Federal | Michigan

Federal

Citizen's Guide On Using The Freedom Of Information Act And The Privacy Act Of 1974 To Request Government Records -- Prepared by the House Committee On Government Reform. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

FOIA Group, Inc. (FGI) -- ..."is the leader in the field of securing competitive information and government documents from federal, state and local sources. Since 1988, FGI has served the information requirements of most Fortune 100 companies, law firms, utilities, small businesses, financial and educational institutions, and other professional entities." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) resources page -- Produced by the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 ("serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 Tribes"), this page provides useful information on submitting a FOIA request. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Freedom of Information Act Guide -- Produced by the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) , this site contains information on Making a FOIA Request, Reading Rooms, Reference Guide, DOJ Components, Principal FOIA Contacts at Federal Agencies, Other Federal Agencies' FOIA Web Sites, Annual FOIA Reports, and Reference Materials. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

freedominfo.org: the online network of freedom of information advocates -- "a one-stop portal that describes best practices, consolidates lessons learned, explains campaign strategies and tactics, and links the efforts of freedom of information advocates around the world. It contains crucial information on freedom of information laws and how they were drafted and implemented, including how various provisions have worked in practice." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.FOI Center -- "designed to be a central repository for IRE information about FOI activities and links to other valuable FOI resources. Providing examples and guidance for new FOI requests ideally will help speed the process and improve the success rate." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Homepage -- Provides an Access Guide, NARA FOIA Liaisons, FOIA Annual Reports (which include records held and stored by NARA), Electronic Reading Room (" information routinely available to the public as well as documents frequently requested under the Freedom of Information Act"), NARA Regulations for Access to Its Holdings, Fees, and Other FOIA Resources. Last reviewed 09/25/2008
• Information Security Oversight Office -- "responsible to the President for policy and oversight of the Government-wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security Program. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

National Freedom of Information Coalition -- "..joins First Amendment and open government organizations from individual states in a self-supporting alliance as they seek to protect the public's right to know through the education of media professionals, attorneys, academics, students and the general public. NFOIC nurtures start-up FOI organizations in other states. It assists its own members through joint fundraising, project planning, and the interchange of ideas and information." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

National Security Archive's FOIA page -- " . is an independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A tax-exempt public charity, the Archive receives no U.S. government funding; its budget is supported by publication royalties and donations from foundations and individuals." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

OpenTheGovernment.org -- "an unprecedented coalition of journalists, consumer and good government groups, environmentalists, labor and others united out of a concern for what U.S. News and World Report called a "shroud of secrecy" descending over our local, state and federal governments. We're focused on making the federal government a more open place to make us safer, strengthen public trust in government, and support our democratic principles" .Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Project on Government Secrecy (Federation of American Scientists) -- "Through research, advocacy, and public education, the FAS Project on Government Secrecy works to challenge excessive government secrecy and to promote public oversight." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Report Of The Commission On Protecting And Reducing Government Secrecy (1997) - Congress established the Commission "to make comprehensive proposals for reform that are designed to reduce the volume of information classified and thereby to strengthen the protection of legitimately classified information" as well as to improve existing personnel security procedures." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know -- "During Sunshine Week [the second week in March], participating daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, online sites, and radio and television broadcasters run editorials, op-ed columns, editorial cartoons, public forums, and news and feature stories that drive public discussion about why open government is important to everyone, not just to journalists." Contains many sources. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

U.S. Department of Defense. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program -- Numerous sources. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Information and Privacy -- "The Office of Information and Privacy (OIP) manages the Departmental responsibilities related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. These responsibilities include coordinating and implementing policy development and compliance government-wide for the FOIA, and by the Department for the Privacy Act, and deciding all appeals from denials by any Department component of access to information under those Acts." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Michigan

Michigan Freedom Of Information Act: Summary -- Produced by the Michigan Attorney General. Provides "basic provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as amended by 1996 PA 553." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Michigan Freedom of Information Act -- Produced by the Sunshine Review, this wiki discusses key aspects of the legislation. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Michigan Freedom of Information Act 1976 PA 442 -- Summary produced by the Michigan Municipal League. Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Michigan Freedom of Information Committee -- "a non-profit organization with a single focus: To ensure the public’s right to open access to government records and meetings, as provided by federal law and by Michigan’s Freedom of Information and Open Meetings acts." Last reviewed 09/25/2008

Michigan FOI Resources -- Produced by the National Freedom of Information Coalition. Last reviewed 09/25/2008