freedom of information act
Freedom of Information Act. The federal statute that establishes guidelines for public disclosure of documents and materials created and held by federal agencies. 5 USCA § 552. • The basic purpose of the statute, or of a state statute modeled after it, is to give the public access to official information so that the public will be better informed and the government will be more accountable for its actions. — Abbr. FOIA. [Cases: Records 50–68. C.J.S. Records §§ 93–131.]
