exemptions to the FIOA, which are discussed in the text.

           Closely related  to the Freedom  of Information Act  is the
         Privacy Act, another federal law regarding federal government
         records.  The Privacy  Act establishes  certain controls over
         how the  executive branch agencies of  the federal government
         gather, maintain,  and disseminate personal  information. The
         Privacy Act can also be used to obtain access to information,
         but it pertains only to  records the federal government keeps
         on individual citizens and lawfully admitted resident aliens.
         The  FIOA, on  the other  hand, covers  all records under the
         custody and control of federal executive branch agencies.

           This   program   contains   information   about   the  most
         significant provisions  of the FIOA  and the Privacy  Act. We
         hope you find it helpful.

           Information  in this  program  was  obtained from  the U.S.
         General  Services Administration  and the  U.S Department  of
         Justice, Washington D.C..



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